Illegal Animals In Your State

I would first like to make it known that this thread is not for the discussion of knowingly obtaining, possessing, selling, propagating, or trying to do any of these with animals that are considered illegal in your home state. This is merely a discussion on what is and what isn't legal where you live and why.

Personally, I like a variety of different animals, and it seems everywhere I look, at least one animal on my "List" is illegal in some state or another. Here are a few examples.

In the state of Virginia, it is illegal to have a serval (african wild cat) for personal reasons. You have to be an exhibitor and obtain all the necessary permits. Now, I wouldn't mind getting permits for personal possession since I would like to keep a serval in my home (there are states that allow this if you get the permits and are inspected), but going so far as to get a exhibitor's license is a bit much for someone like me who doesn't wish to run a zoo or educational program. But, this beautiful cat remains on my "List".

In the state of California, where my husband was born and where we have considered moving to in the future, has the domestic ferret listed as a banned species. The reason is because they do not want ferrets getting loose and forming a wild population and threaten their wildlife. While some ferrets have a wonderful hunting instinct, it is highly unlikely they would get out and form a wild population as the majority of ferrets in the pet trade are spayed/neutered. Dogs and cats pose more of a threat than ferrets in this case.

In New York City, ball pythons are illegal. While they are a small python that would most definitely perish in the cold New York winters, they remain a banned pet within city limits.

So, are there any animals you'd like to own but currently cannot due to your states laws on exotic animals?

Another question....is there any way to make changes in our own state to make these animals legal to possess for personal reasons?

I disagree with the statements on this site regarding keeping reptiles, but I'm only posting it because it contains some of WA state's laws.
http://www.paws.org/exotic-animals.html
You cannot own an animal native to WA without proper permits and licenses.
You cannot own a potentially dangerous exotic animal in Washington.
http://www.bornfreeusa.org/b4a2_exot...state.php?s=wa
blah blah blah...:/
Veterinary Care:

While 17 states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia) require that pet shops provide veterinary care to sick or injured animals, only 2 of them (Kansas and Nebraska) require that each pet shop devise, in conjunction with a licensed veterinarian, a written program preventing disease, parasitic infestations, and injuries for the animals housed at the pet shop. A number of states require a certificate of health to accompany animals when they are transported across state lines for sale at a pet shop; other states require these health certificates prior to offering the animal for sale regardless of whether or not the animals were imported to the state.
You cannot own venomous snakes, as per a state law passed in '07:
Washington: H 1418 Prohibits Dangerous Wild Animals as Pets

API Position: SUPPORT

Bill Description: If passed, this legislation will ban the future private possession of dangerous wild animals as "pets," including elephants, lions and other large wild cats, wolves, bears, non-human primates, and venomous snakes. Persons possessing a dangerous wild animal prior to the effective date of the act would be allowed to keep the animal. Dangerous wild animals possessed in violation of the law would be subject to confiscation. The animals also could be confiscated if they pose a public safety risk. Violators of the law would face a civil penalty. The bill does not apply to accredited zoos, animal shelters, animal control, wildlife rehabilitators, accredited wildlife sanctuaries, and circuses.

Read More
(which ticks me off a lot).
API and born free really annoy me...:mad:

...illegal animals include... Reptiles on this list are cobras, kraits, mambas, Australian tigere snakes, coral snakes, sea snakes, water monitors, crocodile monitors, rattlesnakes, boomslang snake, bushmasters, cottonmouth snakes, puff addders, gaboon vipers, crocodiles, caimans, alligators and gavials

In Illinois you can't own a skunk.

I know here in GA you can't own Cornsnakes, Anoles, Fence Lizards, or even Hedgehogs. What I don't understand, and please excuse my ignorance, but why can't you own species that are already native to where you live?

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Originally Posted by The Hedgehog

... What I don't understand, and please excuse my ignorance, but why can't you own species that are already native to where you live?

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I believe there may be two primary reasons behind laws like this:

1. They don't want the wild population hunted to extinction for the sake of the pet trade.

2. People are even more likely to release captive pets into the wild if the know their wild counterparts already live and thrive in the area. This is both cruel to the captive pets AND dangerous to the wild populations when they are potentially exposed to exotic germs and parasites picked up in the pet industry but not found in their native environments.

There may be some other reason...but those spring to mind right away.

