Exotic pet laws in Louisiana
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The table lists every animal we cover and what Louisiana 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 Louisiana
| Animal | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon | Banned | Louisiana's wildlife agency says possessing North American native wildlife as a pet is illegal, with no permit available. Raccoons are named in the state's nongame quadruped definition. | LDWF statement; LAC 76:V.701 (definition of n... |
| Red fox | Banned | Louisiana's wildlife agency says possessing North American native wildlife as a pet is illegal, with no permit available. Red foxes are named in the state's nongame quadruped definition. | LDWF statement; LAC 76:V.701 (definition of n... |
| Skunk | Banned | Louisiana's wildlife agency says possessing North American native wildlife as a pet is illegal, with no permit available. Skunks are named in the state's nongame quadruped definition. | LDWF statement; LAC 76:V.701 (definition of n... |
| Pet monkey | Banned | Louisiana bans importing, possessing, buying or selling all non-human primates. Only people who legally owned one before the rule and hold an annual permit may keep it, with no new animals or breeding.Grandfathered owners with annual permit only | LAC 76:V.115(C)(1)(g), (G) |
| Big cat | Banned | Louisiana bans importing, possessing, buying or selling tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, cougars, their subspecies and hybrids. Only grandfathered permit holders, zoos and similar institutions are exempt.Grandfathered permit holders only | LAC 76:V.115(C)(1)(h) |
| Bobcat | Banned | Louisiana's wildlife agency says possessing North American native wildlife as a pet is illegal, with no permit available. Bobcats are named in the state's nongame quadruped definition. | LDWF statement; LAC 76:V.701 (definition of n... |
| Prairie dog | Banned | Louisiana's wildlife agency says possessing North American native wildlife as a pet is illegal, with no permit available. Prairie dogs are native to North America. Check with LDWF if unsure. | LDWF statement on native wildlife as pets |
| Lemur | Banned | Louisiana's ban on all non-human primates covers lemurs, which are primates. Only grandfathered permit holders, zoos and similar institutions are exempt.Grandfathered permit holders only | LAC 76:V.115(C)(1)(g) |
| Alligator or other crocodilian | Banned | Louisiana allows live alligators only for licensed alligator farmers and exhibitors, or by department permit for display, education or science. No pet permit exists. All crocodilians are on the prohibited nonnative list. | LAC 76:V.701; LAC 76:XV.101(K)(2)(a)(i) |
| Tegu | Banned | Louisiana prohibits importing, possessing, selling and breeding all tegus, including the Argentine black and white tegu. Only a temporary registration exists for animals held before the rule applied.Temporary registration for previously held animals only | LAC 76:XV.101(K)(2)(a)(ii) |
| Bear | Banned | Louisiana bans importing, possessing, buying or selling black, grizzly and polar bears. Only grandfathered permit holders, zoos and similar institutions are exempt.Grandfathered permit holders only | LAC 76:V.115(C)(1)(a)-(c) |
| Venomous snake | Permit needed | Venomous snakes need a Restricted Snake Permit from LDWF. Applicants must be 18 and show about 500 hours of experience. Cobras, mambas, kraits, taipans and several other species are prohibited outright.Restricted Snake Permit; 18 or older; 500 hours experience; listed cobras, mambas and others prohibited | LAC 76:XV.101(K)(1), (K)(2)(a) |
| Otter | Depends | Native river otters are named as nongame quadrupeds, and the agency says native wildlife cannot be kept as pets. Asian small-clawed otters are not named on any list I read. Check with LDWF.River otter prohibited; Asian small-clawed otter not addressed | LAC 76:V.701 (nongame quadruped definition);... |
| Giant constrictor | Depends | Burmese pythons are prohibited. Reticulated pythons, African rock pythons, boa constrictors and anacondas, and any constrictor over eight feet, need an LDWF Restricted Snake Permit.Burmese python prohibited; others need Restricted Snake Permit | LAC 76:XV.101(K)(1), (K)(2)(a)(vii), (K)(2)(c) |
| Wolfdog | Depends | Louisiana's rule lists wolf-dog hybrids but states the wolf-dog prohibition expired January 1, 1997. Any animal that looks like a wolf or is represented as one is treated as a wolf, which is banned.Animal indistinguishable from a wolf or represented as a wolf is treated as a wolf | LAC 76:V.115(C)(1)(e)-(f), (D)(1) |
| Axolotl | No state restriction found | Axolotls are not on Louisiana's prohibited or restricted nonnative reptile and amphibian lists, so no state permit is required. Check with LDWF if unsure. | LAC 76:V.115(C); LAC 76:XV.101(K); LAC 76:V.701 |
