STATE EXOTIC ANIMAL LAW SUMMARY

NOTE: See state page for exceptions

ALABAMA

BANS

• “Any canidae or felidae for which there is no USDA licensed rabies vaccine” *
  
• Exotic venomous reptiles, walking catfish, black carp, piranha, mongoose, San Juan rabbits or wild hares *
  
• Any of the following from outside the state: cervidae, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks, wild rodents, wild turkeys, black bears, mountain lions, bobcats, Pronghorn antelope, nondomestic pigs, or bovidae, piranha, Nile perch, Asian seabass, barramundi, lates, macquaria perches, and giant African snail  
  
• Black bears as protected species*
  

PERMIT/LICENSE

•  Native turtles (commercial) - turtle farmer’s permit or turtle dealer’s permit 
  
•  Public exhibition of wildlife permit* (NEW: Now requires USDA license for Class I & II)
  
• Game birds, game animals, furbearers, and exotic animal propagation
  
  

 REGULATIONS

• Import regulated except for displays for carnivals, circuses, zoos, and shows 
  
• NEW: Game Breeders now required to report releases and transfers and report escapes within 24 hours (10/24/17)
  

ALASKA

BANS

• Live game or hybrids as pets
  
• Venomous reptiles or insects*
  

PERMIT

• Wolves and wolf dogs
  
• Temporary commercial use of exotic game
  
• Commercial exhibition of elephants
  
• Aviculture birds
  
• Scientific, Educational, Propagation or Public Safety
  
• Falconry
  

LEGAL

• Feline hybrids F4 or later
  

ARIZONA

BANS

• Live wildlife as pets
  
• Import of zoo animals except circus, show or zoo
  

PERMIT

•  Game Bird Hobby NEW: Rule change adopted to specify what activities are allowed under each permit (Effective 9/1/17)
  
• Game farms
  
• Scientific collecting
  
• Sports falconry
  
• Wildlife holding
  
• Wildlife rehabilitation
  
• Zoos 
  

REGULATIONS

• Import of petting zoo animals and macaques
  
• NEW: Federal agencies/employees now required to comply with state permit requirements (Effective 4/7/17)
  
  

ARKANSAS

BANS

• Cougars
  
• Large carnivores (tigers, African lions, hybrids, and bears)*
  
• Apes, baboons, macaques*
  
• Commercial primate facility except AZA, ZAA, research
  
• Import Terrapene turtle, cervid, raccoon, bat, skunk, coyote, gray and red, wild-caught rodents, African lion, tiger, bear, mountain lion, waterfowl, Injurious Wildlife*
  
• Wild caught white-tailed deer as pets (except 6 before 6/30/2012)
  
• Captive born white-tailed deer and elk as pets after 6/30/05 and breeding, purchasing or selling*
  
• NEW: Moving cervid if CWD found within 25 miles (8/3/17)
  

PERMIT

• Mountain lions for breeder/dealer before 9/30/07
  
• Wildlife rehabilitation
  
• Falconry
  
• Red/grey fox and coyote sales
  
• Breeding/dealing wildlife and exotics*
  
• Import permit for wildlife not exempted
  
• Entry permit for zoo, furbearing, wild and exotic animals, ratites, camels, cerivds and birds
  

REGISTRATION/SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• All primates
  
• Wolf Hybrids
  

 
LEGAL

•  Unlisted exotics as pets (if free from diseases)
  
• Coyotes, gray foxes, red foxes, opossums, rabbits, raccoons and squirrels or native nongame wildlife - 6 hand wild-caught and 6 captive born as pets
  

CALIFORNIA

BANS

• Restricted species as pets
  
• Protected native species except conservation or legal import
  
• Using bullhooks, ankus, baseball bat, axe handle or pitchfork for training or controlling elephants
  
• Desert tortoises after 5/7/73 
  

PERMIT

• Exhibiting, breeding, zoos, research, brokers, and shelters of restricted species
  
• Native reptile propagation except pet shops
  

COLORADO

BAN

• Species not listed as exempt or domestic as pets
  
• Non commercial use of felines, canines, bears, venomous reptiles
  
• Terrestrial wildlife
  

PERMIT

• Commercial Wildlife Park(AZA, exhibitors before 1/1/06, sell/propagate/broker/transport, non AZA zoos)
  

