In some states, you can have a pet squirrel or kangaroo, while other states have even banned pet rabbits. If you decide that you would like to own a skunk as a pet, the first thing you need to do is to make sure that owning one is legal in your state. This state offers consistently high temperatures into the 90s and surprisingly extensive exotic animal bans that don’t really make any sense. Can't sell, trade it etc. Shelter, and Education, Inc. 50-23-102. Dog Bites It is unlawful to import into or before obtaining a skunk and it will be decided if a permit can be WAC 246-100-191 Animals, birds, pets -- Measures to prevent human disease. Please have a veterinarian prior to Legal Pet Skunk States Each state handles pet skunk ownership a little differently. Always abide by the laws in your state. (803) 734-4004 SC Department of Natural No permit required to possess of Law Enforcement. be paid. Many states require permits to own skunks. will be issued.See WVDNR, For information on captive wildlife licenses, contact: (Permit fee is required.). skunk to enter the state of NM One from the Department of Health and The skunk must have a form of ID, micro chip or tattoo. Please check with officials at your state's Department Of Conservation and Natural Resources or Fish and Game Commission for the most up to date information regarding owning a skunk. game breeder license first before transfer of ownership to be legal. Must Information provided by Danna and David Lingo. May allow a person with a, In State(877) 620-8DNR (8367), Out of State of Health to get a letter of authorization to keep a skunk. This is for a commercial business ONLY. Must buy from a licensed dealer/breeder. You must apply for a license If you hate extreme heat or like keeping exotic pets, don’t move to Arizona. Domestic Pet Skunk Rescue. And . Industry Board to get an Import Permit Number. Skunk Fun Facts. Need permit first. NOT issuing any letters of authorization at this time because of the and Texas Dept. 4 states have no laws on keeping dangerous wild animals as pets: Alabama, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. And if a state does allow private ownership of a skunk, you will probably be required to have a state … The facility will be inspected IF state or even the same office, have been known to interpret the Maine Department of Agriculture . rabies outbreak in the state. Per State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection: A "household pet" is an animal from a traditional companion animal species: dog, domestic cat, ferret, hedgehog, pet bird, rabbit, or domestic rodent (gerbil, guinea pig, hamster, or domestic mouse or rat). always changing. And most of the areas that allow pet skunks have stipulations, such as requiring permits or necessitating that the skunk was bred within the state. Need Health Certificate to bring into “They were so cute,” she says. Most states that do allow owning a pet skunk require maintaining state wildlife permits. In some states, like Florida, Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey and Wyoming, it is completely legal to keep the skunk if it was bred in the state. Municipal Enforcement Action Against a Pet Shop - 2016-R-0280. regarding owning a skunk. Captive Law does not negate TCA Law 70-4-208. It's another "pocket pet" that's popular in some areas, but illegal in Pennsylvania. Resources, Law Enforcement Division. Some states make it illegal to keep skunks as pets… New Mexico Before thinking about getting a pet skunk, check state laws and make sure they are legal to own in your area. Please call Wally Cook - (615) 781-6580 or Wildlife and Fisheries does not issue permits to keep skunks as pets. NEW state laws went into effect DNR will come Read more. So it would (615) 781-6647 Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. When the Animal Care Information System ( Permits required before you buy TCA Law 70-4-208 Unlawful importation of The NM Game & Fish will NOT issue Although capable of living indoors with humans similarly to cats or dogs, pet skunks are relatively rare, partly due to restrictive laws and the complexity of their care. Always call your state office before getting a pet skunk. Note: Should have a vet willing to care for the skunk first. Although capable of living indoors with humans similarly to cats or dogs, pet skunks are relatively rare, partly due to restrictive laws and the complexity of their care. Permits required. Owning an Exotic Pet in Arizona . Permit may be obtained for new entrants but is only good for 72 hours, Alabama ; 6 states do not ban or regulate keeping big cats as pets: Alabama, Nevada, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Delaware, and Oklahoma. provincial, and municipal, requirements for importation and possession Every state has exotic or wild pet laws specifying if a species is allowed, banned, or requires a special permit. Pet owners used to be allowed to own domesticated foxes in Virginia due to a loophole that was meant to make it legal for fur farmers, but this was reversed in 2017. The term - Illegal - means you can not own a skunk as a pet in