Exotic pet laws in Pennsylvania
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The table lists every animal we cover and what Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
| Animal | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capybara | Banned | Pennsylvania bars importing, possessing or selling any wild animal, meaning any mammal other than horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, that is held in captivity or captive bred elsewhere. The rules name no pet permit for capybaras.Exotic wildlife permit definition does not name this animal; a permit would need 2 years hands-on experience at an approved facility | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(11); 34 Pa.C.S. 102 (wil... |
| African pygmy hedgehog | Banned | Pennsylvania bars importing, possessing or selling any wild animal, meaning any mammal other than horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, that is held in captivity or captive bred elsewhere. The rules name no pet permit for hedgehogs.Exotic wildlife permit definition does not name this animal; a permit would need 2 years hands-on experience at an approved facility | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(11); 34 Pa.C.S. 102 (wil... |
| Sugar glider | Banned | Pennsylvania bars importing, possessing or selling any wild animal, meaning any mammal other than horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, that is held in captivity or captive bred elsewhere. The rules name no pet permit for sugar gliders.Exotic wildlife permit definition does not name this animal; a permit would need 2 years hands-on experience at an approved facility | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(11); 34 Pa.C.S. 102 (wil... |
| Fennec fox | Banned | Pennsylvania bars importing, possessing or selling any wild animal, meaning any mammal other than horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, that is held in captivity or captive bred elsewhere. The rules name no pet permit for fennec foxes.Exotic wildlife permit definition does not name this animal; a permit would need 2 years hands-on experience at an approved facility | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(11); 34 Pa.C.S. 102 (wil... |
| Serval or savannah cat | Banned | Pennsylvania bars possessing any cat species except house cats, and crossbreeds that look similar. A serval is covered. A savannah cat is a serval hybrid, so it is likely covered too. No pet route for servals was found.Savannah cats: hybrid rule covers crossbreeds similar in appearance; no generation cutoff stated. Exotic wildlife permit route not confirmed for servals | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(1) |
| Wallaby | Banned | Pennsylvania bars importing, possessing or selling any wild animal, meaning any mammal other than horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, that is held in captivity or captive bred elsewhere. The rules name no pet permit for wallabies.Exotic wildlife permit definition does not name this animal; a permit would need 2 years hands-on experience at an approved facility | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(11); 34 Pa.C.S. 102 (wil... |
| Raccoon | Banned | Pennsylvania bars importing or possessing raccoons. No pet permit route was found. | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(4) |
| Red fox | Banned | Pennsylvania bars importing or possessing red foxes. Only licensed fur propagators may hold them, and their foxes cannot be sold as pets. Captive-bred silver foxes are not exempted.Fur-farm propagators only | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(2) |
| Skunk | Banned | Pennsylvania bars importing or possessing skunks. No pet permit route was found. | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(6) |
| Pet monkey | Banned | Pennsylvania bars importing or possessing nonhuman primates. No pet permit route was found, and no service monkey exception appears in this rule. | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(7) |
| Kangaroo | Banned | Pennsylvania bars importing, possessing or selling any wild animal, meaning any mammal other than horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, that is held in captivity or captive bred elsewhere. The rules name no pet permit for kangaroos.Exotic wildlife permit definition does not name this animal; a permit would need 2 years hands-on experience at an approved facility | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(11); 34 Pa.C.S. 102 (wil... |
| Bobcat | Banned | Pennsylvania bars possessing any wild cat species other than house cats, bobcats included. The only exception is licensed fur propagators, and their bobcats cannot be sold as pets.Fur-farm propagators only; progeny may not be sold as pets | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(1) |
| Prairie dog | Banned | Pennsylvania bars importing, possessing or selling any wild animal, meaning any mammal other than horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, that is held in captivity or captive bred elsewhere. The rules name no pet permit for prairie dogs.Exotic wildlife permit definition does not name this animal; a permit would need 2 years hands-on experience at an approved facility | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(11); 34 Pa.C.S. 102 (wil... |
| Kinkajou | Banned | Pennsylvania bars importing, possessing or selling any wild animal, meaning any mammal other than horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, that is held in captivity or captive bred elsewhere. The rules name no pet permit for kinkajous.Exotic wildlife permit definition does not name this animal; a permit would need 2 years hands-on experience at an approved facility | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(11); 34 Pa.C.S. 102 (wil... |
| Otter | Banned | Pennsylvania bars importing, possessing or selling any wild animal, meaning any mammal other than horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, that is held in captivity or captive bred elsewhere. The rules name no pet permit for otters.Exotic wildlife permit definition does not name this animal; a permit would need 2 years hands-on experience at an approved facility | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(11); 34 Pa.C.S. 102 (wil... |
