Is it legal to own a hedgehog in Vermont?
The short answer
Yes. African pygmy hedgehogs are legal in Vermont without a permit. They appear on the state's Unrestricted Wild Animals List, meaning they can be imported and possessed without authorization from Vermont Fish & Wildlife.
What Vermont law says
Vermont's importation and possession rules exempt species on the Unrestricted Wild Animals List from the permit requirement of 10 V.S.A. Appendix §18; hedgehogs are on that list.
Which agency regulates hedgehogs in Vermont
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is the authority for hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) possession in Vermont.
Is there a permit for pet hedgehogs?
No permit is required at the state level.
Penalties and enforcement
None for unrestricted species; importing or possessing non-listed wildlife without a permit carries fines.
Local city and county rules
Vermont municipalities may add their own animal rules — check your town.
Legal alternatives in Vermont
- Sugar Glider in Vermont — A palm-sized gliding marsupial, legal in most states but banned in a handful of cities and states.
- Ferret in Vermont — Fully domesticated for millennia, yet still outlawed in California and Hawaii — the most mainstream 'exotic' pet in America.
Frequently asked questions
Do hedgehogs require a Vermont Fish & Wildlife permit?
No. Hedgehogs are on Vermont's Unrestricted Wild Animals List and may be kept without a permit.
Sources
- Vermont F&W — Animal Importation and Possession Rules
- Vermont Fish and Wildlife Regulations (10 App. V.S.A. §18)
More animals in Vermont
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Vermont?
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Vermont?
- Is it legal to own a serval in Vermont?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in Vermont 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 Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.