Is it legal to own a hedgehog in Maine?
The short answer
Yes. African pygmy hedgehogs are legal in Maine without a permit. Maine IFW moved hedgehogs to its Unrestricted Species List in 2017, ending the old permit requirement, so they may be owned, imported, and sold by pet shops freely.
What Maine law says
Under 12 M.R.S. §12152 IFW keeps an unrestricted species list of wildlife exempt from importation and possession permits; the African pygmy hedgehog is on that list.
Which agency regulates hedgehogs in Maine
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) is the authority for hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) possession in Maine.
Is there a permit for pet hedgehogs?
No permit is required at the state level.
Penalties and enforcement
None for unrestricted species; possessing restricted wildlife without a permit is a civil violation with fines.
Local city and county rules
Some Maine towns have ordinances restricting certain animals — check your municipality.
Legal alternatives in Maine
- Ferret in Maine — Fully domesticated for millennia, yet still outlawed in California and Hawaii — the most mainstream 'exotic' pet in America.
Frequently asked questions
When did Maine legalize permit-free hedgehogs?
In 2017, when IFW added hedgehogs to its Unrestricted Species List; before that a possession permit was required.
Sources
More animals in Maine
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Maine?
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Maine?
- Is it legal to own a serval in Maine?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in Maine 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 Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.