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Originally Posted by JLC

I believe there may be two primary reasons behind laws like this:

1. They don't want the wild population hunted to extinction for the sake of the pet trade.

2. People are even more likely to release captive pets into the wild if the know their wild counterparts already live and thrive in the area. This is both cruel to the captive pets AND dangerous to the wild populations when they are potentially exposed to exotic germs and parasites picked up in the pet industry but not found in their native environments.

There may be some other reason...but those spring to mind right away.

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Ok, that actually makes some sense. I wish we could own cornsnakes here. I love their colors and patterns. :D

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Originally Posted by The Hedgehog

Ok, that actually makes some sense. I wish we could own cornsnakes here. I love their colors and patterns. :D

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i bet you can just not normals.

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Originally Posted by lilbit

i bet you can just not normals.

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Nope...Georgia is very strict about their native snakes. NO corn snakes at all. You CAN have some kingsnakes such as the California Kings because that is a species not native to Georgia even though some kingsnakes are. But they consider all corn snakes to be the same, no matter where it's been bred or how many generations in captivity or how many different genetic morphs it might display.

As far as I know there are zero state regulations in Minnesota regarding regulation of pet reptiles.

Hots, crocodilians, giant constrictors, and everything else are good to go.

Many cities and towns however have restrictions in place. I know that Northfield (the town where I went to college) specifically restricts venomous reptiles.

I don't know much about other exotic pets in Minnesota, but I believe that there are regulations that specifically mention native wild animals (wolves, raccoons, skunks, porcupines, etc). However I don't know what those regulations say.

I live in Canada but we have very similar laws NO Native species at all. That means no skunks and garter snakes for example. The odd one for me is no hognose snakes, they are venomous but ... hardly (under that thought so are garter snakes...) oh well. There is also a max lengh of 3m.

Another reason for no native species could be due some CBB's have different types of parasites or possible diseases that the wild population doesn't and vice versa hence a released pet could jepordize the wild ones. This is true of Desert Torts.....

In AZ you cannot own a hedgehog....I love those!!!! I may be able to get one once I am granted my wildlife handling lic. here. But I still have to be approved on a pet by pet basis. In AZ it is quite difficult to get the lic. The only reason I am getting it is due to the work that I do with schools in regards to the reptiles.

California no gerbils no ferrets and sadly ASFS live asfs that is you can ship them frozen but try tellin that to an asf breeder lol ine if these days ill drive to another state and pick some up

I live in Las Vegas and we have desert tortoises out here, but its illegal for any one to sell them. You can "rescue" one from a rescue or get one from someone who them (free of charge of course), and you get fined BIG TIME if you take one from the wild

Pitbulls can and will be shot here in Colorado no matter if its a puppy or an Eye Seeing Dog!(way to go Michael Vick) Some citys you cant own any reptile that grows more then 6feet.

I live in California... we have statewide bans on ferrets (as already mentioned), gerbils, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, ASFs, and probably a bunch of others. You can have them "grandfathered" in sometimes, if you already had the pet before moving here - lots of people bring ferrets from other states, and are legally allowed to do so. We also have boid restrictions in certain cities, but they're not banned statewide.

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Originally Posted by frenchy

California no gerbils no ferrets and sadly ASFS live asfs that is you can ship them frozen but try tellin that to an asf breeder lol ine if these days ill drive to another state and pick some up

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Psssst... if you're willing to drive a bit, they sell frozen ASFs at Pet Kingdom in San Diego. I picked up a bag on a trip there once, for my picky girl Nerissa. :gj:

Really thNks ill have to do that

Can anyone tell me what, if any, restrictions there are about transporting a python across state lines, from CA to AZ?

Im pretty sure no natives

And I saw somewhere (i cant find it now...) The Town of Hampstead in Carroll County MD posted a new Ordinance for NO EXOTICS-

ie: Ferrets, Snakes, certain birds, Ostriches etc...

And in the City of Baltimore there is to be NO PITBULLS (from what i have heard)

I also heard something about no Hedgehogs from out of state. Must be from a breeder or store in the state and must have proof of paperwork.

Illegal animals in Florida include: chimpanzees.. gorillas.. jaguars.. lions and tigers and bears.. oh my!.. crocodiles, except dwarf and congo.. komodo dragons..

Some animals you must have a permit for: bearded sakis.. proboscis monkeys.. bobcats.. wolves.. dwarf crocodiles.. alligators, except American.. ostrich..

Some animals that no restrictions apply to: reptiles/amphibians, non-protected and non-venomous.. gerbils.. hedgehogs.. ferrets.. doves.. chinchillas..

