Exotic pet laws in Minnesota
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The table lists every animal we cover and what Minnesota 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 Minnesota
| Animal | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serval or savannah cat | Banned | The serval is a regulated animal, and possessing one is unlawful except for animals held since 2005 or by specific licensed holders. Hybrids with domestic cats are also covered, but the exemption for registered domestic breeds leaves savannah cats unclear.Grandfathered animals only; savannah cat status unclear (hybrid rule versus domestic-breed exemption) | Minn. Stat. 346.155 subd. 1(e), 2 |
| Raccoon | Banned | The raccoon is a protected wild animal in Minnesota, and the DNR rule says permits are not issued to keep protected wild animals as pets. Whether a captive-bred raccoon is treated differently is not addressed in the rule.Captive-bred raccoon status not addressed in the rule read | Minn. Stat. 97A.501 subd. 1; 97A.015 subd. 45... |
| Red fox | Banned | The red fox is a protected wild animal in Minnesota, and the DNR rule says permits are not issued to keep protected wild animals as pets. Captive-bred status is not addressed in the rule.Captive-bred red fox status not addressed in the rule read | Minn. Stat. 97A.501 subd. 1; 97A.015 subd. 45... |
| Skunk | Banned | Minnesota law makes it unlawful to acquire, buy, sell or give away a live skunk, with exceptions only for zoos, circuses and research institutions. Possession itself is not named, but new pet skunks cannot lawfully be obtained.Acquisition, sale and import banned; possession alone not addressed | Minn. Stat. 145.365 subd. 1, 2 |
| Pet monkey | Banned | Nonhuman primates are regulated animals. Possession is unlawful, except for animals held since 2005 by registered owners and by certain licensed holders. New private pet monkeys cannot be acquired.Grandfathered animals only (held and registered since 2005) | Minn. Stat. 346.155 subd. 1(e)(3), 2 |
| Big cat | Banned | All wild members of the cat family, including lions, tigers, cougars and leopards, are regulated animals. Possession is unlawful, except for animals held since 2005 by registered owners and certain licensed holders. New private pet big cats cannot be acquired.Grandfathered animals only (held and registered since 2005) | Minn. Stat. 346.155 subd. 1(e)(1), 2 |
| Bobcat | Banned | The bobcat is a Felidae regulated animal and also a protected small game animal. State law bars new private possession, and the DNR does not issue pet permits for protected wild animals.Grandfathered animals only (held and registered since 2005) | Minn. Stat. 346.155 subd. 1(e)(1), 2; 97A.015... |
| Lemur | Banned | Lemurs are named nonhuman primates and so are regulated animals. Possession is unlawful, except for animals held since 2005 by registered owners and certain licensed holders. New private pet lemurs cannot be acquired.Grandfathered animals only (held and registered since 2005) | Minn. Stat. 346.155 subd. 1(e)(3), 2 |
| Bear | Banned | Bears are regulated animals. Possession is unlawful, except for animals held since 2005 by registered owners, game farms licensed for bears, and certain other holders. New private pet bears cannot be acquired.Grandfathered animals only (held and registered since 2005) | Minn. Stat. 346.155 subd. 1(e)(2), 2, 7 |
| Axolotl | Banned for new owners | Salamanders are protected wild animals in Minnesota. A pet salamander is lawful only if obtained from a permitted breeder or possessed before August 1, 2021. Ask the DNR how this applies to nonnative species.Obtained from a DNR-permitted breeder, or possessed before 2021-08-01 | Minn. Stat. 97A.401 subd. 8; 97A.015 subd. 39 |
| Venomous snake | Banned for new owners | Snakes are protected wild animals in Minnesota. A pet snake is lawful only if obtained from a permitted breeder or possessed before August 1, 2021. No separate venomous snake rule was found. Ask the DNR how this applies to nonnative species.Obtained from a DNR-permitted breeder, or possessed before 2021-08-01 | Minn. Stat. 97A.401 subd. 8; 97A.015 subd. 39 |
| Giant constrictor | Banned for new owners | Snakes are protected wild animals in Minnesota. A pet snake is lawful only if obtained from a permitted breeder or possessed before August 1, 2021. No size rule was found. Ask the DNR how this applies to nonnative species.Obtained from a DNR-permitted breeder, or possessed before 2021-08-01 | Minn. Stat. 97A.401 subd. 8; 97A.015 subd. 39 |
| Tegu | Banned for new owners | Lizards are protected wild animals in Minnesota. A pet lizard is lawful only if obtained from a permitted breeder or possessed before August 1, 2021. Tegus are not named in the state invasive lists. Ask the DNR.Obtained from a DNR-permitted breeder, or possessed before 2021-08-01 | Minn. Stat. 97A.401 subd. 8; 97A.015 subd. 39 |
| Capybara | No state restriction found | Minnesota does not list the capybara as a protected wild animal, a regulated animal or a prohibited invasive species, so no state permit or ban was found. Check with the DNR before buying. | Minn. Stat. 97A.015 subd. 39 and 53; 97A.501... |
| African pygmy hedgehog | No state restriction found | Minnesota does not list the African pygmy hedgehog as a protected wild animal, a regulated animal or a prohibited invasive species, so no state permit or ban was found. | Minn. Stat. 97A.015 subd. 39 and 53; 97A.501... |