•  Non-Commercial Wildlife Park (birds along with exotic mammals prior to 1/1/83 & offspring)
  

• Wildlife Sanctuary
  

LEGAL

• Common snapping turtles
  
• 4 each (12 total): Plains spadefoot, Woodhouse’s toad, Boreal chorus frog, painted turtle, Ornate box turtle, common sagebrush lizard, Ornate tree lizard, common side-blotched lizard, prairie lizard, plateau fence lizard, gopher snake, terrestrial garter snake, plains garter snake, common lesser earless lizard, tiger whiptail, North American racer, plains hog-nosed snake
  

CONNECTICUT

BANS

• Potentially dangerous wild animals (Category 1) as pets and certain USDA
  
• Category 2 and 3 non domestic wild animals as pets*
  
• Skunk and raccoon*
  
• Wood turtles
  

 
PERMIT
 

• Category 4 non domestic wild animals
  
• Wild birds or quadrupeds as pets or for sale
  
• 2 or more duck, goose, swan, quail, partridge, certain pheasants, ruffed grouse, nondomestic turkey, sika and white tail deer, raccoon, otter, beaver, or wild rabbit/hare as pet or sales 
  

 
REGULATES

• Bog turtles
  
• Turtle sales
  
• Primates under 35 pounds before 10/1/2003
  

LEGAL
 

• Bengal cats
  
• 1 duck, goose, swan, quail, partridge, certain pheasants, ruffed grouse, nondomestic turkey, sika and white tail deer, raccoon, otter, beaver, or wild rabbit/hare as pet or sales 
  
• 3 marbled salamanders, 3 spotted salamanders, 1 Eastern bog turtle, 1 Eastern hognose snake, and 1 Eastern ribbon snake
  
• Guinea pig, chinchilla, gerbil, rat, mouse, hamster, Patagonia mara

DELAWARE

BANS

• Breeding carnivores, hybrids of wild mammals, omnivores, primates or certain herbivores or reptiles except accredited zoo
  
• Red fox possession/transfer for compensation except state owned exhibit
  
• Bullfrogs*
  
• Giving wild animals and hybrids non USDA approved rabies vaccines
  

 PERMIT

• Non exempt exotic animals
  
• Skunk and raccoon
  
• Rehabilitators
  
• 2 or more native wildlife for commercial purposes/breeding
  
• 2 or more wild-caught herp
  

LEGAL

•  Legally taken bullfrogs
  

FLORIDA

BANS

• Class I wildlife and hybrids for personal use
  
• Wild-caught fox, skunk, bat, raccoon, white-tail deer for pets
  
• Venomous reptiles except USDA Class C and zoo
  
• Reptiles of concern except USDA Class C and zoo
  

PERMIT

• Class I wildlife/hybrids for all other uses
  
• Class II and III wildlife and hybrids
  
• Temporary possession and import of wildlife
  
• Exotic or pet bird dealers
  
• Species of special concern
  
• Falconry
  
• Wildlife rehabilitation
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• Domestic list species
  
• Species not requiring a permit 
  

 NOTE: Florida counties can only regulate enclosure and only through their building codes
 

GEORGIA

BANS

• Inherently dangerous/regulated animals as pets. 
  

PERMIT

• Inherently dangerous/regulated animals (wholesale/retail, exhibit, science/education or service animal)
  
• Wild Animal Auction
  
• Exhibition permits
  
• Rehabilitation (releasable)
  
• Bird Dealer
  
• Film Production Wildlife Permit (film, video or digital projects involving wildlife)
  
• Bird import
  
• Restricted Java Rice bird and monk parakeet
  

HAWAII

BANS

• Restricted species as pets
  
• Prohibited species 
  

PERMIT

• Conditionally Approved Species (pets, businesses, institutions)
  
• Restricted Species Part A for research and exhibition (also scientific or medical purposes)
  
• Restricted Species Part B for private and commercial use (NOT pets and primates only for Part A purposes or sanctuaries)
  
• Unlisted species (filming, show, and exhibit)    
  

