Indiana is one of the most lenient states when it comes to exotic pet ownership. The state issues three classes of licenses, and you can own bears, feral cats, crocodiles, venomous reptiles, and most others with a Class III license. You need a Class II licence to own beavers, coyotes, grey foxes, red foxes, mink, muskrats, possums, raccoons, skunks and weasels. Despite state leniency, you need a Class I license to own many others that don`t require a license in other states, including many rabbits. Captive-bred (not wild) raccoons may be legal in the following states, but make sure they are legal before you get one. – Prohibited animals: lion, tiger, bear, elephant, gray wolf, cheetah, alligator, crocodile, hyena West Virginia`s Exotic Animal Act aims not only to protect humans and pets from potential harm, but also to prevent “mistreatment” of wildlife itself. Humans can apply for permits to possess animals considered potentially dangerous. Those who break the law are subject to tort fees and fees of up to $2,000 for each prohibited animal. In a small number of U.S. states, certain species of foxes are allowed as pets. About 14 states allow private ownership of red foxes, 13 U.S. states allow personal possession of fennec foxes, 11 states require authorization to own at least one fox species that allows it, only 15 U.S. states allow certain fox species with or without a permit.
Since the regulation of exotic animals is left to the states, some organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States, advocate for standardized federal legislation that would prohibit the possession of big cats, bears, primates and large venomous snakes as pets. Indiana is one of the most forgiving states; It does not prohibit animals, but you will need permits for most of them. You will need permits for Class I squirrels and non-domestic rabbits, Class II mammals and dangerous Class III exotic animals, including big cats, bears, wolves, hyenas, venomous reptiles, gorillas, Burmese pythons, anacondas and more. You don`t need permits for common pets, including exotic animals like sugar gliders, ferrets, savannah cats, foxes, prairie dogs, raccoons and skunks. Every U.S. state has exotic or wild animal laws that define whether a species is allowed, prohibited, or requires special permission. You can have a pet crocodile, python or emu in some states, while others have banned rabbits or hamsters. Some U.S.
states are more permissive than others. Find out what your state`s laws are about wild or exotic animals, and before you bring an animal into your home, check with your local jurisdiction to make sure the rules haven`t been changed. Animals in this category are generally not kept as pets, with the obvious exception of ferrets, which are domesticated. Despite domestication and the fact that they pose no threat to public safety, ferrets are illegal in California and Washington DC. No other state, with the exception of Hawaii, has banned these animals, even though they are illegal in New York and require a permit in Rhode Island. Ferrets are kept as pets in California despite the law (to the point that many pet stores find it economical to store supplies for the animal) and do not run the risk of becoming wild and invasive in this state. For bats, laws need to be carefully considered. They probably aren`t legal in most states. Parrots and softbills fit almost all definitions of “exotic” animals: they are not domesticated (despite extensive breeding in captivity), so they retain most of their wild behaviors and are pets that are easy to groom, even a little picky. New York law states that you cannot own wild animals, including non-domestic cats or dogs, bears, crocodiles, venomous reptiles, and primates.
Animals you can keep as pets without permission include sugar gliders, wallabies, kangaroos, capybaras, porcupines and most non-venomous reptiles. – Prohibited animals: crocodile, elephant, lion, tiger, cheetah, hyena Washington bans many usual suspects: bear, certain types of snakes and others. People who owned prohibited animals before the law came into force were allowed to keep their animals until they were adopted. Answer: Yes, there are many states where they are legal. There are also hybrids of servals (Savannah cats), jungle cats and Asian leopard cats (Bengals). Unfortunately, these animals are often lumped together, with the exception of Bengal cats, which tend to be sold with less wild pedigree. These animals are found in most U.S. states, despite claims from organizations like Born Free. Only about five states do not regulate them.
One example is North Carolina, but many counties in that state not only ban these animals, but also severely restrict more common alien species. North Carolina also has special regulations for native cats. Answer: It depends on the type. Alligators are illegal in more states than exotic crocodiles such as some species of caimans. – Prohibited animals: Lion, tiger, ocelot, puma, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, chimpanzee, orangutan Texas requires a registration certificate to possess dangerous wildlife. If an animal attacks a human, the owner must notify the registry within 48 hours – and if it escapes, immediately. – Prohibited animals: coyote, wolf, tiger, lion, non-native bear, monkey Until this year, South Carolina was one of five states in the country with no restrictions on wildlife ownership. 1. In January 2018, a new law made it illegal to own non-native big cats, monkeys or bears. Wolves, coyotes, peccaries (some species related to pigs), bison, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, bears, turkeys and fur-bearing animals are also prohibited. On July 1, 2021, a law goes into effect that requires many more people to have a state license before they can own or care for wildlife in Arizona. There are permits for rehabilitation, bat dealers, private game farms, scientific activities, and storage and replenishment of the White Amur.
Each licence has its own provisions on what you can and cannot have. If a resident decides to leave Arizona, in most cases it is illegal to take the animal with them. Animals cannot be sold, but must be given to another person. The 6 US states have no restrictions on bear keeping (Nevada, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina). Because of the danger associated with pet ownership, some states completely prohibit the possession of wild or exotic animals, while most simply limit ownership to certain species. For example, South Carolina prohibits the possession of lions as pets, but you can still own a monkey. In Arkansas, you can own bobcats, but no more than six at a time. South Dakota allows you to keep a bear on your property, but domestic pigs are prohibited. Wooden rattlesnakes and eastern copper heads can only be kept as pets if they are legally taken from the wild and require a venomous snake license. Pet owners are limited to a wooden rattlesnake. – Prohibited animals: lion, tiger, bear, elephant, alligator, monkey, serval The state of Ohio considers hippos, Komodo dragons and howler monkeys, as well as other animals, dangerous.