Exotic pet laws in Nebraska
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The table lists every animal we cover and what Nebraska 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 Nebraska
| Animal | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serval or savannah cat | Banned | Nebraska bars keeping any member of the cat family (Felidae), which includes servals, except domestic cats, accredited zoos and fur producers. Savannah hybrids are not addressed in the statute, so ask the Commission.Savannah cat (serval hybrid) status not addressed; domestic cat Felis domesticus is exempt | Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-477(2) |
| Skunk | Banned | Nebraska bars keeping skunks in captivity. The only exception is an animal legally held on March 1, 1986, which may be kept for life but not sold or traded without written permission.grandfathered only for animals held March 1, 1986 | Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-477(2) |
| Big cat | Banned | Nebraska bars keeping any member of the cat family (Felidae), which includes tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs and cougars, except domestic cats, accredited zoos and fur producers.grandfathered only for animals held March 1, 1986 | Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-477(2) |
| Bobcat | Banned | Bobcats are cats (Felidae), which Nebraska bars. The only exception is a captive wildlife permit holder raising bobcats solely for fur or fur breeding stock, so pet ownership is not allowed.fur production permit holders only | Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-477(2) |
| Prairie dog | Banned | The prairie dog is a native Nebraska mammal and is not on the list of species that may be kept under a Captive Wildlife Permit, so keeping one is unlawful. | 163 NAC 4-008.01B; Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-246 |
| Bear | Banned | Nebraska bars keeping any bear (family Ursidae) in captivity, except accredited zoos and similar facilities. Only animals legally held on March 1, 1986 were grandfathered.grandfathered only for animals held March 1, 1986 | Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-477(2) |
| Raccoon | Permit needed | A raccoon may be kept only with a Captive Wildlife Permit from the Game and Parks Commission. The animal must come from a licensed breeder or permittee, never from the wild.Captive Wildlife Permit; captive-bred from licensed source only; annual report | 163 NAC 4-008.01B; Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-477(1),... |
| Red fox | Permit needed | A red fox may be kept only with a Captive Wildlife Permit from the Game and Parks Commission. The animal must come from a licensed breeder or permittee, never from the wild.Captive Wildlife Permit; captive-bred from licensed source only; annual report | 163 NAC 4-008.01B; Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-477(1),... |
| Otter | Permit needed | The river otter may be kept only with a Captive Wildlife Permit, from a licensed source and never wild-taken. The Asian small-clawed otter is not named in the rules read.Captive Wildlife Permit for river otter; captive-bred from licensed source only; Asian small-clawed otter not addressed | 163 NAC 4-008.01B; Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-477(1),... |
| Venomous snake | Depends | Timber rattlesnake and copperhead cannot be possessed without a scientific collection permit. Prairie rattlesnakes may be possessed up to a limit of 10. Nonnative venomous snakes are not named in the rules read, so ask the Commission.native timber rattlesnake and copperhead barred; nonnative not addressed by name | 163 NAC 4-010.02 |
| Ferret | No state restriction found | The domestic ferret is a domesticated animal, and Nebraska's wildlife rules cover only nondomesticated species. No permit or ban for ferrets was found in the rules read. | Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-247 |
| Sugar glider | No state restriction found | Sugar gliders are named on the Commission's list of wildlife that may be imported, and they are not a native wild mammal, so no captive wildlife permit applies under the rules read. | 163 NAC 4-008.08A |
| Fennec fox | No state restriction found | Foxes of the genus Vulpes are on the list of wildlife that may be imported, and the fennec is not a native wild mammal, so no captive wildlife permit applies under the rules read. | 163 NAC 4-008.08A |
| Wallaby | No state restriction found | Wallabies are named on the list of wildlife that may be imported, and they are not a native wild mammal, so no captive wildlife permit applies under the rules read. | 163 NAC 4-008.08A |
| Chinchilla | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are named on the list of wildlife that may be imported, and they are not a native wild mammal, so no captive wildlife permit applies under the rules read. | 163 NAC 4-008.08A |
| Kangaroo | No state restriction found | The import list covers Macropus species, which includes kangaroos, and kangaroos are not a native wild mammal, so no captive wildlife permit applies under the rules read. | 163 NAC 4-008.08A |
| Axolotl | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Nebraska's rule for this animal yet. Ask Nebraska Game and Parks Commission before you buy. | |
| Capybara | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Nebraska's rule for this animal yet. Ask Nebraska Game and Parks Commission before you buy. | |
| African pygmy hedgehog | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Nebraska's rule for this animal yet. Ask Nebraska Game and Parks Commission before you buy. | |
| Tarantula | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Nebraska's rule for this animal yet. Ask Nebraska Game and Parks Commission before you buy. | |
| Pet monkey | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Nebraska's rule for this animal yet. Ask Nebraska Game and Parks Commission before you buy. | |
| Kinkajou | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Nebraska's rule for this animal yet. Ask Nebraska Game and Parks Commission before you buy. | |
| Lemur | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Nebraska's rule for this animal yet. Ask Nebraska Game and Parks Commission before you buy. | |
| Alligator or other crocodilian | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Nebraska's rule for this animal yet. Ask Nebraska Game and Parks Commission before you buy. | |
| Giant constrictor | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Nebraska's rule for this animal yet. Ask Nebraska Game and Parks Commission before you buy. | |
| Tegu | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Nebraska's rule for this animal yet. Ask Nebraska Game and Parks Commission before you buy. | |
| Wolfdog | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Nebraska's rule for this animal yet. Ask Nebraska Game and Parks Commission before you buy. |
Who regulates exotic pets in Nebraska
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is the agency to ask. Possessing any native wild bird or wild mammal in captivity needs a Captive Wildlife Permit, animals must come from a licensed breeder or permittee (never wild-taken), and escape-proof housing is required. Native reptiles and amphibians are protected from take and possession. Nonnative wild mammals are outside the permit rule, but 163 NAC 4-008.08A lists the nonnative wildlife that may be imported.
The main texts:
- Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-477 (captive animals, permit required, wolf/skunk/Felidae/Ursidae ban)
- Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-479 (captive wildlife permit)
- Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-524 (restricted nonnative wild vertebrates)
- Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-246 (wild mammals defined as native species)
- 163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4 s 008 (keeping wildlife in captivity)
- 163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4 s 010 (reptiles and amphibians)
Before you buy in Nebraska
- 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 Nebraska.
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 Nebraska?
- Permit needed. A raccoon may be kept only with a Captive Wildlife Permit from the Game and Parks Commission. The animal must come from a licensed breeder or permittee, never from the wild.
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Nebraska?
- We could not confirm Nebraska's rule yet. Ask the state wildlife agency before you buy.
- Is it legal to own a fox in Nebraska?
- Permit needed. A red fox may be kept only with a Captive Wildlife Permit from the Game and Parks Commission. The animal must come from a licensed breeder or permittee, never from the wild.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Nebraska?
- Banned. Nebraska bars keeping skunks in captivity. The only exception is an animal legally held on March 1, 1986, which may be kept for life but not sold or traded without written permission.
- Is it legal to own a ferret in Nebraska?
- No state restriction found. The domestic ferret is a domesticated animal, and Nebraska's wildlife rules cover only nondomesticated species. No permit or ban for ferrets was found in the rules read.
- Is it legal to own a capybara in Nebraska?
- We could not confirm Nebraska's rule yet. Ask the state wildlife agency before you buy.
- Who do I ask about exotic pets in Nebraska?
- Start with Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Then ask your county and city.