IDAHO

BANS

• Breeding deleterious exotic animal except SSP
  
• Wild-caught furbearers
  
• Canada lynx
  
• Import of species not listed as approved
  

 PERMIT

•  Deleterious exotic animal (possess, propagate, travel exhibit, import)
  
• Big game animals as pets/sale*  
  

 REGULATIONS

• Native/exotic wildlife - Need 5 years of records
  
• Wolves – need tattoo and reported
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• Unlisted native wildlife not species of concern or threatened/endangered
  

ILLINOIS

BANS

• Dangerous animals*
  
• Primates after 1/1/2011*
  
• Sale of skunks as pets
  
• Sale of dangerous animals and servals, civets and hybrids
  
• San Juan rabbits and raccoon dogs
  
• Striped skunk, bobcat and coyote
  
• NEW: Elephants in traveling animal acts (Effective 1/1/18)
  

PERMIT
 

• Native wildlife*
  
• Listed game birds or game animals
  
• Fur-bearing mammals
  
• Birds of prey
  
• Herptiles
  

REGULATES

•  Turtles
  
• Wild animals in captivity under Diseased Animals Act
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT
 

• Breeding mink, red fox or arctic fox (agricultural pursuit)
  
• Sales of CFA/TICA cats and UKC/CKC dogs
  

INDIANA

BAN
 

• Sale of Class I, II or III wildlife except AZA or USDA
  
• Breeding badger, bobcat, otter
  

PERMIT
 

• Class I, II and III wildlife* 
  
• Fur-bearing and native mammals possession
  
• Fur-bearing mammal sale
  
• Native reptiles breeding
  
• Native turtle possession
  

 
REGULATES
 

• Sale of unlisted native mammals requires USDA
  
• Allows killing of exotic mammals that escape/damage property
  

 LEGAL/NO PERMIT

•  Domestic cat and dog hybrids
  

IOWA

BAN

• Dangerous wild animals *
  

 PERMIT

• Game birds or fur-bearing animals (breed or sale) except government zoo or exhibit
  
• Scientific Collector’s
  
• Educational project (educational or zoological displays of protected species)
  
• Wildlife rehabilitation
  
• Import
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT
 

• 2 captive-bred game birds or fur-bearing animals as pets
  

KANSAS

BANS

• Dangerous regulated animals
  
• Certain exotic animals import and possession 
  

 
PERMIT
 

• Certain exotic animal experiments, science, and displays
  
• Cougar, wolf, black bear, grizzly bear* possession and sale
  
• Native herp sales
  

 
REGISTRATION

• Dangerous regulated animal designated handler
  

 REGULATES

•  Up to 4 listed native species for personal use legal with caging standards
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

•  Unlisted exotic wildlife under control
  

KENTUCKY

BANS

• Inherently dangerous wildlife*
  
• Prohibited exotics*
  
• Prohibited native wildlife*
  
• Coyote, fox, raccoon, skunk import*
  
• Non commercial keeping of captive cervids   
  

 
PERMIT

• Wild-caught ferrets as pets or not for hunting
  
• Unlisted native wildlife
  
• Import
  
• Conservation organizations
  
• Scientific and Educational Collecting
  
• Wildlife Rehabilitation
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• Unlisted exotics possession
  

LOUISIANA

BANS

•  Dangerous wild quadrupeds, big exotic cats and nonhuman primates*
  
• Wild-caught box turtles for commercial purposes
  

PERMIT

• Dangerous wild quadrupeds, big exotic cats and nonhuman primates – non AZA zoo, non LA college educational institution, AZA sanctuary
  
• Game quadrupeds and birds (commercial use)
  
• Nongame quadrupeds
  
• Unlisted native herp
  
• Turtle Farm – NEW: Turtle laws revised to only apply to commercial use (Act 63 – Effective 8/1/17)  
  

 
REGULATES

• Wolf hybrids legal with proof 
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• Box turtles – captive-bred pets or 2 wild-caught ones a day (limit 4) for recreational purposes
  

MAINE

Maine completely repealed and replaced its rules regarding wildlife.

