Is it legal to own a raccoon in Vermont?
The short answer
No. The raccoon isn't on Vermont's Unrestricted Wild Animals List, and Vermont's rule bars the Commissioner from issuing possession permits for wild animals kept as pets — permits exist only for bona fide research or education. As a rabies-vector native mammal, a pet raccoon is off-limits.
What Vermont law says
10 App. V.S.A. §18 makes it unlawful to possess any live wild animal not listed as domestic or unrestricted without a permit, and §5.1(a) directs that no captivity permit issue except for scientific or educational purposes — not pets.
Which agency regulates raccoons in Vermont
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. is the authority for raccoon (Procyon lotor) possession in Vermont.
Is there a permit for pet raccoons?
No. There is no permit pathway that allows private pet ownership. Bona fide scientific or educational permits only.
Penalties for owning a raccoon illegally
Illegal possession may result in confiscation and disposal under 10 V.S.A. §4513, plus fines.
Local city and county rules
Town ordinances can add restrictions; none override the state ban for pets.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep a raccoon as a pet in Vermont?
No — it's not unrestricted, and pet-purpose permits aren't issued.
Found an orphaned raccoon — now what?
Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator; you can't keep it.
Sources
- 10 App. V.S.A. §18 — Importation & Possession of Wild Animals
- VT Fish & Wildlife — Importation & Possession Rules
More animals in Vermont
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Vermont?
- Is it legal to own a serval in Vermont?
- Is it legal to own a fennec fox in Vermont?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in Vermont page, or compare every state on the pet raccoon laws by state page.
Last verified 2026-07-03 against the cited primary sources. This is a research directory, not legal advice — confirm current rules with Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.