So I am legally allowed to have a pet snake in California. Most other non-native lizards are also legal. Crocodiles are not. If you love gerbils and want to consider other similar wild rodents as pets, there are several that are legal in California, including hamsters, rats, mice, guinea pigs, and chinchillas. Keep in mind that California has much stricter laws than most states regarding legal pets. If you`d like to learn more about other states` laws, here`s a quick overview of exotic pet laws in all 50 states. That`s why it`s important that you know the legal status of an animal before taking it as a pet. Can I own a Canadian cross lynx or a bobcat in California? Gerbils are a very common pet in the United States and some might be surprised to find them on the list of illegal animals in California. However, like ferrets, they are not allowed in the state. Because our climate is so similar to a gerbil`s natural habitat in the desert, officials worry that abandoned and escaped animals could endanger California`s native wildlife and plants by creating wild colonies. Must apply for an annual permit for non-pets in captivity.

The plant must be constructed and approved before the permit is granted. The permit fee is $10.00 per animal, with a maximum of $100.00. The state issues an import permit and can be issued by telephone. The pet licence is also $10.00 per pet up to a maximum of $100 and allows ownership of non-native mammals. Applicants must be non-profit exhibitors. Bobccats and Canada lynx are considered fur-bearing animals, and while the state allows some fur carriers to be kept as pets, it does not allow bobcats and lynx as pets. Servals and savannah cats are legal. Bobcat hunting is legal in some areas of the state. No one is allowed to own or breed a pest exotic animal in the state unless they obtain a possession license issued by the administrator.

This category includes caracals, cheetahs, jaguars, leopards, lions, ocelots, servals and tigers. Bobbcats are classified as furry animals. Fur carriers include bobcat, fox, marten, mink, muskrat, beaver, otter, lynx, fisherman and badger. Of these, lynx and fishermen without legal harvesting are fully protected, and otters have a quota. Lynx are listed as threatened and wolverines as protected non-game. None of the other fur-bearing animals have quotas or limits, with the exception of a few controlled hunts for beavers. Bobbcats can be hunted indefinitely for fur purposes. Other exotic cats can be owned with a license. Savannah cats can be owned with a license. Many of these restrictions seem obvious – such as the ban on owning lions, tigers or bears.

However, since almost anything is possible once you cross the Nevada border, penalties can catch some pet owners off guard. While those who live on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe can legally own a variety of animals, those on the California side who have as much as a hedgehog face penalties, which may include: Call our law firm for legal advice. We offer free consultations. A.R.S. Section 17-306 restricts the transportation, sale and possession of non-domestic animals. People who break the law can be charged with a Class 4 crime. Restricted animals that fall under the law are listed in state regulations. R12-4-406 contains a fairly complete list of prohibited animals. The restricted fauna includes many different species, including tigers, jaguars, lions and other big cats. There are no limits to hunting bobcats. Although Arizona has strict laws regarding the ownership of exotic animals, hybrid cats are legal.

Because quills can still penetrate the skin, and hedgehogs can transmit various diseases such as ringworm and salmonella to humans, they are illegal in California. Question: I read on another site that fennec foxes are legal to possess in California. It`s true? In 2009, New Mexico adopted new import rules. All cats that are not hybrids are considered Group IV and are limited to scientific studies, recovery and recovery plans, zoos, temporary events/entertainment, service animals, or simply a trained professional. Issues zoo permits, Class A parks and scientific study permits. An additional Class A parking permit is required if the facility is larger than 3200 hectares. Has cage and record requirements. New Mexico regulators have just passed new rules banning the capture or capture of cougars for sport. Savannah cats are legal. Bobbcats are protected fur carriers in New Mexico with an established hunting and trapping season from November 1 to March 15. If an exotic animal is kept as a pet, the owner or custodian of the exotic animal must apply to the Ministry for an individual permit on a form provided by the Ministère.

Individual permits issued by the Department become null and void if the owner or custodian transfers ownership or custody of the exotic to another person. The owner or custodian must obtain a separate individual permit for each exotic animal kept as a pet. A background check on an owner or custodian applying for an individual licence may be conducted by the ministry. Owning exotic cats, large and small, is legal in Delaware with a license. If farm animal offspring aren`t as exotic as you`d like, there are still a handful of interesting pets that are legal in California for adventurers. The best thing about these exotic animals? You don`t need a lot of space, so if you`re interested in condos for sale in Irvine CA or other communities in the area, you`ll have plenty of room for these unique animals: although big cat ownership was banned after 8/2005, you are allowed to own 6 bobccats and it is legal to hunt bobcats. With respect to servals and hybrids, if a person wishes to own other animals that are not native to the state and are not listed above, they must, upon request, prove that the animal was legally acquired in the previous state. Like ferrets, gerbils are popular pets in the United States. However, California`s climate resembles the natural desert habitat of a gerbil. As a result, state officials are concerned that gerbils that escape or are released into the wild could establish wild colonies that would harm native crops and plants and animals. This makes keeping a gerbil illegal in California. The California ordinance states that not all members of the equine family are restricted.

Therefore, unless prohibited by another regulation, it would make zebras, wild horses and donkeys and all their hybrids legal. Zebras are not as shocking to own as you might think and are sometimes kept like typical farm animals. They scare away more easily than horses and donkeys and need an experienced trainer in case someone wants to ride them. The idea of riding zebras was popularized by the children`s film Racing Stripes. Pet zebras are more often and judiciously owned than pets, which is interesting to observe. I suspect it will be difficult to get a permit and you will have to prove that you have enough resources, know-how, facilities, time and commitment, etc. to own wild cat species, including the bobcat. And you`ll likely need to renew the permit every year and pay a fee, but please check with the relevant authorities, which are likely the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Ratites are a group of large, flightless birds that include ostrich, emu, rhea and cassowary, the latter being a more dangerous species and susceptible to attack than most illegal mammals. Ostriches are sometimes kept for pleasure, but are often considered alternative cattle bred for their meat. Modern pet owners are finding more and more satisfaction in pets that are a little more exotic, perhaps a monkey or ferret or something even wilder. However, there are few exotic animals that are legal in California.

Note that ferrets are legal under most state laws, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wyoming, and more.