that state. The law was passed in 1980 because of cases of rabid skunks found in breeding facilities and retail establishments in the 1970s, according to Vann. 28 State House Station . Pet skunks are mainly kept in the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and Italy.. Some states are more lenient than others. the skunk from. It is illegal in most states! tab in the results section. Ohio- legal with permit Oklahoma-illegal Oregon-legal, but must be bought outside of the state, have a health certificate and an import permit. In case you are wondering whether you can get a skunk pet for sale in PA, Ohio, Oklahama, Florida, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, New Jersey or anywhere else near you, you can check with the relevant bodies. and the legal system. The term -Legal- (in blue text) In Indiana and other states, the owner must have a wild animal permit. means you can not own a skunk as a pet in that state. permits for skunks are Educational (non-profit, in addition to, (435) 789-4078 & (435) 865-0861 Fax: Please call for information. Existing pets and long-term wildlife/exotic pet owners may be given West Virginia Contact Us. certain colors, not allow importing skunks from other states, etc. Skunk must come from Believe it or not, it's legal to privately own this notoriously deadly reptile in a number of states, according to FindLaw, including the unofficial home of the gator: Florida. From time to time, the laws in states will change You need two permits for your ANIMAL WELFARE LAWS . a vet in the state the skunk is coming from must call the SD Animal View State Laws: South Dakota: Fully Legal* Yes* Yes* View State Laws: Tennessee: Fully Illegal: No: No: View State Laws: Texas: Mixed: CBD Oil Only: No: View State Laws: Utah: Mixed: Yes: No: View State Laws: Vermont: Fully Legal: Yes: Yes: View State Laws: Virginia: Mixed: CBD Oil Only: Yes: View State Laws: Washington: Fully Legal: Yes: Yes: View State Laws: West Virginia: … In the past many officials, sometimes from the same The term - Illegal - In 1989 laws changed to Illegal to your skunk. please contact the States portion of the Aspen Skunk Rabies Home page of Florida Skunk Rescue, a rescue from Florida. Fennec Fox. Please go to this link to check the status of their 4d-1 to 4d-100) State Information and Telecommunication Systems: Title 4e Chapters 62 to 62a (Secs. Home. (800) 364-4263, AGFC Headquarters, 2 Natural No longer issuing permits for any Then, click on the (208) 334-3700, Fax: (208) 334-2114 or Connecticut Pet Shop Laws - 2019-R-0163. Our regulations prevent the possession of skunks in Alabama, per regulation 220-2-.26 which states: Restrictions on Possession, Sale, Importation and/or Release of Certain Animal and Fish (1) No person, firm, corporation, partnership, or association shall possess, sell, offer for sale, import, bring, release, or cause to be brought or imported into the State of Alabama any of the following live fish or animals: Any of the following from any area outside of the state of Alabama: any member of the family Cervidae, species of coyote, species of fox, species of raccoon, species of skunk, wild rodent, or strain of wild turkey, black bear, mountain lion, bobcat, Pronghorn antelope , any nondomestic member of family of Suidae, Tayassuidae, or Bovidae. You have to send a letter to Texas Wildlife Dept. information 12 Nov 05]. not be able to find vet care for your skunk. The same applies to breeding as well as keeping skunks for sale. Please check your county laws, even though the state They are The majority of states ban skunks as pets. A.C.I.S.) Department of Business Regulation (All sections repealed or obsolete) Title 4d Chapters 61 to 61c (Secs. Each state handles pet skunk ownership a little differently. of pet skunks. Residents of Alabama, Nevada, Wisconsin, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Ohio can legally own a pet if it is not banned in their state. This means that even if you keep a skunk for a friend, offer a skunk a temporary home, or have one in your permission for any reason, you must have a permit in … (503) 947-6000 / (800) 720-6339 Fish and Wildlife. Please check with officials at your state's Department Of Conservation and Natural Resources or Fish and Game Commission for the most up to date information regarding owning a skunk. Do not buy as a spur before exhibiting. Newspaper Articles & TV Spots. ... 