| Lemur | Banned | Lemurs are nonhuman primates, and Pennsylvania bars importing or possessing all nonhuman primates. No pet permit route was found. | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(7) |
| Big cat | Permit needed | Pennsylvania bars possessing lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs and cougars unless you hold a Game Commission exotic wildlife possession permit. New applicants need two years of hands-on experience with the species at an approved facility, and each animal needs its own permit.Exotic wildlife possession permit; 2 years documented hands-on experience; separate permit per animal. Federal law covered separately | 34 Pa.C.S. 2961, 2963; 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(1... |
| Bear | Permit needed | Pennsylvania bars possessing bears unless you hold a Game Commission exotic wildlife possession permit. New applicants need two years of hands-on experience with the species at an approved facility, and each animal needs its own permit.Exotic wildlife possession permit; 2 years documented hands-on experience; separate permit per animal | 34 Pa.C.S. 2961, 2963; 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(3... |
| Venomous snake | Depends | Non-native venomous snakes need no state permit, says the Fish and Boat Commission. Native timber rattlesnakes and Eastern copperheads cannot be possessed without a Commission venomous snake permit. Local rules may apply.Native timber rattlesnake or Eastern copperhead: PFBC venomous snake permit; exotic venomous species: no state permit | 58 Pa. Code 79.6(b); PFBC FAQ |
| Wolfdog | Depends | Pennsylvania bars wolves and crossbreeds that look similar unless covered by an exotic wildlife possession permit. Rule 137.1 reaches wolf crossbreeds not licensed by the Department of Agriculture, so a licensed hybrid may fall outside it. Ask the Game Commission.Full wolves need an exotic wildlife possession permit; crossbreed rules conflict (2961 covers similar-looking crossbreeds, 137.1(a)(2) excludes Agriculture-licensed ones); no generation cutoff stated | 34 Pa.C.S. 2961, 2963; 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(2) |
| Axolotl | No state restriction found | The Fish and Boat Commission says it does not regulate possessing non-native reptiles and amphibians, and axolotls are not native. Releasing one into the wild is illegal. | Fish and Boat Commission reptile and amphibia... |
| Tarantula | No state restriction found | No Pennsylvania rule was found covering tarantulas. Game Commission law covers birds and mammals, and the Fish and Boat Commission covers reptiles and amphibians, so invertebrates are outside both. | 34 Pa.C.S. 102 (definition of wildlife) |
| Alligator or other crocodilian | No state restriction found | The Fish and Boat Commission says no state permit is needed to own alligators, caimans or crocodiles, as long as they are never released. Local dangerous animal rules may apply.Never release into the wild | Fish and Boat Commission amphibians and repti... |
| Giant constrictor | No state restriction found | Giant constrictors are non-native reptiles, and the Fish and Boat Commission says it does not regulate their possession. Releasing one into the wild is illegal. Only native venomous snakes need a state permit. | Fish and Boat Commission reptile and amphibia... |
| Tegu | No state restriction found | Tegus are non-native reptiles, and the Fish and Boat Commission says it does not regulate their possession. Releasing one into the wild is illegal. | Fish and Boat Commission reptile and amphibia... |
| Ferret | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Pennsylvania's rule for this animal yet. Ask Pennsylvania Game Commission before you buy. | Agency page |
| Chinchilla | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Pennsylvania's rule for this animal yet. Ask Pennsylvania Game Commission before you buy. | Agency page |
Who regulates exotic pets in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Game Commission is the agency to ask. Live wildlife imported for any reason needs a certificate of veterinary inspection and, for lawfully acquired wildlife, a Game Commission importation permit (58 Pa. Code 137.1(d), (f)). An exotic wildlife possession permit is needed per animal and requires 2 years of documented hands-on experience at an approved facility (58 Pa. Code 147.261).
The main texts:
- 34 Pa.C.S. 2961 definitions (exotic wildlife)
- 34 Pa.C.S. 2963 exotic wildlife possession permits
- 58 Pa. Code 137.1 importation, possession, sale and release of certain wildlife
- 58 Pa. Code 147.261 exotic wildlife possession permit rules
- 34 Pa.C.S. 102 definitions
- PFBC reptile and amphibian regulations
Before you buy in Pennsylvania
- 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 Pennsylvania.
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 Pennsylvania?
- Banned. Pennsylvania bars importing or possessing raccoons. No pet permit route was found.
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Pennsylvania?
- Banned. Pennsylvania bars importing or possessing nonhuman primates. No pet permit route was found, and no service monkey exception appears in this rule.
- Is it legal to own a fox in Pennsylvania?
- Banned. Pennsylvania bars importing or possessing red foxes. Only licensed fur propagators may hold them, and their foxes cannot be sold as pets. Captive-bred silver foxes are not exempted.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Pennsylvania?
- Banned. Pennsylvania bars importing or possessing skunks. No pet permit route was found.
- Is it legal to own a ferret in Pennsylvania?
- We could not confirm Pennsylvania's rule yet. Ask the state wildlife agency before you buy.
- Is it legal to own a capybara in Pennsylvania?
- Banned. Pennsylvania bars importing, possessing or selling any wild animal, meaning any mammal other than horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, that is held in captivity or captive bred elsewhere. The rules name no pet permit for capybaras.
- Who do I ask about exotic pets in Pennsylvania?
- Start with Pennsylvania Game Commission. Then ask your county and city.