BANS

• Prohibited wildlife except research
  
• Unclassified wildlife
  
• Restricted Category 1 as pets
  
• Native species except exhibit or game birds
  
• Pet shops from selling wildlife
  
• Wild-caught turtles and snakes for commercial purposes  
  
• Primates (except service monkey), deer, bear, moose, wild turkeys for possession or propagation permits
  
• NEW: Allowing exotics to escape (Class E crime) (7/5/17)
  

PERMIT

• Restricted Category 1 for exhibitor, rehabilitator, lab, research
  
• Restricted Category 2 for pets or other purposes
  
• Snapping turtles for commercial purposes 
  

 REGISTRATION

•  Wolf dog kennels
  

 REGULATES

•  Elephants
  
• Ferret sales and import
  
• Wolf hybrids licensed as domestic dogs but need ID
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

•  F4 and higher savannah cats
  
• NEW: Native non-endangered/not of concern amphibians (5 per species), reptiles (2 per species), invertebrates (unlimited) (6/14/17)
  

MARYLAND

BANS

•  Dangerous animals*
  
• Venomous reptiles as pets
  
• Native herp competitions
  
• Import of mammalian wildlife/hybrids with no USDA approved rabies vaccine*
  

 
PERMIT

• Game mammals (include furbearers) and game birds
  
• Game birds (breed or sell)
  
• Wildlife Rehabilitator
  
• Falconry
  
• Scientific Collection
  
• Native herp
  
• Transportation*  
  

REGULATES

• Turtles require a caution notice
  

 
LEGAL

Import of certain pocket pets and primates (Cebidae, Cercopithecidae, and Pongidae), wild and semi wild animals under domestication

MASSACHUSETTS

BANS

• Wildlife and hybrids as pets except vets and USDA zoos for certain parts
  
• Rehabilitating threatened/endangered species, black bear, moose, venomous snakes, white-tail deer
  

PERMIT

• Wildlife/hybrids for propagation, dealer, possession of birds, quail, falconry, raptors, temporary possession and rehabilitation
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• TICA/CFA feline hybrids at least 4 generations
  
• Domesticated list
  
• Exempt list species
  
• Ferret
  

MICHIGAN

BANS

• Large carnivores as pets
  
• Direct contact and close contact with large carnivores over 20 weeks and bears over 36 weeks or 90 pounds
  
• Wolf-dogs
  
• Wild-caught game or protected animals
  

PERMIT
 

• Game or protected animals
  
• Threatened/endangered species
  

REGULATES

• Ferrets
  
• Turtle sales
  
• Import 
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

•  Unlisted exotics except import
  

MINNESOTA

BAN

• Regulated animals as pets plus USDA facilities after enactment date except to keep current numbers*
  
• Prohibited invasive species except research or education
  
• Unlisted Non native species import
  
• Protected wild animals  
  
• Skunks*
  

PERMIT
 

• Prohibited invasive species for research or education
  
• Restricted species for Eurasian wild hogs
  
• Regulated invasive species for university research
  
• Protected wild animals not as pets
  
• Western painted, snapping or spiny softshell turtles sales or recreational use
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• Regulated invasive species except university research
  
• Unregulated non native species
  

REGULATES

• Domesticated wild animal bites
  
• Bird basic care rules
  

MISSISSIPPI

 BANS

• Game animals, birds or fish or nongame wildlife buy or sale
  
• Wild-tailed deer import except research
  
• Wild swine and boars   
  

PERMIT

• Inherently dangerous animals except with exemption certificate
  
• Alligator snapping turtle propagation 
  
• Wild animal import
  
• Exotic livestock movement
  
• NEW: Import of exotic livestock (Effective 2/3/17)
  

REGULATES
 

• Primate import
  
• Exotic livestock escapes must be reported within 24 hours 
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT
 

• Unlisted exotics except import
  

MISSOURI

BANS

• Releasing large carnivores
  
• Skunks
  
• Import of skunks, coyotes, raccoons
  
• Native wildlife for personal use except pheasants and bobwhite quail and 1 game mammal
  
• Release, stealing or injuring animals from facilities, damaging property, obtaining access under false pretenses or performing unauthorized acts
  