2019 Skunk Show Winners. permits. (860) 424-3011 (Chris). Below are listed the US states where captive-bred pet skunks OUT! after that you have to get rid of the skunk. Conservation & Forestry . You must buy/receive your skunk yourself and to talk to several officials at these governing Alabama joins six other states in allowing all other pets not explicitly banned in the state's laws. While Alabama's laws on exotic animals are relatively lax, the state does have restrictions on several types of animals. State Laws for Keeping Exotic Cats as Pets. © 2004-2025 Skunk Haven™ Skunk Rescue, This article should not be used as a source to determine what pet is legal in your state. We are happy that you have decided to adopt a Skunk. Finally, click on the DNR will come out to inspect your home. obtaining a pet skunk. If you see any problems or need updating please contact the webmaster. WAC, Wisconsin PUBLISHED BY THE . Lawrence's bill, if it were to become law, also seeks to make these legal to own as pets. Every state and territory, regardless of rank, has room for improvement. In the United States, pet skunks can be purchased from licensed animal shelters, non-profit skunk … Updated: Mon 08-Apr-2019. Link HERE to all states' wildlife departments addresses skunks within the state. You CAN Before getting a pet skunk, check the laws for the state you live in as many have restrictions. You can NOT own a skunk. be a good idea to check with your local government as well. NOT LEGAL. Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. Available Skunks. Permits required after you buy Anyone exhibiting a skunk, for a fee or Others make foxes legal to own in the state but illegal to import, and with no breeders in the state, this is the same thing as banning them. The Division of Wildlife’s mission is to conserve and improve fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all. breeder within the state, permits are required before you get a skunk, Florida, which has a more liberal pet skunk policy, has one of the highest numbers of skunk owners with more than 400 permits on file. Any skunks WILL be confiscated and The credit for this part of our web site goes to both Aspen Skunk Rabies Research, Inc. (by permission) and Please check with the contact person/office provided for specific With some restrictions, 22 states allow people to keep skunks as pets. Hybrids or crosses between any combination of domestic animals, wildlife, or regulated wild animals and all subsequent generations are regulated in Georgia and … No importing pet skunks. Domestic Animal Surveillance. in your state. 3. ; 21 states ban all dangerous exotic pets, while the rest allow certain species or … private citizens to own, possess, buy, sell, trade or barter skunks. https://acis.aphis.edc.usda.gov/ords/f?p=116:203, www.wildlife.co.us/RulesRegs/Regulations/, http://www3.state.id.us/idstat/TOC/25FTOC.html, http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/145/365.html, http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/exposure/animals/wildlife_reservoirs.html, The Washington State Legislature - Chapter 246-100-191 Enforcement, NO IMPORTATION of skunks into the Some states have instituted a new rule that lets the local townships The Louisiana Department of South Carolina Skunks are Adopted Skunks. without compensation, must have a If you decide that you would like to own a skunk as a pet, the first thing you need to do is to make sure that owning one is legal in your state. skunk within the state call Fish and Wildlife (503) 947-6000 / (800) 720-6339. It is legal to give your skunk to someone. the state. your skunk. Division of Animal Health . Every state and territory, regardless of rank, has room for improvement. For example, in Kentucky the law states that you can’t import a skunk, you must get a skunk from a breeder within state, and you must apply for a wildlife permit, which costs $75.00 for a 3 year permit. Ways to Donate. Cannot sell For information on captive wildlife regulations, contact: You may find the District of Here, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has highlighted some strengths and weaknesses in each jurisdiction’s animal protection laws.The number of strengths or weaknesses listed varies based upon the jurisdiction ’s rank as follows:. It also means that you may special consideration, but you must call before importing the animal(s). If possible, a good idea is to get a copy of the law to read for Laws are USDA licensed whether it is a facility, breeder, dealer, pet store, private person, or broker. Idaho Depending on your state of residence, keeping pet skunks may or may not be legal. license first. Columbia Animal Control statutes and regulations at, Office of Insular Affairs Department of the Interior (670) 234-8861, Fax: (670) 234-8814. Pet Skunks. Iowa For example, in Arkansas, a person can’t own more than five raccoons at a time. The animals listed below are examples of the exotic species regulated under Georgia Law. Most states do require additional permits for exhibiting, you should and phone numbers. The Department should be consulted before any exotic animals which are not normally domesticated in Georgia are acquired. Most pets arrive at shelters because the owner had to move, could no longer afford the pet, had a death in the family, or simply gave up the responsibly of being a care taker for a Skunk. USDA permit → verify with your state wildlife and state and local health officials (410) 260-8100, (508) 792-7270 Tom French is the one who issues and (651) 297-2072 Ed Boggess (Head wildlife officer, MN State DNR). Please check with officials at your state's Augusta, Maine 04333-0028 (207) 287-3846 . make up their own ordinances about pet skunk ownership. NJ now allows for importation from states that have the same variant of rabies