As of last year, you cannot acquire any Burmese pythons, African rock pythons, or 4 other non-native species. If you owned them before the ban, you can keep them if you get a $100/year permit and have the snake microchipped.

Protected reptiles/amphibians in Florida include: blunt-nosed leopard lizards.. San Fransisco garter snakes.. Santa Cruz long-toed salamanders.. limestone salamanders.. black toads..

Crocodiles/alligators of any kind cannot be kept for the use of their meat and/or hide.

http://exoticpets.about.com/gi/o.htm...fl%2368A-6.002
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/...da-just-start/
http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/s...hgcode5000.htm

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

I live in Canada but we have very similar laws NO Native species at all. That means no skunks and garter snakes for example. The odd one for me is no hognose snakes, they are venomous but ... hardly (under that thought so are garter snakes...) oh well. There is also a max lengh of 3m.

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I live Ontario Canada and it was my understanding that you could keep native species provided they are not endangered. for example I know that spotted turtles, black rats, hognose, eastern massasauga ect are permitted it was my understanding that species like garders and fox snakes were permitted. I know at least up until a few years ago that an Ontario fishing licence stated that the bearer could posses up to 2 common snapping turtles "for personal use". I’m sure the intent for the snappers be taken as food but an old friend of mine and former O.H.S president used this "loop hole" to keep to snappers as pets for years with no problems that I know of. as far as banned species most non indigenous vegetarian insects like African land snails are prohibited by agriculture Canada while things like venomous animals, crocks or large constrictors are regulated by municipal by laws. for example here in Toronto where I live you are not allowed anything "hot", no snakes that reach an adult size greater than 3 meters (about 9'), lizards bigger than 2 meters (about6'), croc's and an assortment of other animals ranging from domestic live stock to big cats, bears, elephants, ect ect. one species I’m actually curios about is the timber rattlesnake, although their range does include southern Ontario most people consider it an extirpated species in Ontario as the last sighting that I’m aware of was in the 70's. So if you are not allowed to keep any indigenous species I wonder if this species would be covered.

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Originally Posted by chosen2030

Can anyone tell me what, if any, restrictions there are about transporting a python across state lines, from CA to AZ?

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i'm not from the states so i could be wrong but im pretty sure the only concern would be is the animal in question is cities appendix 1. in which case i belive you would need to ubtain a permit to transport across state lines. but i could be wrong.

Im not from the US, but i thought i would join in from Norway.
No exotic pets,
Reptiles are not allowed, unless you owned it befor the ban in 1972.
You can get a permit to keep turtles if you are allergic to all animals with hair.:rolleye2:
A bunch of dog breeds including pitbulls, Fila brasileiro , tosa, amstaff, dogo argentino and the list goes on.

In California, it's not just wolves that are illegal, but wolf hybrids too. (this I found out recently, actually) Any kind of feline hybrids are allowed though.

Ferrets are illegal, but honestly.. the most easily acquired illegal pet that I know of. It's not that attentive of a law, to be honest. All petstores have ferret supplies, Petco has an entire section for them! :P It's pretty silly.

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Originally Posted by jason_ladouceur

i'm not from the states so i could be wrong but im pretty sure the only concern would be is the animal in question is cities appendix 1. in which case i belive you would need to ubtain a permit to transport across state lines. but i could be wrong.

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I had 2 BPs when i moved to Cali form AZ and i had no problems crossing the border. just keep them in a bag at your feet and they wont even ask. I had a HUGE aquarium in my back seat filled with all of their nessecities and i had No questions. Good Luck!

Ohios recently passed laws and Im not sure what they are or if there still writing/rewriting because of the new Governor.From what Im reading it isnt real specific yet? Sounds like most of everything will be illegal. Anyone know anything about this.

Vermont

Category: B

Summary of Law: It is unlawful for persons to possess exotic animals, such as large felines, bears, wolves, poisonous reptiles, and non-human primates as "pets." Persons may possess exotic animals for exhibition and educational purposes if they obtain a permit. Please note that the state statute says a person may not bring into the state or possess an exotic animal unless they obtain a permit. However, no personal possession permits for "pets" are issued to individual

However, before I got into reptiles I looked into this law and i found it really vague in itself then I found the "list" every state has one and it has every single animal that is or isn't legal. Vt is pretty decent. Hot snakes and the big ones are restricted, but heres the big list http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/lib...nimal_List.pdf

