Exotic pet laws by animal

Pick an animal to see its legal status in every state we've verified.

North America's masked native — intelligent, destructive, and a rabies-vector species in most states.

All primates, from marmosets to capuchins. Among the most heavily regulated exotic pets in the U.S.

A tall African wildcat, popular in the exotic cat trade and the parent breed of the Savannah cat.

The world's smallest fox — and one of the few foxes legal to own in several U.S. states.

A palm-sized gliding marsupial, legal in most states but banned in a handful of cities and states.

The African pygmy hedgehog — a palm-sized insectivore, hugely popular and famously banned in a handful of states.

Fully domesticated for millennia, yet still outlawed in California and Hawaii — the most mainstream 'exotic' pet in America.

The world's largest rodent — a semi-aquatic, famously mellow giant that needs water, space, and company.

North America's iconic fox — native nearly everywhere, which makes it one of the hardest pets to keep legally.

Descented, captive-bred skunks are affectionate pets — legal in only a minority of states thanks to rabies-vector rules.