PERMIT

• Large carnivores (own, breed, transport, transfer)*
  
• Unlisted native wildlife (Class I and II)* 
  
• Wildlife Rehabilitation
  
• Falconry
  
• Wildlife Collector’s
  

REGISTRATION  

• Dangerous Animals - local law enforcement agency*  
  

 REGULATES

• Import, intrastate transport or exhibit requires CVI
  

MONTANA

BANS

• Prohibited exotic wildlife*
  
• Skunk, fox, raccoon and bat except furbearing enterprise, zoo, and education institution
  

PERMIT

• Bear and large cat exhibition
  
• Controlled exotic wildlife
  
• Import of game, furbearing and wild animals
  
• Furbearers that are sold
  
• Game animals
  

 
REGULATES

• Bear, tiger, lion, coyote and 50%+ hybrids, wolf and 50%+ hybrids need tattooed ID
  
• Nongame and endangered species
  

 
LEGAL/NO PERMIT
 

• Noncontrolled exotic wildlife
  
• Unlisted furbearers not sold

NEBRASKA

BANS
 

• Wolves, skunks, all felines, and all bears*
  
• Bobcats and Canada lynx for noncommercial purposes
  
• Asian raccoon dogs, San Juan rabbits, white-tailed deer, red deer, mule deer owned after 7/24/02, hybrids and wild pigs
  

PERMIT

• Certain captive born wild birds/mammals listed
  
• Import (species in 008-08A legal)
  

REGULATES

• Exotic animal auctions and swap meets
  
• Hybrid dogs
  

NEVADA

BANS

• NAC 503.110 species*
  
• Import fox, skunk, raccoon
  
• Rehabilitating fox, skunk, raccoon, coyote, rat, mice, ground squirrels, bat and NAC 503.110 species
  

PERMIT

• Unlisted wildlife for noncommercial/commercial purposes
  
• Rehabilitation
  

REGULATES

• Ungulates need ear tags
  
• Bobcat, cougar, black bear need ear tattoo
  

 
LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• Species in NAC 503.140
  
• Listed birds and fish on private property not sold
  
• Unprotected reptiles and amphibians for noncommercial/personal use
  
• USDA Exhibitor license in state less than 90 days
  

NEW HAMPSHIRE

BANS
 

• Prohibited wildlife*
  
• Controlled wildlife (Category 2-6 for possession) as pets or purposes not listed
  
• Unlisted species except Category 5 
  
• Import and sale of wolf hybrids less than 5 generations removed except temporary events
  

PERMIT

• Controlled wildlife (Category 1 legal as pets)
  
• Wildlife rehabilitation (Class I Apprentice & Class II) 
  
• Import of birds
  

REGULATES

• Wolf hybrids
  
• Ferret import
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• Non-controlled wildlife
  
• TICA/CFA feline hybrids 3 or more generations removed
  

Venomous reptiles are now limited to those normally capable of inflicting serious or fatal injuries to humans. 

NEW JERSEY

BANS

• Potentially dangerous species as pets/hobby/unlisted purpose or by pet shops/animal dealers after 1/17/95
  
• Foxes and coyotes*
  
• Import of RVS (raccoon, skunk, woodchuck, fox, bat) 
  

PERMIT

• Potentially dangerous species
  
• Exotic and nongame wildlife (allows as pets)
  
• Game animals/birds
  

REGULATES

• Possession of RVS (raccoon, skunk, woodchuck, fox, bat)
  
• Exotic and native nongame birds
  
• Turtles must be certified free from Salmonellosis
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT
 

• Exempt list species
  

NEW MEXICO

BANS

• Felines, crocodiles, wolves, alligators, and primates as pets
  
• Protected furbearers except raccoons
  
• Jaguars
  
• Group IV exotic animals*
  

PERMIT

• Unlisted native species
  
• Raccoons
  
• Captive born skunks (legal as pets)
  
• Hawks, vultures and owls
  
• Predatory animals (approved uses)
  
• Group II exotic animals   
  

REGULATES

• Group III exotic animals
  
• Subhuman primate, skunk, raccoon, fox or sylvatic carnivores as pets
  
• Requires euthanasia for wild-caught species that bite humans
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• Group I exotic animals
  

