Exotic pet laws in New Mexico
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The table lists every animal we cover and what New Mexico 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 New Mexico
| Animal | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axolotl | Banned | The axolotl is not on the Director's Species Importation List, so it is treated as group IV, closed to the general public. Other Ambystoma salamanders are split between groups II and IV. Ask the department before buying one in New Mexico.Unlisted species default to group IV | 19.35.7.10(A)(5) NMAC |
| Capybara | Banned | The capybara is not on the Director's Species Importation List, so it is designated group IV, which is prohibited for the general public. Possession of group IV animals needs a department permit that pet owners do not get.Unlisted species default to group IV | 19.35.7.10(A)(5) and (A)(4) NMAC; 19.31.10.10... |
| Fennec fox | Banned | The list has one entry for any fox (Vulpes), in group IV, which is closed to the general public. Possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts; list entry covers any fox | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| Serval or savannah cat | Banned | The serval is in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List, closed to the general public. The list does not name savannah cats; it lists house cats and hybrids in group I, so ask the department about savannahs.Group IV; savannah cat hybrids not named | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| Wallaby | Banned | Wallabies are in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| Raccoon | Banned | The raccoon is in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| Red fox | Banned | The list has one entry for any fox (Vulpes), in group IV, which is closed to the general public. Possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts; list entry covers any fox | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| Skunk | Banned | The skunk is in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| Pet monkey | Banned | Non-human primates such as monkeys are in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| Kangaroo | Banned | Kangaroos are in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| Big cat | Banned | The tiger, jaguar, leopard, cheetah and cougar are named in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Only the Asiatic lion is named, so other lions default to group IV. Group IV is closed to the general public.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts; only Panthera leo persica named, other lions default to group IV (19.35.7.10(A)(5)) | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| Bobcat | Banned | Only the Mexican bobcat is named, in group IV. Other bobcats are not listed, so they default to group IV, which also covers furbearers. Group IV is closed to the general public.Unlisted bobcats default to group IV; furbearers are group IV | 19.35.7.10(A)(4) and (A)(5) NMAC |
| Prairie dog | Banned | Mexican and Utah prairie dogs are named in group IV. Other prairie dogs are not listed, so they default to group IV, which is closed to the general public.Unlisted Cynomys default to group IV | 19.35.7.10(A)(5) NMAC; Director's Species Imp... |
| Kinkajou | Banned | The kinkajou is in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| Otter | Banned | The river otter is in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts; Asian small-clawed otter is not listed and defaults to group IV | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| Lemur | Banned | Lemurs are in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| Alligator or other crocodilian | Banned | The American alligator and other crocodilians are in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts; Crocodylidae also group IV | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| Venomous snake | Banned | Venomous snakes are in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts; also Elapidae and Atractaspididae venomous species | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| Giant constrictor | Banned | The Burmese python, reticulated python, African rock python and anacondas are in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts; Python reticulatus, Python sebae and Eunectes ssp also group IV | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| Bear | Banned | Bears are in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts; bears are also protected game mammals under NMSA 17-2-3 | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| Sugar glider | Permit needed | The sugar glider is in group II of the Director's Species Importation List. It is lawful to possess or import one only with a department-issued permit.Group II; department permit | Director's Species Importation List, group II... |
| African pygmy hedgehog | No state restriction found | The African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix) is in group I of the Director's Species Importation List, the semi-domesticated group. No importation permit is needed, and the possession permit rule covers only groups II to IV.Group I | Director's Species Importation List, group I;... |
| Ferret | No state restriction found | The domestic ferret is in group I of the Director's Species Importation List, so no importation permit is needed. The department possession permit rule covers only groups II, III and IV.Group I | Director's Species Importation List, group I;... |
| Chinchilla | No state restriction found | The long-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger) is in group I of the Director's Species Importation List, so no importation permit is needed. The short-tailed species is group IV.Group I; short-tailed chinchilla excepted | Director's Species Importation List, group I |
| Tarantula | Not verified yet | We could not confirm New Mexico's rule for this animal yet. Ask New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Special Use Permits Program before you buy. | Agency page |
| Tegu | Not verified yet | We could not confirm New Mexico's rule for this animal yet. Ask New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Special Use Permits Program before you buy. | Agency page |
| Wolfdog | Not verified yet | We could not confirm New Mexico's rule for this animal yet. Ask New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Special Use Permits Program before you buy. | Agency page |
Who regulates exotic pets in New Mexico
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Special Use Permits Program is the agency to ask. 19.31.10.10(D)(3) NMAC: unlawful to import, collect, handle, purchase, possess, barter, transfer, transport, sell or offer to sell any live animal listed as group II, III or IV, or any protected species, without a department permit. 19.35.7.8: import permit needed for any non-domesticated animal except group I. 19.35.7.10(A)(5): unlisted species are group IV. 19.31.10.10(E): releasing non-domestic animals is unlawful. 19.35.7.12(A)(3): import applicants need proof the county and city allow possession.
The main texts:
- 19.35.7 NMAC Importation of live non-domestic animals, birds and fish
- 19.31.10.10 NMAC Permits and licenses issued (possession offences)
- 19.35.9.8 NMAC Possession of protected species
- NMSA 17-3-32 importing animals (FindLaw copy)
- NMSA 17-2-3 protected wildlife (FindLaw copy)
Before you buy in New Mexico
- 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 New Mexico.
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 New Mexico?
- Banned. The raccoon is in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.
- Is it legal to own a monkey in New Mexico?
- Banned. Non-human primates such as monkeys are in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.
- Is it legal to own a fox in New Mexico?
- Banned. The list has one entry for any fox (Vulpes), in group IV, which is closed to the general public. Possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in New Mexico?
- Banned. The skunk is in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.
- Is it legal to own a ferret in New Mexico?
- No state restriction found. The domestic ferret is in group I of the Director's Species Importation List, so no importation permit is needed. The department possession permit rule covers only groups II, III and IV.
- Is it legal to own a capybara in New Mexico?
- Banned. The capybara is not on the Director's Species Importation List, so it is designated group IV, which is prohibited for the general public. Possession of group IV animals needs a department permit that pet owners do not get.
- Who do I ask about exotic pets in New Mexico?
- Start with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Special Use Permits Program. Then ask your county and city.