with proper paperwork. New Jersey commercial propagator - dealer, breeder, pet store. Dog Breeding Laws in Connecticut and Other States - 2006-R-0262. Use a state-by-state map, similar to the one at Owners of pet skunks, Move the state law details to the talk page, Hide the state law details in the main article as invisible text that people will see when they make an edit, or; Use a sub-page off of the main page, similar to how some talk pages archive old discussions. Legal Pet Skunk States Each state handles pet skunk ownership a little differently. https://acis.aphis.edc.usda.gov/ords/f?p=116:203. Only other The state has the right to KILL your skunk if you get caught. The provisions of sections 3-14 to 3-21, inclusive, of the Connecticut Practice Book shall govern a law student's participation as an advocate under this section.” Conn. Gen. Stat. Domestic species accounted for 9 percent of all rabid animals reported in the United States in 2018. These are given after an inspection of (919) 733-7191 Law enforcement, (919) 661-4872 or Florida South Dakota Such attorneys and law students shall be eligible to serve on a voluntary basis as advocates under this section. skunk to make sure they are the right pet for you. Anyone selling a skunk must be Arizona State strengths and weaknesses. Must get import The hedgehog. In addition to federal laws governing animal ownership and treatment, every state has certain prohibitions or restrictions on which exotic animals can be owned as pets. should refer to Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Animal Division, There is a whole lot of difference when it comes to regulations governing the ownership of domesticated skunks from state to state. Make sure you know all of your state and local laws before committing. Because of this, please use this 4e-1 to 4e-76) State Contracting: Title 5 Chapters 63 to 68 (Secs. list with caution. any import permits for captive bred skunks to enter the state. Before the animal ban was finalized in NYS, fennec fox owners brought their pets to meet legislators and with the truth that at least some exotic pets aren’t so bad staring them in the face, this species was exempted. The cost as well as regulations for owning a skunk as … Revised December 6, 2019 of the moment pet. Prospective owners should know these laws before taking on a new pet. Permits required, the Law Of course, this is partly because pet skunks are \"disarmed,\" usually having their musk or scent glands removed surgically at an early age, so they can't spray you. Please do your homework BEFORE you get a pet (435) 789-4805, (304) 558-2771 Sherry Young / (304) 558-2784 Law Most states require a paper trail for skunks. out to inspect before issuing permit. About Us. search tool appears, if you want to find a particular report, type the licensed/registered name of the facility in the text box at the top of the page and click the § 54-86n (2019). skunk you can not turn around and sell it without the proper permits. Fish and Game Commission for the most up to date information save your receipt to prove your skunk did not come from the wild. Anyone who dreams of caring for an unusual or exotic pet may wonder if their dream pet is a possibility. Skunks don't seem like they would make the best house pets, considering the odor their infamous for producing. Surrendering Your Skunk. is legal your county may have restrictions. If you are caught the skunk could be euthanized. In 2000, Cipriani bought her first skunk after seeing a few running around a pet store. The state has the issued or not. Click euthanized. the facility. NO IMPORTING. Skunk adoption is a wonderful way to provide a Skunk a second chance and caring environment. You would also need a Fur Bearer locations. People who are legal residents of a state where it's legal to own pet skunks may bring their pet skunks with them to Wisconsin, but the skunk may be possessed in the state for no more than 60 days. regarding skunk ownership. Toll Free (In Maine Only) 1-877-269-9200 . State Real Property: Title 4c Repealed: Business Regulation. Legal Pet Skunk States The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission considers domestic skunks to be wildlife, therefore, they regulate them as such. (651) 296-6157 or (888)MINN-DNR (MN State DNR) Some states require special permits to sell skunks in addition to the USDA permit. NO PET SKUNK PERMITS ARE GIVEN any live skunks. NOT get a permit to keep a skunk until it dies; a Temporary Holding residents buy from a license dealer/breeder within the state of PA for first, and there are cage requirements. Updated: Mon 08-Apr-2019. you give/sell/offering your skunk to another party you must obtain a Always abide by the laws For a more detailed description of the laws in these states, But, as with any exotic pet, appropriate expectations are vital to the enjoyment of having a skunk as a pet. It also means that you may not be able to find vet care for your skunk. Always keep your receipt to prove your skunk did not come Top Tier—3 strengths & 2 weaknesses Oregon Most skunk owners will tell you that skunks are wonderful pets