In Delaware you not allow any hots, only 1 of any native snake that not endangered( so corns are not allowed unless you get them out of the state and ar morphs ) bunch a paper work I found out years ago to get grandfathered in to that .
The newest screwed up regs ( to me ) 25 perevery 3 years for any exotic animal and you can't breed them. I got a sellers permit it like 35 a year so I can breed bps. but boas, and largers snakes no breeding without a credited zoo permit. I also know no animal like gaters, bears, skunks, wolves and such more less it a cat and dog state and in some spots can't even have a snake( kent and new castle counties total banned) something about needing to have a like a 1 acrea of land. I know people that have .99 acrea and get denied in the rural areas. but the sam person can have stuff like goats, horses, and cattle lol..
Some laws/regulations make no reason at all.

i know ferrets are not banned altogether here in south carolina but this is a ferret unfriendly state. i want one or 2 but i'm kinda shying away from it cuz i dont know how unfriendly the state is, like would i get fined for having 'em? dunno dont wanna find out either, haha. hey, if corn snakes are illegal in georgia...we're only a state away, are they illegal here too?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

In the state of California, where my husband was born and where we have considered moving to in the future, has the domestic ferret listed as a banned species. The reason is because they do not want ferrets getting loose and forming a wild population and threaten their wildlife. While some ferrets have a wonderful hunting instinct, it is highly unlikely they would get out and form a wild population as the majority of ferrets in the pet trade are spayed/neutered. Dogs and cats pose more of a threat than ferrets in this case.

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I agree with everything you said. I live in CA and own 3 ferrets. CA actually has the highest population of ferrets in the US. And 1/3 of ferret supplies in the country is estimated to be sold in CA.(They even have their own section in the local Petco/Petsmart)

They are illegal for horrible unjustified reasons.

Side info: Ferrets are 100% dependent on human care. While mine are trained to eat live prey + kibble, the majority of ferrets in the country are fed kibble. They wouldn't know what to do with a prey animal even if they some how were able to catch it w/o human aide or training.....They have the minds of a kitten or puppy. Survival in the wild is almost 0%. So going feral isn't really an option. They only feral colony in international history is said to be polecat hybrids, so that doesn't really count as being "domestic ferrets going feral". And as Jay_Bunny stated, all commercial ferrets are spayed/neutered before leaving the breeding facility to the pet store.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frenchy

California no gerbils no ferrets and sadly ASFS live asfs that is you can ship them frozen but try tellin that to an asf breeder lol ine if these days ill drive to another state and pick some up

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There are many ferrets and ASFs in CA.
I've found 2 different breeders up in Norcal.


And whoever said it's legal to bring ferrets into the state is wrong. I attend Department Fish and Game meetings to legalize ferrets, and they are ILLEGAL in all forms. You cannot possess or purchase a ferret in California w/o special permits(educational/research). They are however, legal to take to a veterinarian's office.

someone already gave a link to vermonts but in vermont you also cannot buyany poisonous animals (mAny people still own them) and you cannot own any animal that can live through the winter that is a non native. i know many people that have brought wild animals in as pets in this state and never gotten into any trouble for it....

Colorado banned all Pit Bulls. I guess more people are scared of a dog than a deer or ram here.

This is the full list from Virginia's Administrative Code:

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...g+4VAC15-30-40

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mechnut450

In Delaware you not allow any hots, only 1 of any native snake that not endangered( so corns are not allowed unless you get them out of the state and ar morphs ) bunch a paper work I found out years ago to get grandfathered in to that .
The newest screwed up regs ( to me ) 25 perevery 3 years for any exotic animal and you can't breed them. I got a sellers permit it like 35 a year so I can breed bps. but boas, and largers snakes no breeding without a credited zoo permit. I also know no animal like gaters, bears, skunks, wolves and such more less it a cat and dog state and in some spots can't even have a snake( kent and new castle counties total banned) something about needing to have a like a 1 acrea of land. I know people that have .99 acrea and get denied in the rural areas. but the sam person can have stuff like goats, horses, and cattle lol..
Some laws/regulations make no reason at all.

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Yeah, Delaware is a complete joke in MANY ways. I'd gladly move back to PA but it's so cheap to live here...Wonder why. Haha

ASFs are illegal here in GA. Any local snake snake is illegal to have. The one that drives me crazy is indigos because i would LOVE to have one! Pine snakes, hognose, rat snake, milksnake, cornsnakes - all illegal.

Full list here.