| Ferret | No state restriction found | Minnesota does not list the domestic ferret as a protected wild animal, a regulated animal or a prohibited invasive species, so no state permit or ban was found. | Minn. Stat. 97A.015 subd. 39 and 53; 97A.501... |
| Sugar glider | No state restriction found | Minnesota does not list the sugar glider as a protected wild animal, a regulated animal or a prohibited invasive species, so no state permit or ban was found. | Minn. Stat. 97A.015 subd. 39 and 53; 97A.501... |
| Fennec fox | No state restriction found | Minnesota does not list the fennec fox as a protected wild animal, a regulated animal or a prohibited invasive species, so no state permit or ban was found. Only the red fox and gray fox are named in the small game list. | Minn. Stat. 97A.015 subd. 39 and 53; 97A.501... |
| Wallaby | No state restriction found | Minnesota does not list the wallaby as a protected wild animal, a regulated animal or a prohibited invasive species, so no state permit or ban was found. | Minn. Stat. 97A.015 subd. 39 and 53; 97A.501... |
| Chinchilla | No state restriction found | Minnesota does not list the chinchilla as a protected wild animal, a regulated animal or a prohibited invasive species, so no state permit or ban was found. | Minn. Stat. 97A.015 subd. 39 and 53; 97A.501... |
| Tarantula | No state restriction found | Minnesota does not list the tarantula as a protected wild animal, a regulated animal or a prohibited invasive species, so no state permit or ban was found. The invasive species lists read name no spiders. | Minn. Stat. 97A.015 subd. 39 and 53; 97A.501... |
| Kangaroo | No state restriction found | Minnesota does not list the kangaroo as a protected wild animal, a regulated animal or a prohibited invasive species, so no state permit or ban was found. | Minn. Stat. 97A.015 subd. 39 and 53; 97A.501... |
| Prairie dog | No state restriction found | Minnesota does not list the prairie dog as a protected wild animal, a regulated animal or a prohibited invasive species, so no state permit or ban was found. Prairie dogs are not on the small game list or the invasive lists read. | Minn. Stat. 97A.015 subd. 39 and 53; 97A.501... |
| Kinkajou | No state restriction found | Minnesota does not list the kinkajou as a protected wild animal, a regulated animal or a prohibited invasive species, so no state permit or ban was found. | Minn. Stat. 97A.015 subd. 39 and 53; 97A.501... |
| Alligator or other crocodilian | No state restriction found | Minnesota does not list the alligator or other crocodilian as a protected wild animal, a regulated animal or a prohibited invasive species, so no state permit or ban was found. The protected list names snakes, lizards and turtles, not crocodilians. Ask the DNR before buying. | Minn. Stat. 97A.015 subd. 39 and 53; 97A.501... |
| Otter | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Minnesota's rule for this animal yet. Ask Minnesota Department of Natural Resources before you buy. | |
| Wolfdog | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Minnesota's rule for this animal yet. Ask Minnesota Department of Natural Resources before you buy. |
Who regulates exotic pets in Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is the agency to ask. Protected wild animals (big game, small game such as raccoon, bobcat, red fox and otter, plus frogs, turtles, snakes, lizards and salamanders) cannot be possessed unless the game and fish laws allow it. DNR rule says pet permits are not issued for protected wild animals except raptors. Snakes, lizards and salamanders from permitted breeders may be pets.
The main texts:
- Minn. Stat. 346.155 Possessing regulated animals
- Minn. Stat. 97A.501 Wild animals general restrictions
- Minn. Stat. 97A.401 Special permits
- Minn. R. 6212.1400 Possession permits
Before you buy in Minnesota
- 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 Minnesota.
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 Minnesota?
- Banned. The raccoon is a protected wild animal in Minnesota, and the DNR rule says permits are not issued to keep protected wild animals as pets. Whether a captive-bred raccoon is treated differently is not addressed in the rule.
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Minnesota?
- Banned. Nonhuman primates are regulated animals. Possession is unlawful, except for animals held since 2005 by registered owners and by certain licensed holders. New private pet monkeys cannot be acquired.
- Is it legal to own a fox in Minnesota?
- Banned. The red fox is a protected wild animal in Minnesota, and the DNR rule says permits are not issued to keep protected wild animals as pets. Captive-bred status is not addressed in the rule.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Minnesota?
- Banned. Minnesota law makes it unlawful to acquire, buy, sell or give away a live skunk, with exceptions only for zoos, circuses and research institutions. Possession itself is not named, but new pet skunks cannot lawfully be obtained.
- Is it legal to own a ferret in Minnesota?
- No state restriction found. Minnesota does not list the domestic ferret as a protected wild animal, a regulated animal or a prohibited invasive species, so no state permit or ban was found.
- Is it legal to own a capybara in Minnesota?
- No state restriction found. Minnesota does not list the capybara as a protected wild animal, a regulated animal or a prohibited invasive species, so no state permit or ban was found. Check with the DNR before buying.
- Who do I ask about exotic pets in Minnesota?
- Start with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Then ask your county and city.