Exotic pet laws in Mississippi
Every animal in our directory, checked against Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks rules and Mississippi statute. Click any animal for the full entry — the exact law, penalties, permits, and local caveats.
All animals: status at a glance
| Animal | Status | Statute | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon | Banned | Miss. Admin. Code Title 40, Part 2 | 2026-07-03 |
| Monkey | Partly Legal | Miss. Code 49-8-5 | 2026-07-03 |
| Serval | Legal | Miss. Code 49-8-5 | 2026-07-03 |
| Fennec Fox | Legal | Miss. Code 49-8-5 | 2026-07-03 |
| Sugar Glider | Legal | Miss. Code 49-8-5 | 2026-07-03 |
| Hedgehog | Legal | Miss. Code §49-8-5 (hedgehogs not listed) | 2026-07-13 |
| Ferret | Legal | Miss. Code Ann. §49-8-5 (ferrets not listed) | 2026-07-13 |
Animals banned in Mississippi
- Raccoon — Native furbearer; MDWFP does not authorize raccoons as personal pets
Partly legal in Mississippi (local restrictions apply)
- Monkey — Apes, macaques, baboons need a permit; smaller monkeys unregulated
Legal without a permit in Mississippi
- Serval — Serval is not on Mississippi's inherently-dangerous list — no state permit
- Fennec Fox — Non-native fox not on the inherently-dangerous list — no permit
- Sugar Glider — Not on the inherently-dangerous list — no state permit needed
- Hedgehog — Legal — hedgehogs are not an inherently dangerous wild animal in Mississippi
- Ferret — Legal — not an 'inherently dangerous' animal under Miss. Code §49-8-5
How Mississippi regulates exotic pets
Primary authority sits with Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Statewide statute sets the floor; cities and counties frequently layer stricter bans on top, so always check your municipal code as well as the entries above.
Research directory, not legal advice. Verify current rules with Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks before acquiring any animal.