Mammals -

Armadillo
Bats, all species
Black Bear
Bobcat
Chipmunk
Cottontail Rabbit
Coyote
Cougar
Flying Squirrel
Fox Squirrel
Gray Fox
Gray Squirrel
Groundhog
Marsh Rabbit
Mink
Mole
Muskrat
Opossum
Pocket Gopher
Raccoon
Red Fox
River Otter
Skunk
Swamp Rabbit
Weasel
White-tailed Deer

Reptiles and Amphibians -

Alligator
Alligator Snapping Turtle
Black Racer
Bog Turtle
Box Turtle (Eastern, Florida, Gulf Coast, Three-toed)
Brown Snake
Coachwhip
Corn Snake
Crayfish Snake (Glossy, Striped)
Crowned Snake (Southeastern, Central Florida)
Diamondback Terrapin
Earth Snake (Rough, Smooth)
Fence Lizard
Flatwoods Salamander
Florida Worm Lizard
Garter Snake
Georgia Blind Salamander
Glass Lizard (Eastern, Island, Mimic, Slender)
Gopher Tortoise
Green Anole
Green Salamander
Hellbender
Hognose Snake (Eastern, Southern)
Indigo Snake
Kingsnake (Black, Eastern, Mole, Scarlet)
Map Turtle (Alabama, Barbour's, Common)
Milksnake
Mud Snake
One-toed Amphiuma
Pigeon Mountain Salamander
Pine Snake (Florida, Northern)
Pine Woods Snake
Queen Snake
Rainbow Snake
Rat Snake (Black, Gray, Yellow)
Redbellied Snake
Ribbon Snake
Ringneck Snake
Rough Green Snake
Scarlet Snake
Sea Turtle (Green, Hawksbill, Leatherback, Loggerhead, Ridley)
Six-lined Racerunner
Skink (Broadhead, Coal, Five-lined, Southeastern Five-lined, Ground, Mole)
Spotted Turtle
Striped Newt
Water Snake (Banded, Brown, Florida Green, Northern, Redbelly)
Worm Snake

Here in Tennessee you can't have turtles or tortoise. The pet shops have to have a special (very expensive) permit to even sell colubrids. So most of them don't carry them.

My home town of Council Bluffs, IA bans the sale of any constrictors at pet stores in its city limits. So no corns, balls, or pretty much ANY snake. Also it's illegal to have a pitbull in Council Bluffs, and pit mixes have to have insurance.

In PA you can't own hedgehogs, sugar gliders, quacker parrots and anything native.

I live in Alberta, Canada and other than poisonous snakes, etc, we are a rat free province.

I just recently learned that ASFs are legal, but normal rats are only available frozen.


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I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?4cjaoe

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

I live in Alberta, Canada and other than poisonous snakes, etc, we are a rat free province.

I just recently learned that ASFs are legal, but normal rats are only available frozen.


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I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?4cjaoe

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venemous*.
;)

Sorry, I'm a n00b. Ahaha xD

Bobbafett that is ok easily done. In my provence (NS) one municipality has illegalized poisonous snakes... I don't believe there are any... :D oh and another accidentally placed dogs as not legal too...

Types of wildcats cant be all though.
There are many more for Virginia right? I so badly want a coyote, but I don't know if it is legal in Virginia State.

Aaron! It's a zombie invasion!

not many here. was looking when i got my hedgehog.

mostly fish or any animals outside the state like out of state fox, coyete, stuff like that. no reptiles are mentioned

Jeez, I sincerely hope there aren't any weird rules about transporting pythons across the AZ/CA border. Several of my females come from CA, and I've sold a pied and a cinny to CA buyers this year.

What BPelizabeth said about desert tortoises: in both Maricopa and Pima counties you're only supposed to have one captive tortoise per property, and it's supposed to be registered. You're never supposed to breed them, and you're never supposed to reintroduce them into the wild, because they could have picked up non-native parasites brought over by European and African imports. (Also, in Phoenix, a lot of the tortoise are desert/California hybrids, so aren't strictly native.)

People break all of these rules, of course: I know Tucsonans who have had their (mated) pair of desert tortoises in the family for generations, and they never even knew these laws existed. They found out when they found a bunch baby tortoises bopping around their yard and did a google search on husbandry.

There are all sorts of rules about capturing and keeping native animals. I've really only looked into tortoise and arizona green rat snakes, because those are the ones I've thought about keeping. Most of the rules are about protection of the native population.

I think its unusual that in GA all non-venomous natives are illegal, but you can keep native venomous without permits... last time I checked with GA DNR permits were only required for exotic venomous.