You need a permit to own many animals, including bears, coyotes, chimps, and other apes, lions, and tigers. Special permits are needed to sell turtles and reptiles. You cannot have an exotic pet in Oregon, including Nonhuman primates, bears, non-indigenous canines or felines, or crocodiles. These four, along with seven other servals, 11 cougars, 14 bobcats and a few other exotic felines, live at WildCat Haven in Sherwood because people once thought they would make fine pets. In Michigan, foxes are available through licensed and registered breeders, and in Texas, you can own a fennec fox as a pet. It is also illegal to possess any wild animal who naturally lives in Washington State (ie., squirrels, crows) unless you are transporting the animal to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator . But you can take a few steps to make sure its safe for your friends. Skunks Furthermore, you cannot own a member of the tegu family. These include monkeys and other non-human primates, reptiles (iguana, etc. 1111 Washington ST SE Depending on where you live in the state, you may or may not have any regulations but there are no statewide restrictions. Ball Python 3. The only permit that the state offers is a special falconry permit. As far as exotic pet ownership is concerned, it is illegal to keep most wildlife species in California, including hedgehogs, all rodents except for hamsters, non-domesticated rabbits, and many others. I have 4 available very tamed. Wolf-dog hybrids and certain cat hybrids are allowed as long as they are at least a fourth generation offspring. Dont hesitate to get in touch with the agency listed by law to request more information about that law. Wild goats Any Exotic animal should not be allowed or cannot be kept as pets because of the inherent risks to all human health and safety and the cruelty of keeping such animals in unusual environments. If you want to keep rats, someone must have raised them in a lab. Lions Tigers Captive-bred Cougars Jaguars Cheetahs Leopards Snow Leopards Clouded Leopards Interestingly enough though, you can own up to six captive-bred bobcats, coyotes, gray foxes, red foxes, opossums, rabbits, raccoons, or squirrels without a permit. Zoonotic and other diseases can be transmitted between animals and humans. Raccoons are intelligent animals. Most animals have very specific habitat needs and this is especially true of any animal considered exotic. Other unusual pets may be prohibited on the state or local level to prevent invasive species and deter pet owners from releasing an unwanted animal into the wild. Bears, large felines, wolves, and primates are included in the list of restricted animals in Connecticut. They cannot own lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, mountain lions, bears, or non-native venomous snakes. Falcons A partial list of those considered "dangerous wild animals" can be found below; for a complete list, see RCW 16.30.010. Pets that are allowed however include guinea pigs, chinchillas, domesticated mice and rats, parakeets, and doves. Bobcats Exotic animals are defined in Oregon as: Non-human primates. More from The Spruce Pets. Dr. Diehl is a passionate veterinarian pursuing specialty medicine with over 6 years' experience with exotic pets. So it bans the animal completely, citing the threat to native fish . The reason? A permit is needed to keep many animals in Utah, including non-domesticated cats, monkeys, apes, kangaroos, ferrets, hedgehogs, and coyotes. But what about owls? Nancy Nanke is the one who founded the International Zebra-Jors-Jonki Association 10 years ago. You can make an application for an exception, but it must be backed with lots of scientific data. The maximum number of pets allowed per family depends on the number of family members. It requires a permit to sell others, but you do not need a permit to keep most animals. It is illegal to own Burmese, reticulated, African rock and Amethystine pythons, green anacondas, Nile monitors, green iguanas, and tegus. The state offers many special permits. Wild animals such as . With there being over 8 million animals in the world and still another 80% left undiscovered, there's bound to be enough exotic pets to go around for the adventurous animal lover. Most start with two years of hands-on experience. Primates, feline and canine hybrids, foxes, racoons, bears, venomous snakes, large cats, alligators, and more are restricted from being kept as pets unless you owned them prior to 2006 and fulfilled the requirements at that time. However, feeding large carnivores such as bears is not legal. Not more than three small animals like dogs and cats. These animals are referred to as unregulated animals and therefore do not require special permits. Some of the birds illegal to own under this law are: Several state agencies regulate animal ownership. 