Is it legal to own a raccoon in Idaho?
The short answer
Mostly no. The raccoon is a native furbearer in Idaho, not a deleterious exotic, so it falls under Fish & Game and Agriculture rules that limit captive holding to USDA-licensed exhibitors and fur operations rather than pet owners. There's no ordinary pet permit.
What Idaho law says
Idaho regulates raccoons, skunks, and foxes as native furbearer / rabies-vector species (IDFG rules and the ISDA Raccoons, Skunks and Foxes program), generally restricting captive holding to USDA-licensed exhibitors or fur farms; the deleterious-exotic permit scheme (IDAPA 02.04.27) applies to non-native species instead.
Which agency regulates raccoons in Idaho
Idaho State Dept. of Agriculture / Idaho Fish & Game is the authority for raccoon (Procyon lotor) possession in Idaho.
Is there a permit for pet raccoons?
Yes — the USDA-licensed exhibitor / fur operation (no general pet permit), issued by Idaho State Dept. of Agriculture / Idaho Fish & Game. USDA-licensed exhibitors and fur operations; not household pets.
Penalties and enforcement
Misdemeanor wildlife-possession penalties with seizure; rabies-vector handling rules apply.
Local city and county rules
City and county ordinances may bar captive wildlife entirely.
Legal alternatives in Idaho
- Sugar Glider in Idaho — A palm-sized gliding marsupial, legal in most states but banned in a handful of cities and states.
- Fennec Fox in Idaho — The world's smallest fox — and one of the few foxes legal to own in several U.S. states.
Frequently asked questions
Can an ordinary Idaho resident keep a pet raccoon?
No practical pathway - Idaho limits raccoon possession to USDA-licensed exhibitors and fur operations.
Is a raccoon a deleterious exotic in Idaho?
No. It's a native furbearer, so it's handled under different rules than the deleterious-exotic list.
Sources
More animals in Idaho
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Idaho?
- Is it legal to own a serval in Idaho?
- Is it legal to own a fennec fox in Idaho?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in Idaho page, or compare every state on the pet raccoon laws by state page.
Last verified 2026-07-03 against the cited primary sources. This is a research directory, not legal advice — confirm current rules with Idaho State Dept. of Agriculture / Idaho Fish & Game and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.