NEW YORK

BANS

• Wild animals*
  
• Native wildlife as pets
  
• Direct public contact with big cats except vet
  
• Lion, raccoon dog, wolfdog, animals indistinguishable from wolf/coyote
  
• Sale of leopard, snow leopard, clouded leopard, tiger, Asiatic lion, cheetah, mountain lion, jaguar, margay, ocelot, alligator, crocodile, caiman, tortoise, marine turtles, vicuna, wolf, red wolf, kangaroo, polar bear, Sumatran rhino, and black rhino
  
• NEW: Elephant entertainment acts (Chapter 333 – 10/19/17)
  

PERMIT
 

• Wolf, wolfdog, coyote, coydog, fox, skunk, venomous reptile, raccoon, endangered species, or species in section 11-536
  
• White-tailed deer
  
• Import/possess RVS (raccoon, skunk, red or gray fox, bat)
  
• Unlisted protected native wildlife other than pets
  
• Possess/sale bobcat, mink, muskrat, fisher, beaver, otter, marten, sable  
  

REGULATES

• Must notify local clerks of presence of wild animals
  
• Must safeguard public from attack 
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT
 

• CFA/TICA feline hybrids F4 or later
  
• New World service monkeys
  
• Deer other than white-tailed deer
  
• Certain imported game for propagation
  
• Unlisted native unprotected wildlife
  
• Import of bobcat, mink, muskrat, fisher, beaver, otter, marten, sable 
  

NORTH CAROLINA

BANS
 

• Tongueless or African clawed frogs and certain fish
  
• Native wildlife as pets
  
• Native turtles and terrapins commercial take (5+/year) 
  
• Import of skunk, fox, raccoon, ringtail, North and South American felines, coyote, marten, and brushtail possum*
  
• Import of gray fox into certain counties
  

PERMIT

• Native captive wildlife for other purposes
  
• 25+ native amphibians/5+ native reptiles for personal use
  
• Import
  
• Import of skunk, fox, raccoon, ringtail, North and South American felines, coyote, marten, and brushtail possum for exhibit, research or entertainment
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT
 

• Possess unlisted exotic animals
  
• Under 25 native amphibians or 5 native reptiles for personal use
  

NORTH DAKOTA

BANS

• Prohibited animals
  
• Raccoons and skunks except USDA
  
• Import of raccoons and skunks
  
• Venomous reptiles except educational use
  

PERMIT

• Nontraditional livestock auctions
  
• Import of nontraditional livestock
  
• Protected live birds/animals propagation and keeping  
  
• Category 2 and 3 nontraditional livestock
  

REGULATES

• Cougars, wolves, and wolf hybrids need ID ear tattoo
  
• Preventing rabies in wild mammals/hybrids
  
• Fur-bearing animal owners have same property rights as domestic owners
  
• Pet wolf or coyote that attacks livestock may be killed  
  
• Category 1 nontraditional livestock
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

•  Exempt animals
  

OHIO

BANS

• Dangerous wild animals*
  
• Asian raccoon dogs
  
• Import/Possess raccoons outside the state except pets
  
• Auctions of or defanging restricted snakes
  

 
PERMIT

• Restricted snakes*
  
• Rescue facility
  
• Native herp
  
• Game birds, game quadrupeds, fur-bearing animals listed in 1531.01
  
• Import non-domestic animals
  
• Education/scientific collecting
  
• Rehabilitation 
  

REGISTRATION

• Lemurs, marmosets, squirrel monkeys and capuchins
  

REGULATES

• Endangered/threatened species require permission
  
• Native snake and turtle sales require PIT tag
  
• Exhibits
  

OKLAHOMA

BANS

• Native bears and cats over 50 pounds (cougar & black bear)
  
• Direct public contact of cougars/black bears
  
• Intentionally cutting/damaging fence for livestock, exotic livestock, game animals or domestic game
  
• NEW: exotic swine import & exhibition - until 9/14/18
  

PERMIT

• Unlisted wildlife
  
• Import except wildlife breeders
  
• Rehabilitation  
  

REGULATES
 

• Owners liable for canines/felines running at large
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• Wildlife in section 800:25-25-3

