Laws on Keeping Exotic Species

Exotic pets may seem like a great idea, but many times owners just aren't willing to dedicate the time, effort and resources to properly train and take care of their pets. Whether it's a tiger, a mongoose or a chimpanzee, laws govern what exotic pets owners may keep and the necessary documentation.

  1. Federal Laws

    • In the United States, there are no federal laws on keeping any sort of animal as a pet. As far as the federal government is concerned, if you want to keep a tame grizzly bear in your backyard, that is your affair. However, there are federal laws regarding the taxes and tariffs on exotic animals that are imported into the country. These laws are more often the concern of zoos and pet shop owners. However, if an individual wants to import an exotic pet, he'll have to obey the federal restrictions and taxes for his particular animal.

    State Licensing

    • States individually mandate rules on exotic pets. According to Born Free USA, many states, including Arizona and Delaware, require owners of exotic pets to have a license for their animals. The definition of an exotic pet also varies from state to state. For instance, in Delaware a person is required to have a license for a wild animal or a hybrid of a wild animal (such as a wolf or a wolf hound) kept as a pet. Wild animals typically weren't born in captivity, and some states will also use the term "feral animal" instead of wild. The specifics of each state's definition are listed in that state's law.

    State Bans

    • The other popular state approach is to ban the ownership of exotic animals within that state's borders. Some states ban all exotic or wild pets. According to Born Free USA, Alaska doesn't allow any non-domesticated animal to be kept as a pet. Other states have partial bans on exotic pets. An example is Arkansas, which doesn't allow large carnivores like tigers or lions, but will allow up to six bobcats, foxes or other animals that the state considers less exotic. Once again, the definition of a wild animal varies from one state to another, so it's best to check your state's individual rules.