Laws regarding the ownership of exotic animals as pets vary by state in the United States. While an exotic animal may be legal to keep as pet in one state, another state may prohibit it. For instance, Serval cats are legal in Alabama and Michigan but not in Colorado and Georgia. So, the point of this article is to list the top exotic animals that are legal to own in each state. I have already made lists of legal exotic pets in Arkansas, Georgia, Montana, and Florida.
Alabama
A Class II permit is required to possess the following top ten exotic animals in Alabama:
- Caracal
- African golden cat
- Temminck's golden cat
- Fishing cat
- Jackal
- Indian dhole
- Honey badger
- Binturong
- Howler monkey
- Uakari
Alaska
Below are the top legal exotic pets in Alaska, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:
- Alpaca
- Chinchilla
- European Ferret
- Mongolian gerbil
- African pygmy hedgehog
- Guinea pig
- Golden hamster
- Llama
- European rabbit
- Junglefowl
- Parakeet
- Camel
Arizona
Top eight legal exotic pets in Arizona:
- Capybara
- Sugar glider
- Wallaby
- African Crested Porcupine
- African pygmy hedgehog
- Short-tailed opossum
- Chinchilla
- Python
California
Top ten legal exotic pets in California:
- Zebra
- Hamster
- Chinchilla
- Chameleon
- Asian Water Buffalo
- Chinese Water Dragon
- Alpaca
- Guinea Pig
- Ostrich
- Bearded Dragon
Colorado
Top fourteen exotic animals that are legal to own as pets in Colorado:
- Gerbil
- South American ostrich
- Weasel
- Domestic yak
- Emu
- Donkey
- Camel
- Chinchilla
- European ferret
- Hamster
- Hedgehog
- Sugar glider
- Wallaby
- Short-tailed opossum
Connecticut
Sugar gliders, Hedgehogs, Degus, and Sugar gliders are legal to keep as exotic pets in Connecticut.
Delaware
Top ten legal exotic pets in Delaware:
- Iguana
- Bearded dragon
- Opossum
- Sugar glider
- Basilisks
- Chinchilla
- Degu
- Chameleon
- Gerbil
- Hedgehog
Hawaii
Rabbits, Chinchillas, Guinea pigs, Peafowls, and Vietnamese Pot-bellied pigs are legal to keep as exotic pets in the state of Hawaii.
Idaho
African hedgehogs, Sugar gliders, Llamas, Alpacas, Weasels, Chinchillas, and Guinea pigs are legal to possess as pets in Idaho.
Illinois
Top four exotic animals that can be legally kept as pets in the state of Illinois:
- European starling
- Western Swamphen
- Python
- Rock pigeon
Indiana
Below are some exotic animals you can keep as pets with a permit in Indiana:
- Ferret
- Guinea pig
- Eastern cottontail
- Weasel
- Opossum
- African serval
- Caracal
- African golden cat
- Fishing cat
- Leopard cat
Iowa
Iowa law prohibits residents from keeping wild and exotic animals as pets.
Kansas
Armadillos, Moles, Norway rats, Eurasian collared doves, and Feral pigeons are legal to own in Kansas.
Kentucky
Top ten legal exotic pets in Kentucky:
- Guineafowl
- Llama
- Parakeet
- Guinea pig
- Cockatoo
- Chinchilla
- Toucan
- Budgerigar
- Peafowl
- Gerbil
Louisiana
Wild or exotic animals are prohibited from being kept as pets in the state of Louisiana.
Maine
Guinea pigs, hamsters, and Sugar gliders are legal to keep as pets in the state of Maine.
Maryland
Iguanas, Hedgehogs, Capybaras, Chinchillas, Guinea pigs, Sugar gliders, and Pot-bellied pigs may be kept as pets in Maryland.
Massachusetts
Top ten legal exotic pets in Massachusetts:
- Emu
- Toucan
- Cairo spiny mouse
- Myna
- African pygmy hedgehog
- Chinchilla
- Degu
- Golden hamster
- Sugar glider
- Egyptian goose
Michigan
There is no formal list of exotic animals that are legal to keep as pets in Michigan.
Minnesota
Minnesota pet lovers can keep Guinea pigs, Sugar gliders, Degus, Gerbils, Hedgehogs, Chinchillas, and Hamsters as pets.
Mississippi
Servals, jungle cats, and caracals are legal to own in Mississippi.
Missouri
The following exotic animals can legally be kept as pets in Missouri: Margays, Jaguarundis, Ocelots, and Macaques.
Nebraska
Chinchillas, Guinea pigs, and Ferrets are legal to own in Nebraska.
