Is it legal to own a hedgehog in Nebraska?
The short answer
Yes. Hedgehogs are legal under Nebraska state law and need no Game and Parks permit, since captive wildlife permits apply to listed native species. The major exception is local: Omaha's municipal code prohibits hedgehogs within city limits.
What Nebraska law says
Neb. Rev. Stat. §37-477 requires captive wildlife permits for keeping listed wild birds and mammals; non-native hedgehogs are outside the scheme, leaving regulation to cities.
Which agency regulates hedgehogs in Nebraska
No state agency regulates hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) possession in Nebraska — authority rests with local animal control. See the state wildlife agency for related rules.
Is there a permit for pet hedgehogs?
No permit is required at the state level.
Penalties and enforcement
None at the state level; keeping a prohibited animal in Omaha is a municipal violation with fines and removal.
Local city and county rules
Omaha bans hedgehogs by city ordinance — do not keep one inside Omaha city limits.
Legal alternatives in Nebraska
- Sugar Glider in Nebraska — A palm-sized gliding marsupial, legal in most states but banned in a handful of cities and states.
- Ferret in Nebraska — Fully domesticated for millennia, yet still outlawed in California and Hawaii — the most mainstream 'exotic' pet in America.
Frequently asked questions
Are hedgehogs legal in Omaha?
No. Although Nebraska state law allows hedgehogs, Omaha's municipal code prohibits them within city limits.
Sources
More animals in Nebraska
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Nebraska?
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Nebraska?
- Is it legal to own a serval in Nebraska?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in Nebraska 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 your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.