Is it legal to own a prairie dog? A state-by-state guide
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
Prairie dogs are burrowing ground squirrels of North American grasslands, not true dogs. The black-tailed prairie dog is about 352 to 415 mm long and weighs roughly 0.7 to 1.7 kg. It lives in colonies called towns, split into family groups called coteries, and is active during the day. People ask about owning one because they look charming and sociable. They are also wild animals that can carry fleas, parasites and disease. Rules differ by state.
Banned 21Permit needed 6Depends 2No state restriction found 13Not verified yet 9
State by state
Tap a state name for every animal we cover there. The source link on each row goes to the rule itself.
| State | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Alabama's rule for this animal yet. Ask Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries before you buy. | Agency page |
| Alaska | Banned | Prairie dogs are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Arizona | Banned | Prairie dogs are barred as members of the squirrel family. No special license type is open to ordinary pet owners. | Ariz. Admin. Code R12-4-406(F)(9) |
| Arkansas | Banned | Black-tailed prairie dogs are on the prohibited list and the Commission issues no permits to breed, sell or import them. Other prairie dog species are not listed and are also prohibited until evaluated. | AGFC Code Addendum R1.03 (Prohibited Captive... |
| California | Banned | Prairie dogs are named in the restricted rodent order, with exceptions only for domesticated hamsters, rats, mice, guinea pigs and chinchillas. The only permits are for specified purposes such as exhibiting, breeding or research, so there is no pet permit. | 14 CCR 671(c)(2)(J) |
| Colorado | Banned | Prairie dogs are on Colorado's prohibited species list. The pre-1990 grandfather clause covers only items 1 to 8, not prairie dogs. Native prairie dogs may be held only under scientific, relocation or rehabilitation licences or permits.No grandfathering; native prairie dogs only under Division scientific, relocation or rehabilitation permits | 2 CCR 406-0 #008(B)(18) |
| Connecticut | Banned | Prairie dogs are rodents and are not on the exception list, so they are Category Two wild animals that private people may not possess.Category Two Wild Animal; no pet-owner route | Regs. Conn. State Agencies 26-55-6(a)(3)(B),... |
| Delaware | Permit needed | A prairie dog is a nonnative wild mammal, so it needs a Delaware Individual Exotic Animal Permit, one per animal, with a $25 fee. The Department may inspect the premises.Individual Permit (Dept. of Agriculture), $25 fee, valid 3 years, one per animal | 3 Del. C. 7201, 7202; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 se... |
| District of Columbia | Banned | Only domesticated rodents and rabbits are excepted from the District ban on possessing living animals as pets. Prairie dogs are wild rodents, not domesticated ones, so they are barred. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Florida | No state restriction found | Prairie dogs are named as needing no state permit for personal use.No state permit needed for personal use | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(14)(k) |
| Georgia | Banned | Prairie dogs are rodents, and all rodents except a short exempt list need a wild animal licence. Georgia wild animal licences go only to wild animal businesses and public exhibitors, so a pet owner cannot get one.Wild animal licence required; not issued to pet owners | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-8-.05; O.C.G.A. 27... |
| Hawaii | Banned | All squirrel family animals, which includes prairie dogs, are on Hawaii's prohibited animals list, with exceptions only for government zoos and research.Family Sciuridae | HAR 4-71-6(b), Prohibited Animal List |
| Idaho | Permit needed | Prairie dogs are a listed deleterious exotic animal in Idaho. A possession permit from the State Department of Agriculture is required, with a facility review and proof of sterilization.ISDA possession permit; proof of sterilization unless propagation approved; facility inspection | IDAPA 02.04.27.100(01), 02.04.27.410(07) |
| Illinois | No state restriction found | Prairie dogs are not named in the Illinois protected wildlife list or any restricted list I read. Federal rules on prairie dogs are covered separately. | 720 ILCS 5/48-10; 520 ILCS 5/2.2 |
| Indiana | No state restriction found | Indiana does not name the prairie dog. Mammals not named in the rules are exempted wild animals and no state permit is listed for it. | 312 IAC 9-3-20 |
| Iowa | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Iowa's rule for this animal yet. Ask Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (dangerous wild animals); Iowa DNR (wildlife) before you buy. | |