Nevada
Top 10 legal exotic pets in the state of Nevada:
- Monkey
- Toucan
- Alpaca
- Hamster
- Gerbil
- Guinea pig
- Parakeet
- Domestic canary
- Emu
- European ferret
New Hampshire
The following exotic animals are legal to own in New Hampshire:
- Asian water buffalo
- Sugar glider
- Tenrecs
- African pygmy hedgehogs
- Camel
- Guanaco
- Chinchilla
- Ostrich
- Emu
- Pekin robin
New Jersey
The following 12 exotic animals can legally be kept as pets in New Jersey:
- Flying squirrel
- Ostrich
- Boa constrictor
- Kinkajou
- Coati
- Hedgehog
- Wallaby
- Sloth
- Capybara
- Alpaca
- Opossum
- Budgerigar
New Mexico
Sugar Gliders, Short tail opossums, Central American Boa Constrictors, Hog Isle Boa Constrictors, and Northwestern salamanders are legal to keep as pets in New Mexico.
New York
The following exotic animals are legal to keep as pets in the state of New York:
- Fennec Fox
- Coati
- Binturong
- Capybara
- Honey Glider
- Porcupine
- Wallaby
- Kangaroo
- Sloth
- Kinkajou
- Boa Constrictor
North Carolina
There are no state-wide laws in the state of North Carolina regulating the ownership of exotic animals.
North Dakota
Some legal exotic pets in North Dakota include but are not limited to Hamsters, Guinea pigs, Gerbils, Sugar gliders, Degus, Hedgehogs, Chinchillas, Peafowls, Guinea fowls, and Chukars.
Ohio
Exotic pets seem to be illegal in Ohio.
Oklahoma
To 13 legal exotic pets in Oklahoma:
- Fennec fox
- Zebra
- Sugar glider
- Wallaby
- Kangaroo
- Coatamundi
- Civet
- Donkey
- Hedgehog
- Hamster
- Chinchilla
- Guinea pig
- Vicuña
Oregon
Top legal exotic pets in Oregon:
- Kinkajou
- Four-toed hedgehog
- Coati
- Binturong
- Zebra
- Chinchilla
- Donkey
- Guinea pig
- Gerbil
- Hamster
- Vicuna
- Emu
- Parakeet
- Ostrich
- Kangaroo
- Wallaby
Pennsylvania
Virtually all exotic animals are illegal to keep as pets in Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island allows many exotic animals to be kept as pets including water buffalos, hamsters, Guinea pigs, Llamas, Degus, Norway rats, African pygmy hedgehogs, Mongolian gerbils, Egyptian spiny mice, and Sugar gliders.
South Carolina
While owning an exotic pet is not banned in South Carolina, there is no formal list of exotic animals that are legal to own in The Palmetto State. However, some South Carolina pet owners do continue to keep exotic animals as pets in the state.
South Dakota
Raccoon dogs, Tapirs, Hyenas, and nonhuman primates are legal in South Dakota.
Tennessee
You need a permit to keep the following exotic animals as pets in Tennessee: Camels, Chinchillas, Giraffes, Hamsters, Guinea pigs, Gerbils, Hares, Guanacos, and Vicunas.
Texas
Top 10 legal exotic pets in Texas:
- Asian Leopard Cat
- Kangaroo
- Callitrichidae
- Spotted Genet
- Coati
- Galago
- Capybara
- Kinkajou
- Sloth
- Lemur
Utah
The following exotic animals are legal in Utah: Water buffalos, Norway rats, Ostriches, European rabbits, Hedgehogs, Hamsters, Llamas, Gerbils, Sugar gliders, Fennec foxes, Emus, and Chinchillas.
Vermont
Boas, Pythons, African pygmy hedgehogs, Gerbils, Hamsters, Sugar gliders, Agoutis, Tegus, and Collared lizards are legal to keep as pets in the state of Vermont.
Virginia
Top 10 legal exotic pets in Virginia:
- Donkeys
- Pot-bellied pigs
- Hamsters
- Llamas
- Camels
- Chinchillas
- Guinea pigs
- European rabbits
- Guinea fowls
- Gerbils
Washington
Washington State does not list exotic animals that are allowed to keep as pets.
West Virginia
Any exotic animal that does not appear under the list of prohibited animals in West Virginia may be legal to keep as a pet.
Wisconsin
Weasels, Opossums, Pocket gophers, and English sparrows are legal to keep as pets in Wisconsin.
Wyoming
Top 13 legal exotic pets in Wyoming:
- Vicunas
- Porcupines
- Jackrabbits
- European rabbits
- Ponies
- Guinea pigs
- Hamsters
- Llamas
- Milk snakes
- Emus
- Mallards
- Donkeys
- Camels
