Is it legal to own a hedgehog in Pennsylvania?
The short answer
No. Pennsylvania remains one of the few states where hedgehogs are effectively illegal as pets. The Game Commission treats them as exotic wildlife under the Game Code, importing or possessing them without a PGC permit is prohibited, and the exotic wildlife possession permit track (which demands two years of hands-on facility experience) is not available for ordinary pet owners. Legalization bills have been introduced but none has passed.
What Pennsylvania law says
34 Pa.C.S. §2963 and 58 Pa. Code §137.1 bar importing, possessing, or selling wildlife without Game Commission authorization, and 58 Pa. Code §§147.261-262 set exotic wildlife possession permit conditions that effectively exclude pet keepers.
Which agency regulates hedgehogs in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) is the authority for hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) possession in Pennsylvania.
Is there a permit for pet hedgehogs?
No. There is no permit pathway that allows private pet ownership. Permitted exotic wildlife dealers, exhibitors, and menageries operate under separate PGC permits; these are not pet-ownership pathways.
Penalties for owning a hedgehog illegally
Unlawful importation or possession of wildlife is a summary offense under the Game and Wildlife Code, bringing fines and confiscation of the animal.
Local city and county rules
The restriction is statewide; no Pennsylvania municipality can authorize hedgehog ownership.
Legal alternatives in Pennsylvania
- Sugar Glider in Pennsylvania — A palm-sized gliding marsupial, legal in most states but banned in a handful of cities and states.
Frequently asked questions
Will Pennsylvania legalize pet hedgehogs?
Bills to legalize hedgehogs have been introduced in Harrisburg repeatedly, but as of mid-2026 none has passed and the PGC restriction stands.
Sources
- 58 Pa. Code Subchapter N — Exotic Wildlife Possession
- abc27 — What animals are illegal to own in Pennsylvania?
More animals in Pennsylvania
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Pennsylvania?
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Pennsylvania?
- Is it legal to own a serval in Pennsylvania?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.