Exotic pet laws in Alaska
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The table lists every animal we cover and what Alaska law says about keeping it as a pet. Each row links to the rule it rests on; animals link to their own state-by-state guide.
Animal by animal in Alaska
| Animal | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capybara | Banned | Capybaras are not on Alaska's clean list of animals that may be kept without a permit, and the state issues no permit for pets. Pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Sugar glider | Banned | Sugar gliders are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Fennec fox | Banned | Fennec foxes are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Wallaby | Banned | Wallabies are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Raccoon | Banned | Raccoons are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Red fox | Banned | Red foxes are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Skunk | Banned | Skunks are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Pet monkey | Banned | Monkeys and other nonhuman primates are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Kangaroo | Banned | Kangaroos are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Big cat | Banned | Big cats are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Bobcat | Banned | Bobcats are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Prairie dog | Banned | Prairie dogs are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Kinkajou | Banned | Kinkajous are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Otter | Banned | Otters are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Lemur | Banned | Lemurs are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Venomous snake | Banned | Alaska bars possessing live venomous reptiles except under a permit, and a permit is granted only for a valid educational purpose such as zoo or school display. Pets do not qualify.Permit only for educational purpose (display in educational institutions and zoos) | AS 16.05.921(a), (b) |
| Bear | Banned | Bears are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Wolfdog | Banned for new owners | Alaska bars possessing a wolf or wolf hybrid without a department permit, and pet permits are barred. Hybrids kept as pets before January 23, 2002 and microchip-registered and neutered by July 2002 have a defense. Pure wolves have none.Existing animals only: pet before 23 Jan 2002, registered and neutered by 1 Jul 2002, no transfer except to immediate family | 5 AAC 92.030(a), (b); 5 AAC 92.029(c) |
| Serval or savannah cat | Depends | Servals are not on Alaska's clean list and no pet permit is issued. Savannah cats are wild cat hybrids needing a permit, with a possession defense only if four or more generations from a wild ancestor with a registered pedigree.Savannah: permit needed; defense if licensed, four-generation registered pedigree, and at least four generations from a wild ancestor; serval itself prohibited | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c); 5 AAC 92.030(c), (d), (e) |
| African pygmy hedgehog | No state restriction found | African pygmy hedgehogs are on Alaska's clean list and may be kept, bought and sold without a state permit. They may not be released.Clean list species; may not be released into the wild | 5 AAC 92.029(b) |
| Ferret | No state restriction found | European (domestic) ferrets are on Alaska's clean list and may be kept without a state permit. They may not be released.Clean list species; may not be released into the wild | 5 AAC 92.029(b) |
| Chinchilla | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are on Alaska's clean list and may be kept without a state permit. They may not be released.Clean list species; may not be released into the wild | 5 AAC 92.029(b) |
| Alligator or other crocodilian | No state restriction found | Alaska's clean list allows any nonvenomous reptile, naming crocodiles and alligators, without a state permit. Federal rules are separate.Clean list species; may not be released into the wild | 5 AAC 92.029(b) |
| Giant constrictor | No state restriction found | Alaska's clean list allows any nonvenomous reptile, including snakes, without a state permit. Federal rules on some giant constrictors are separate.Clean list species; may not be released into the wild | 5 AAC 92.029(b) |
| Tegu | No state restriction found | Alaska's clean list allows any nonvenomous reptile, including lizards, without a state permit.Clean list species; may not be released into the wild | 5 AAC 92.029(b) |
| Axolotl | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Alaska's rule for this animal yet. Ask Alaska Department of Fish and Game before you buy. | Agency page |
| Tarantula | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Alaska's rule for this animal yet. Ask Alaska Department of Fish and Game before you buy. | Agency page |
Who regulates exotic pets in Alaska
Alaska Department of Fish and Game is the agency to ask. Game means any bird, reptile or mammal (AS 16.05.940). Under 5 AAC 92.029(a) live game needs a permit unless on the (b) clean list, and (c) bars permits for pets. Amphibians and aquatic invertebrates count as fish and fall under 5 AAC 41.
The main texts:
- 5 AAC 92.029 to 92.030 (live game possession, clean list, wolf and wild cat hybrids)
- AS 16.05.940 definitions
- 5 AAC 41 aquatic organism permits
Before you buy in Alaska
- Ask the state agency above, in writing if you can, and keep the answer.
- Ask your county and city: local ordinances can ban an animal the state allows.
- Check your lease, homeowners or renters insurance and any homeowner association rules.
- Buy only from a seller who can show the animal is captive-bred and legal to ship to Alaska.
See every state in exotic pet laws by state, or test one animal in the legality checker.
How we checked. For each state we read the statutes, administrative code and agency lists that govern keeping wild or exotic animals, and every row above links to the text it rests on. A second, independent reviewer then re-read the same sources, and a row is shown only if it survived that check. "Not verified yet" means a state's rule could not be read or confirmed, which is a gap in our data and not a green light. County and city ordinances, landlord and insurance rules, and federal law sit on top of the state rule. Read how we check. See an error? Email hello@creaturesincrisis.org with the link.
Quick answers
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Alaska?
- Banned. Raccoons are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Alaska?
- Banned. Monkeys and other nonhuman primates are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.
- Is it legal to own a fox in Alaska?
- Banned. Red foxes are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Alaska?
- Banned. Skunks are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.
- Is it legal to own a ferret in Alaska?
- No state restriction found. European (domestic) ferrets are on Alaska's clean list and may be kept without a state permit. They may not be released.
- Is it legal to own a capybara in Alaska?
- Banned. Capybaras are not on Alaska's clean list of animals that may be kept without a permit, and the state issues no permit for pets. Pet ownership is barred.
- Who do I ask about exotic pets in Alaska?
- Start with Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Then ask your county and city.