1111 Washington ST SE The city of Wapato in the state of Washington prohibits all types of mastiff types. Llama 10. However, permits are not required for several exotic animals including flying squirrels, cockatiels, iguanas, hamsters, and some other pets. Forbidden animals include large cats, non-native canines, primates, hedgehogs, opossum, and wild boar. Utah has a long list of animals that are either controlled, noncontrolled, or prohibited to be kept as pets. It is only illegal to own Great Apes and non-native bears in South Carolina. It is illegal to own almost any type of exotic animal in Pennsylvania. Indiana is one of the most lenient states when it comes to owning exotic pets. Because of this, theDangerous Wild Animal Acthas made lions, tigers, bears, elephants, alligators, monkeys, servals and other animals illegal to own in Ohio without first obtaining a permit. Others are banned to prevent them from becoming pests to the local environment. Like any other animal taken out of its natural environment, they can be scared or startled by sounds or lights that we would ignore. None of these classes require a special permit. Any cat must be from a breed listed in a national or international multi-cat registry. Stink glands removed and Declawed . Thanks to petsstorehome.com for such post and topic. You can own alligators, crocodiles, alpacas, camels, chinchillas, ostriches, sugar gliders, and penguins without a permit. Permits can be obtained by veterinarians by calling 360-902-1878 during business hours or 1-800-902-1035 after hours. As long as you own 2.5 acres, you can keep many types of animals in Florida, including bears, large cats, rhinos, crocodiles and chimpanzees, and more. It is illegal to own animals that may infect people with rabies. Mon-Fri, 8am5pm, For assistance during business hours, Permits can be obtained for some wild animals if conditions are met. Location: Oregon. It will depend on the number of wild animals. How to keep an exotic pet. The states in which you can legally own a skunk include Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. It is also illegal to possess any wild animal who naturally lives in Washington State (ie., squirrels, crows) unless you are transporting the animal to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Up to 15,000 primates are kept as pets in the United States. You cannot own hedgehogs, African hedgehogs, sugar gliders, bears, large cats, wolves, primates, and many other types of exotic wildlife in Connecticut. That means it sets rules about what kinds of animals you can own as pets. Class II includes more primates, bobcats, servals, caimans, and other wild animals while Class III includes all other wildlife that aren't in Class I, II, or specifically mentioned to be exempt from permitting. For questions on transport or possession of mammals, birds, or reptiles, contact the department's Wildlife Permits Section at dfg.dwc.permits@alaska.gov or (907) 465-4148. You can own African lions, bison, camels, yaks, alpacas, and many others without a permit. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. It is completely illegal to own animals that pose a minimum threat to humans, livestock, or livestock. Owning a tegu lizard in Florida was legal up until 2021 but the animals are now banned from the pet trade and all breeding must cease by 2024. Additionally, fats are crucial for keeping a healthy neural []. Ferrets and many reptiles are still allowed to be cared for along with animals that are trained to help you if you have a severe mobility impairment. Pythons need large cages with warming lights to keep these cold-blooded creatures cozy. There have been more than 47 incidents involving captive chimpanzees in the US since 1990. In 2007, Washington state laws changed to restrict dangerous animals from being kept as pets. Yes, it is possible. Chukars It is legal to own many wildlife mammals in Illinois, except for bears, lions, tigers, leopards, ocelots, jaguars, cheetahs, margays, cougars, lynx, bobcats, jaguarundis, wolves, coyotes, and hyenas. Chinchilla 8. And he says 3,000 zebras roam the backyards of American homes so anyone can graze if they want. Rattlesnakes ), pocket-pets (such as prairie dogs and sugar gliders), and non-domesticated dogs and cats. Wildebeests State wildlife officials say bird food could be restored across Washington after an outbreak of a deadly disease. New York residents need a permit to own wolves, wolfdogs, coyotes, coydogs, foxes, skunks, venomous reptiles, and raccoons. Mute swans If you live in Alabama and did not obtain a permit before January 13th, 2021, you are not allowed to own a variety of exotic animals including Giant African Land Snails, most non-native wildlife like bobcats, black bears, foxes, and raccoons, and venomous reptiles. Alligators Alligators are also wildlife that is best avoided at home. These are