| Capybara | No state restriction found | Capybaras are not named on any Louisiana prohibited or permit list I read, so no state permit applies. Check with LDWF before buying. | LAC 76:V.115(C); LAC 76:XV.101(K); LAC 76:V.701 |
| African pygmy hedgehog | No state restriction found | African pygmy hedgehogs are not named on any Louisiana prohibited or permit list I read, so no state permit applies. | LAC 76:V.115(C); LAC 76:XV.101(K); LAC 76:V.701 |
| Ferret | No state restriction found | Domestic ferrets are not named on any Louisiana prohibited or permit list I read, so no state permit applies. | LAC 76:V.115(C); LAC 76:XV.101(K); LAC 76:V.701 |
| Sugar glider | No state restriction found | Sugar gliders are not named on any Louisiana prohibited or permit list I read, so no state permit applies. | LAC 76:V.115(C); LAC 76:XV.101(K); LAC 76:V.701 |
| Fennec fox | No state restriction found | Fennec foxes are not named on any Louisiana prohibited or permit list I read. The dangerous quadruped rule names only red wolves, gray wolves and wolf-dog hybrids among canids. Check with LDWF if unsure. | LAC 76:V.115(C); LAC 76:XV.101(K); LAC 76:V.701 |
| Serval or savannah cat | No state restriction found | Servals are not among the big exotic cats Louisiana bans (tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, cougars and hybrids of those), so no state permit applies. Savannah cats are serval hybrids, which the ban does not name.Savannah cats: serval and domestic cat hybrid, not a banned hybrid | LAC 76:V.115(C)(1)(h) |
| Wallaby | No state restriction found | Wallabies are not named on any Louisiana prohibited or permit list I read, so no state permit applies. | LAC 76:V.115(C); LAC 76:XV.101(K); LAC 76:V.701 |
| Chinchilla | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are not named on any Louisiana prohibited or permit list I read, so no state permit applies. | LAC 76:V.115(C); LAC 76:XV.101(K); LAC 76:V.701 |
| Tarantula | No state restriction found | Tarantulas and other spiders are not named on any Louisiana prohibited or permit list I read, so no state permit applies. | LAC 76:V.115(C); LAC 76:XV.101(K); LAC 76:V.701 |
| Kangaroo | No state restriction found | Kangaroos are not named on any Louisiana prohibited or permit list I read, so no state permit applies. | LAC 76:V.115(C); LAC 76:XV.101(K); LAC 76:V.701 |
| Kinkajou | No state restriction found | Kinkajous are not named on any Louisiana prohibited or permit list I read, so no state permit applies. | LAC 76:V.115(C); LAC 76:XV.101(K); LAC 76:V.701 |
Who regulates exotic pets in Louisiana
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is the agency to ask. LDWF states it is illegal to possess wildlife native to North America as a pet, with no permit available. Releasing any animal needs written permission of the secretary (R.S. 56:20).
The main texts:
- LAC 76:V.115 Possession of Potentially Dangerous Wild Quadrupeds, Big Exotic Cats, and Non-Human Primates
- LAC 76:XV.101 Reptiles and Amphibians (prohibited and restricted nonnative species, restricted snakes)
- LAC 76:V.701 Alligator Regulations
- LDWF statement on native wildlife as pets
Before you buy in Louisiana
- 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 Louisiana.
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 Louisiana?
- Banned. Louisiana's wildlife agency says possessing North American native wildlife as a pet is illegal, with no permit available. Raccoons are named in the state's nongame quadruped definition.
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Louisiana?
- Banned. Louisiana bans importing, possessing, buying or selling all non-human primates. Only people who legally owned one before the rule and hold an annual permit may keep it, with no new animals or breeding.
- Is it legal to own a fox in Louisiana?
- Banned. Louisiana's wildlife agency says possessing North American native wildlife as a pet is illegal, with no permit available. Red foxes are named in the state's nongame quadruped definition.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Louisiana?
- Banned. Louisiana's wildlife agency says possessing North American native wildlife as a pet is illegal, with no permit available. Skunks are named in the state's nongame quadruped definition.
- Is it legal to own a ferret in Louisiana?
- No state restriction found. Domestic ferrets are not named on any Louisiana prohibited or permit list I read, so no state permit applies.
- Is it legal to own a capybara in Louisiana?
- No state restriction found. Capybaras are not named on any Louisiana prohibited or permit list I read, so no state permit applies. Check with LDWF before buying.
- Who do I ask about exotic pets in Louisiana?
- Start with Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). Then ask your county and city.