Exotic pet laws in Maine
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The table lists every animal we cover and what Maine 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 Maine
| Animal | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fennec fox | Banned | Maine lists foxes and all other canids (Family Canidae) as a Category 1 Restricted Species. Only exhibitors, wildlife rehabilitators, USDA-registered laboratories and accredited research facilities may hold Category 1 species, not private pet owners. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(3)(A), 7.18(2)(F) |
| Serval or savannah cat | Banned | All cats (Family Felidae), including servals, are Category 1 Restricted Species open only to exhibitors, rehabilitators and research facilities. Savannah cats are not addressed by name, so ask the department before buying.Savannah cat hybrids not named; ask the department | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(3)(A), 7.18(2)(F... |
| Wallaby | Banned | Maine lists kangaroos, wallabies and relatives (Family Macropodidae) as a Category 1 Restricted Species. Only exhibitors, wildlife rehabilitators, USDA-registered laboratories and accredited research facilities may hold Category 1 species, not private pet owners. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(3)(A), 7.18(2)(F) |
| Raccoon | Banned | Raccoons are not on Maine's Unrestricted list or any permit category, and Maine bars possessing any species that has not been categorized. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, sec. 7.06(4); 12 MRSA 12152... |
| Red fox | Banned | Maine lists foxes and all other canids (Family Canidae) as a Category 1 Restricted Species. Only exhibitors, wildlife rehabilitators, USDA-registered laboratories and accredited research facilities may hold Category 1 species, not private pet owners. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(3)(A), 7.18(2)(F) |
| Skunk | Banned | Skunks are not on Maine's Unrestricted list or any permit category, and Maine bars possessing any species that has not been categorized. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, sec. 7.06(4); 12 MRSA 12152... |
| Pet monkey | Banned | All primates are Category 1 Restricted Species, held only by exhibitors, rehabilitators, laboratories or research facilities. A narrow permit exists for capuchins used as trained aid animals for a person with a need.Capuchin aid-animal exception only | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(3)(A), 7.12(1),... |
| Kangaroo | Banned | Maine lists kangaroos, wallabies and relatives (Family Macropodidae) as a Category 1 Restricted Species. Only exhibitors, wildlife rehabilitators, USDA-registered laboratories and accredited research facilities may hold Category 1 species, not private pet owners. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(3)(A), 7.18(2)(F) |
| Big cat | Banned | All cats (Family Felidae), including tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs and cougars, are Category 1 Restricted Species open only to exhibitors, rehabilitators and research facilities. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(3)(A), 7.18(2)(F... |
| Bobcat | Banned | All cats (Family Felidae), including bobcats and lynx, are Category 1 Restricted Species open only to exhibitors, rehabilitators and research facilities. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(3)(A), 7.18(2)(F... |
| Prairie dog | Banned | The black-tailed prairie dog is a Category 1 Restricted Species held only by exhibitors, rehabilitators, laboratories or research facilities. Other prairie dog species are unlisted, and unlisted species may not be possessed. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(3)(A), 7.06(4),... |
| Kinkajou | Banned | Maine lists the kinkajou (Potos flavus) as a Category 1 Restricted Species. Only exhibitors, wildlife rehabilitators, USDA-registered laboratories and accredited research facilities may hold Category 1 species, not private pet owners. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(3)(A), 7.18(2)(F) |
| Otter | Banned | Maine lists otters and all other mustelids (Family Mustelidae) as a Category 1 Restricted Species. Only exhibitors, wildlife rehabilitators, USDA-registered laboratories and accredited research facilities may hold Category 1 species, not private pet owners. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(3)(A), 7.18(2)(F) |
| Lemur | Banned | All primates, including lemurs, are Category 1 Restricted Species held only by exhibitors, rehabilitators, laboratories or research facilities. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(3)(A), 7.18(2)(F... |
| Alligator or other crocodilian | Banned | All crocodilians are Category 1 Restricted Species (captive bred only), held only by exhibitors, rehabilitators, laboratories or research facilities, not private pet owners. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(3)(A), 7.18(2)(G... |
| Venomous snake | Banned | Cobras, coral snakes, kraits and other elapids and all vipers (rattlesnakes included) are Category 1 Restricted Species, held only by exhibitors, rehabilitators, laboratories or research facilities. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(3)(A), 7.18(2)(G... |
| Giant constrictor | Banned | Reticulated pythons, African rock pythons, Indian pythons and all anacondas are Category 1 Restricted Species. Burmese pythons fall under the federal injurious wildlife list that Category 1 incorporates. Only exhibitors, rehabilitators and research facilities may hold them. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(3)(A), 7.18(2)(A... |
