Is it legal to own a hedgehog in Indiana?
The short answer
Yes. Hedgehogs are legal in Indiana without a permit. Indiana's wild animal possession permits (312 IAC 9-11) apply to native and dangerous species; non-native African pygmy hedgehogs are exempt from the scheme.
What Indiana law says
312 IAC 9-11 requires DNR possession permits for listed Class I-III wild animals; hedgehogs are not listed, so no permit is required.
Which agency regulates hedgehogs in Indiana
Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the authority for hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) possession in Indiana.
Is there a permit for pet hedgehogs?
No permit is required at the state level.
Penalties and enforcement
None for simple ownership; unpermitted possession of regulated wild animals is a misdemeanor.
Local city and county rules
Indianapolis and other cities can impose exotic-animal rules — verify locally.
Legal alternatives in Indiana
- Sugar Glider in Indiana — A palm-sized gliding marsupial, legal in most states but banned in a handful of cities and states.
- Ferret in Indiana — Fully domesticated for millennia, yet still outlawed in California and Hawaii — the most mainstream 'exotic' pet in America.
Frequently asked questions
Does Indiana require a wild animal permit for hedgehogs?
No. DNR's wild animal possession permit program does not cover hedgehogs.
Sources
More animals in Indiana
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Indiana?
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Indiana?
- Is it legal to own a serval in Indiana?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in Indiana page, or compare every state on the pet hedgehog laws by state page.
Last verified 2026-07-13 against the cited primary sources. This is a research directory, not legal advice — confirm current rules with Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.