OREGON

BANS

• Exotic animals*
  
• Game animals, furbearers, western spotted skunks, striped skunks, native bats and coyotes except with permission
  
• Skunk, fox or raccoon as pets
  
• Prohibited and unclassified species*
  
• Raccoons and bobcat sale or purchase
  
• Gray wolf except exhibitors
  
• NEW: Bans possession, sale, breeding of black bears, wolves, bobcats, cougars, skunks and raccooon (Effective 1/24/17)
  

PERMIT

• Controlled species
  
• Rehabilitation
  
• Capture/hold native squirrels/chipmunks
  
• Raccoons and bobcats at USDA facility
  
• White-tail deer
  
• Coyote as pets
  
• Game mammals/birds, tiger salamander sales
  
• Breeding domestic feline hybrids as pets    
  

REGULATES

• Primate import
  
• Mammals except ungulates imported as pets
  
• Wolf hybrids
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• Capuchin service animal
  
• Noncontrolled and exempt species
  

PENNSYLVANIA

BANS

• All felines, coyotes, red and gray foxes, wolves and wolf hybrids, bears, raccoons, nutria, skunks, nonhuman primates, monk parakeets, threatened/endangered species, and game except as otherwise allowed under exotic wildlife permit
  
• Bobcats, coyotes, and red and gray foxes as pets
  

PERMIT

• Bobcat, coyote, red/gray fox propagators
  
• Legal exotic wildlife
  
• Native wildlife for propagation
  
• Falconry
  
• Rehabilitation
  
• Threatened/endangered species
  
• Scientific collecting
  
• Venomous snakes
  
• Common snapping turtles 

RHODE ISLAND

BANS

• Bullhook, ankus, baseball bat, axe handle, pitchfork, or similar device for elephants
  
• Native wildlife and target species as pets
  
• Endangered species except research or college display
  

PERMIT

• 
  
• Exotic animals
  
• Import for primates, carnivores, herp, and insects*
  
• Native wildlife and target species for USDA or research
  
• Sell wild birds, game quadrupeds, or domestic game
  
• Ferrets
  
• Rehabilitation
  
• Falconry - exempt from other wildlife laws
  

REGULATES

• Exotic animal breeding requires approval
  
• Turtles sold must be Salmonellosis free
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• Exempt list species
  

SOUTH CAROLINA

BANS

• NEW Possess Panthera cats, non native bears, and great apes as pets (Effective 1/1/18)
  
• Selling carnivores not normally domesticated as pets
  
• Import coyote and fox except exhibit
  
• Southern hognose snakes and sea turtles*
  
• Selling adult spotted turtles or catching more than 9
  

 
PERMIT

• Possess and import wolves
  
• Import furbearers, cervids, nondomestic pigs, peccary, Bovids, coyote, bear, and turkey*
  
• American alligator propagation for commercial use
  
• Southern hognose snakes and sea turtles for research/education
  
• Spotted turtles
  

REGULATES

• Ferrets require special sign be given to buyers
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• Import of certain birds, fish, herp as pets)
  

SOUTH DAKOTA

BANS

• Raccoon dogs except temporary or zoo permit
  
• Physically altering allowed furbearers except de-scenting
  

PERMIT

• Nondomestic felines, canines, bears, weasel family, hyenas, aardwolves, nondomestic even-toed ungulates, tapirs, rhinos, Asian/African elephants, nonhuman primates, and hybrids
  
• Entry of animals
  
• Native species 
  

REGULATES
 

• Diseased nondomestic animals 
  

LEGAL

• 1 raccoon, jackrabbit, skunk, red/gray fox, or coyote as a pet
  

.