| Bear | Banned | Maine does not allow a possession permit for bears, and bears are not on the Unrestricted list. A bear cannot be kept as a pet by a private individual. | 12 MRSA 12152(3-A)(A) |
| Wolfdog | Banned for new owners | Maine bars keeping a wolf hybrid without a state wildlife possession permit. A permit needs proof the animal is permanently identified and spayed or neutered. Pets kept since June 1, 2011 may stay if neutered and licensed.Wildlife possession permit; permanent identification; spay or neuter; pre-June 2011 pets grandfathered if licensed | 7 MRSA 3921-B(1),(2); 09-137 CMR ch. 7, sec.... |
| Axolotl | Permit needed | Axolotls are a Category 2 Restricted Species in Maine and must be captive bred. A private person needs a Category 2 general possession permit and must show a year of husbandry or 100 hours of experience.Captive bred only; Category 2 general possession permit | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(3)(B), 7.07(3),... |
| Tarantula | Depends | Only three tarantulas are on Maine's Unrestricted Species list: Grammostola pulchra, G. pulchripes and G. rosea (Chilean rose). Other tarantulas are not listed, and species not categorized may not be possessed.Only Grammostola pulchra, G. pulchripes and G. rosea | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(1), 7.06(4); Unr... |
| African pygmy hedgehog | No state restriction found | African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) are on Maine's Unrestricted Species list, so no state possession permit is needed. Other hedgehog species are not listed, and unlisted species may not be possessed.African pygmy (four-toed) hedgehog only | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(1), 7.06(4); Unr... |
| Ferret | No state restriction found | The domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) is on Maine's Unrestricted Species list, so no state permit is needed. Keep it humanely and safely. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(1), 7.18(2)(F)(2... |
| Sugar glider | No state restriction found | Sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) are on Maine's Unrestricted Species list, so no state possession permit is needed. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, sec. 7.06(1); Unrestricted... |
| Chinchilla | No state restriction found | Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) are on Maine's Unrestricted Species list, so no state possession permit is needed. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, sec. 7.06(1); Unrestricted... |
| Capybara | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Maine's rule for this animal yet. Ask Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife before you buy. | Agency page |
| Tegu | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Maine's rule for this animal yet. Ask Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife before you buy. | Agency page |
Who regulates exotic pets in Maine
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is the agency to ask. Any wildlife not on the Unrestricted list needs a permit (12 MRSA 12152(1-A)); a species not categorized cannot be possessed (7.06(4)). Category 1 permits go only to exhibitors, rehabilitators, USDA labs and accredited research; Category 2 permits can go to individuals with 1 year or 100 hours of experience. Native reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates may be taken and kept within limits without a permit.
The main texts:
- 12 MRSA 12152 Permit to possess wildlife in captivity
- 09-137 CMR ch. 7 sec. 06 Classification of Species
- 09-137 CMR ch. 7 sec. 12 Exceptions (primates, wolf hybrids)
- 7 MRSA 3921-B wolf hybrids
Before you buy in Maine
- 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 Maine.
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 Maine?
- Banned. Raccoons are not on Maine's Unrestricted list or any permit category, and Maine bars possessing any species that has not been categorized.
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Maine?
- Banned. All primates are Category 1 Restricted Species, held only by exhibitors, rehabilitators, laboratories or research facilities. A narrow permit exists for capuchins used as trained aid animals for a person with a need.
- Is it legal to own a fox in Maine?
- Banned. Maine lists foxes and all other canids (Family Canidae) as a Category 1 Restricted Species. Only exhibitors, wildlife rehabilitators, USDA-registered laboratories and accredited research facilities may hold Category 1 species, not private pet owners.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Maine?
- Banned. Skunks are not on Maine's Unrestricted list or any permit category, and Maine bars possessing any species that has not been categorized.
- Is it legal to own a ferret in Maine?
- No state restriction found. The domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) is on Maine's Unrestricted Species list, so no state permit is needed. Keep it humanely and safely.
- Is it legal to own a capybara in Maine?
- We could not confirm Maine's rule yet. Ask the state wildlife agency before you buy.
- Who do I ask about exotic pets in Maine?
- Start with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Then ask your county and city.