La Grange, N.C. — A Lenoir County man has lost the fight to keep his pet bobcat.

Tim Seaman said Wednesday that state wildlife officials have seized the animal, whom he called Nero, because it is illegal to keep animals native to North Carolina as pets.

Seaman had applied for a permit but was denied and also appealed the decision. That appeal was also denied.

State wildlife officials won't specifically discuss Seaman's case, but they say that, in general, it is against the law for people to keep native wildlife as pets.