TENNESSEE

BANS

• Class I inherently dangerous species, Class II, Class IV, and Class V wildlife*
  
• Class III by nature centers, rehab, or education
  
• Skunks* 
  

PERMIT

• Commercial selling wildlife
  
• Import
  
• Falconry
  

REGULATES

• Canine/feline hybrids <25% wild are domestic animals and need rabies vaccine
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• Class III wildlife
  

TEXAS

BAN

• Wolves* 
  
• All bats
  
• Selling armadillos*
  
• Fox, coyote, raccoon
  
• Protected wildlife not for science, research, education or zoo
  
• Catching coatimundi from the wild  
  

PERMIT

• Alligators
  
• Exotic venomous snakes, African rock pythons, Asiatic rock pythons, green anacondas, reticulated pythons, and Southern African pythons*
  
• Protected wildlife for science, research, education or zoo 
  
• Rehabilitation
  
• Native species
  
• Import of furbearers  
  

 
REGISTRATION

• Dangerous wild animals*  NEW: Caging standards and fees were revised (7/21/17)
  

REGULATES

• Reptile sales by retail stores - need Salmonella notice
  
• Exotic fowl must be confined and separated from wild birds
  
• Dogs, coyotes and hybrids that attack animals may be killed
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• 6+ black list species or 25+ white list species kept for personal possession except coyotes, mountain lion, bobcat, rabbit, American bison, diamondback terrapin, and threatened species
  

UTAH

BANS

• Captive bred bobcats, lynx, and marten collection and as pets
  
• Prohibited wildlife*   
  

PERMIT
 

• Coyote, raccoon
  
• Import
  
• Controlled wildlife
  
• Rehabilitation
  
• Falconry
  
• Wildlife Convention
  

REGISTRATION
 

• Captive bred bobcats, lynx, and marten import/possess/propagation
  
• Furbearers on private wildlife farm
  
• Game birds 
  

REGULATES

• Herp
  
• Taking certain nongame mammals
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• Noncontrolled wildlife

VERMONT

BANS

• Wildlife and hybrid import/possession*  
  
• Unrestricted wild animal exceptions
  

PERMIT

• Wildlife and hybrids for other purposes
  
• Endangered species
  
• Falconry
  
• Rehabilitation
  
• Import of captive furbearers 
  
• Wolf dog kennels 
  

REGULATES

• Primates
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• Wolf dogs (regulated as dogs)
  
• Domestic species
  
• Unrestricted wild animals
  

VIRGINIA

BANS

• Predatory or undesirable animals as pets
  
• NEW: Foxes and certain rabbits not declared by 1/1/18 (Effective 8/1/17)
  

 PERMIT
 

• Predatory or undesirable species for other purposes
  
• Native species
  
• Elementary school displays
  
• Endangered species   
  

REGULATES

• Reptiles must be kept to prevent escape
  
• Allows localities to ban hybrid canines
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• Wolf and domestic feline hybrids
  
• Unlisted exotic species  
  
• Unlisted exotic endangered species as pets
  
• Domestic list species
  

WASHINGTON

BANS

• Potentially dangerous wild animals*
  
• Deleterious exotic wildlife*
  
• Import deleterious exotic wildlife except AZA or research
  
• Import grizzly bears 
  
• Bats, skunks, foxes, raccoons, and coyotes as pets
  
• Certain cervids*
  
• Selling intrastate except AZA or other zoo
  

PERMIT

• Import bat, skunk, fox, raccoon, coyote other purposes
  
• Game birds
  
• Catch wild animals
  
• Rehabilitation 
  
• Scientific collection 
  
• Falconry
  
• Import NEW: Primates no longer need M. bovis testing (Effective 7/17/17)
  

 
REGULATES

• Has authority to regulate wild and exotic pets 
  

WEST VIRGINIA

BANS

• Dangerous wild animals* NEW: Species list and permit fees adopted (4/25/17)
  
• Import of coyote, fox, skunk, raccoon
  

PERMIT

• Dangerous wild animals later added through rules
  
• Native wildlife as pets
  
• Roadside menagerie
  
• Game preserve
  
• Import

WISCONSIN

PERMIT

• Native wildlife not in 16.04(4)(a)
  
• Harmful wild animals
  
• Wild animal markets/dealers/truckers
  

REGULATES

• Wolf hybrids
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• Unlisted exotic animals except certain pheasants & migratory birds
  

WYOMING

BANS

• Trophy animals, big game animals, wolf, wolf hybrids for private use
  
• Prohibited Chapter 10 wildlife* 
  

PERMIT

• Game birds
  
• Chapter 10 wildlife
  

LEGAL/NO PERMIT

• Domestic and domesticated animals
  
• Exempt wildlife