all defined as game animals in Alaska law and this restriction includes wolf hybrids acquired after January 23, 2002, and chimpanzees acquired after January 31, 2010. Wild boar You can also own any reptile that does not usually fatally attack humans. Michigan defines any animal that is not native to the U.S. as an exotic animal and restricts the ownership of wolf-dog hybrids, many large cats and bears. Tarantula 2. It is against the law to own bears or cats over 50 pounds in Oklahoma. Residents may own up to six bobcats, coyotes, gray foxes, red foxes, opossums, rabbits, raccoons, or squirrels that they have taken from the wild. Exotic Animal Laws by U.S. State Mapped. Raccoon dogs are only allowed if you have a zoo permit and there are specific types of deer, sheep, and goats that are only allowed in the state east of the Missouri River. When not working with her own animals and tending her farm, Krishna is helping other animal owners with behavior or management issues and teaching neighboring farmers about Regenerative Agriculture practices. What exotic pets are legal in washington state Washington. Animals that you can have without permits include alpacas, ferrets, bison, camels, chinchillas, emus, ostriches, llamas, lemurs, sugar gliders, and giraffes. The prohibited animal list includes wild and large cats, bears, foxes, primates, skunks, and many other exotic animals. It is also illegal to possess any wild animal who naturally lives in Washington State (ie., squirrels, crows) unless you are transporting the animal to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. For questions concerning the wild animal lawplease visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. There is likewise a limit of 6 animals per owner for bobcats, squirrels, bunnies, raccoons, quail, opossum, coyote, deer, red fox, and gray fox. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Serval 17. Whether you want to own an exotic animal or something more common, there are more pets available than ever before. The bottom line is that hedgehogs are illegal in the state of Georgia unless you obtain a permit as referenced in O.C.G.A. All rights reserved. Kansas state law does not allow dangerous regulated animals to be kept as pets unless you are a zoo, sanctuary, or other approved facility. Every U.S. state has exotic or wild animals laws defining if a species is allowed, forbidden, or needs specific permission. Special permits can be issued to specific individuals or groups to keep these animals if the request falls under categories for education, public health, commercial photography, wildlife rehabilitation, or wildlife management. Class I, IV and V animals are only allowed to be kept by zoos, class III animals require no permit, and class II animals are native species. Montana law defines many types of wild animals as alternative livestock. Requires Wildlife Captivity License for native cougars and bobcats, which is only issued . All rights reserved. Obtaining a yearly permit to have wild animals isn't as simple as filing some paperwork and paying a fee though. The prohibited animal list include bears, large cats, wild canines, wild cat and wild dog hybrids, kangaroos, wild cattle and deer, birds of prey, alligators, geckos and most other lizards, hedgehogs, gerbils, hamsters, and even ferrets. These laws can change at any time and over the years, many states have added to their list of prohibited animals. Ohio's laws have changed since the Zanesville animal massacre in 2011. Confiscation of these animals will occur if they are found and were not registered by 2018. Any animals listed on our illegal animals page will only be issued a permitto go to approved facilities. Arizona Hedgehogs are legal to keep as pets without a permit in Arizona. Yellow-Bellied Slider 5. Lemurs These are animals that can be harmful due to invasiveness, crop destruction, or other problems. That is your responsibility. State Registered Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, approved by the Washington State Wildlife Department. You can keep almost all animals as pets in Wisconsin without a permit. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources requires special permits that not everyone can obtain to keep a variety of wild animals. In most cases, animal ownership is up to counties in Texas. Injurious species under the U.S. In that case, you can own a kangaroo in Washington, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maine, and New Jersey with a permit, and it is legal. For questions concerning the wild animal law please visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The state offers three types of permits. Wild Animal Law - animals and birds considered wild and uncontrolled, for example, bears, deer, falcons, pheasants, and elks. Leopard Gecko 1. 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