and are very intelligent. ANIMAL WELFARE PROGRAM . Indiana prove the skunk did not come from the wild. Prohibition of possession of wild animals -- exceptions. considered Class 3 animal. Canadian residents, and skunk owners wishing to move to Canada, Apply for Non-Commercial breeder You must have a Class III Wildlife Permit to own or keep a domestic skunk in Florida. Domestic Pet Skunk Rescue. Must keep the receipt to In Ohio, 199 permits are registered. And if a state does allow private ownership of a skunk, you will probably be required to have a state … Top Tier—3 strengths & 2 weaknesses Dealers are required to have a valid APHIS - USDA license to sell skunks (considered wildlife animals), there are no state or local exemptions to the Federal laws governing sale of APHIS - USDA controlled animals. pet purposes. Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205, (303) 297-1192 Press 5 for Customer Service, (860) 642-7239 (Elaine Hinich), Educational (919) 662-4575 Wildlife Management Division. button for the exact report you want to view. Some states require special permits to be obtained and fees to be paid. Many states require permits to own skunks. Even though raccoons are legal in these states, the person who owns the raccoon may need to follow special rules or get a permit before acquiring the animals. information and assistance before obtaining a skunk. export out of this state any live skunk for sale, exchange, or gift for state. For further information please contact Emile LeBlanc at (225) 765-2344, Maine's laws changed Feb 2002 to In 2006, West Virginia became one of the latest states to prohibit skunks as pets. Little Rock: (501) 223-6300 or Toll Free: Many states allow them, but not Pennsylvania, California or Alaska. In addition to federal laws governing animal ownership and treatment, every state has certain prohibitions or restrictions on which exotic animals can be owned as pets. from the wild; get the permit numbers from the business/person you get Must buy from a licensed Pet Shops and Imported Animals - 2013-R-0275. Pet skunks are mainly kept in the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and Italy.. button. Kentucky reason. propagator permit, cost $75.00. Pet Skunks. button to continue. Some states require special permits to be obtained and fees to be paid. In Idaho, it is not legal for See Idaho code section - 25-236. Note: The point of this article is to list at least one interesting pet that is legal in each state; therefore, the list is far from comprehensive ,and laws change all the time. state. (208) 334-2148. Dept. from a licensed Game Breeder or someone with the proper licenses. Ohio No Importing skunks. There are no exceptions except Zoos and publically licensed exhibits. Regulations . (601) 432-2174 Law Enforcement, (601) 432-2400. means that there are restrictions which would prevent you from having they issue any permit for any skunk as a pet. State strengths and weaknesses. Buy from a licensed breeder or dealer. skunks-. laws differently, lending to confusion over what the actual law is. USDA license. Enforcement division of PA Fish and Game requests that in-state 1/04/05. http://www.aspenskunk.org/states/. Pennsylvania Research Inc. site at one from the NM Game & Fish. DNR will come out to inspect. Per State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection: A "household pet" is an animal from a traditional companion animal species: dog, domestic cat, ferret, hedgehog, pet bird, rabbit, or domestic rodent (gerbil, guinea pig, hamster, or domestic mouse or rat). right to KILL your skunk if you get caught. STATE OF MAINE . permit before you buy your skunk. cage requirements must be met before you get your skunk. No pet permits You must buy from a breeder within the Be sure you want a pet skunk, once you buy your of Natural Resurces Chapter NR 16, http://datcp.wi.gov/Animals/Animal_Movement/index.aspx, Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Animal Division, Ontario Nor will any purpose whatsoever, or acquire, barter, exchange, give, or purchase (217) 782-6431 Tom Wakolbinger, Director, Office Some states require special permits to be obtained and fees to possess any game or fur bearing animals native to the state. Here, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has highlighted some strengths and weaknesses in each jurisdiction’s animal protection laws.The number of strengths or weaknesses listed varies based upon the jurisdiction ’s rank as follows:. Now, Georgia, which allows people to keep certain kinds of skunks in … Luckily for New Yorkers, fennec foxes are the only species from ‘The Big 5’ that are legal to own in the state. Standards of Care for Dog and Cat Breeders - 2013-R-0309. Department Of Conservation and Natural Resources or Deborah Cipriani. To import a skunk into the state a health certificate must be obtained; Georgia [ED: We are currently working to update this Laws vary based on city and county ordinances as well. Bats were the most frequently reported rabid wildlife species, followed by raccoons, skunks, and foxes. Breeders and Pet Shops. are legal. Michigan