| Kansas | Depends | Prairie dogs are native. Kansas lets people take them for personal, noncommercial use and keep legally taken animals without time limit. A hunting licence may be needed to take them. Selling them was not resolved.Only legally taken animals; subject to federal and state law | K.A.R. 115-20-2(a), (b)(12), (h) |
| Kentucky | Banned | Kentucky bars importing, moving into the state or possessing prairie dogs. Only zoos and approved institutions are exempt. | 301 KAR 2:082 Section 4(1) |
| Louisiana | Banned | Louisiana's wildlife agency says possessing North American native wildlife as a pet is illegal, with no permit available. Prairie dogs are native to North America. Check with LDWF if unsure. | LDWF statement on native wildlife as pets |
| Maine | 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),... |
| Maryland | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Maryland's rule for this animal yet. Ask Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service before you buy. | |
| Massachusetts | Banned | The prairie dog is not on the state exempt or domestic lists, so a state licence is needed, and licence applications to keep animals as pets are denied. Ordinary owners cannot keep it. | 321 CMR 9.01(1); 9.02(2)(c); 2.12(9)(a); M.G.... |
| Michigan | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Michigan's rule for this animal yet. Ask Michigan Department of Natural Resources (Wildlife Division) and Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development before you buy. | Agency page |
| Minnesota | 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... |
| Mississippi | No state restriction found | Prairie dogs are not on any Mississippi list of prohibited or permit-only animals that I read, and they are not native to the state. No ownership permit is required. Imports need a permit and health certificate.Import: entry permit and veterinary health certificate | 40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rules 8.3 and 8.4... |
| Missouri | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Missouri's rule for this animal yet. Ask Missouri Department of Conservation before you buy. | Agency page |
| Montana | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Montana's rule for this animal yet. Ask Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks before you buy. | Agency page |
| Nebraska | 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 |
| Nevada | Permit needed | The prairie dog is not on Nevada's prohibited list, but it is a wild mammal, so a noncommercial wildlife possession license from NDOW is required. Approval is discretionary.Noncommercial license for possession of live wildlife (NRS 504.295); the Department must find the species not detrimental to Nevada wildlife | NRS 504.295(1)(a); NAC 504.460(2)(b) |
| New Hampshire | Banned | New Hampshire lists the prairie dog as a controlled species, but only exhibitors can hold a permit for it. Private pet owners cannot legally keep one.Permit available only to exhibitors (permittee category 5) | N.H. Admin. Code Fis 804.05, Table 800.2; Fis... |
| New Jersey | Banned | Prairie dogs are on New Jersey's potentially dangerous species list. A permit is possible only for experienced keepers, and the rule says these animals may not be kept as a pet or hobby animal.Potentially dangerous species; permit criteria bar pet or hobby keeping | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.8(a); 7:25-4.9(a)3 |
| New Mexico | 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... |
| New York | No state restriction found | The prairie dog is not on New York's dangerous animal list or covered by the state wild-animal pet ban, so state law does not restrict it. | 6 NYCRR 180.1(b); ECL 11-0103(6)(e) |
| North Carolina | No state restriction found | North Carolina has no rule naming prairie dogs. The state captivity licence rule covers only native wild animals, and prairie dogs are not native. A separate import permit rule for live wild animals may apply to out-of-state purchases; ask the Commission. | 15A NCAC 10H .1401(b), (d)(13), (d)(16) |
| North Dakota | Permit needed | Prairie dogs are Category 2 nontraditional livestock, so a state license is required before acquiring one.Needs a nontraditional livestock license from the State Board of Animal Health, with inspected facilities, fencing and a quarantine plan | N.D. Admin. Code 48.1-09-01-02(2)(b); 48.1-09... |
| Ohio | No state restriction found | Prairie dogs are not on Ohio's dangerous wild animal list and are not native to Ohio. No state permit was found. | ORC 935.01(C); ORC 1531.01(V) |
| Oklahoma | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Oklahoma's rule for this animal yet. Ask Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation before you buy. | Agency page |
| Oregon | Banned | Oregon names prairie dogs (all Cynomys species and hybrids) on its prohibited species list. They may not be possessed or sold, and permits go only to zoos, universities and similar facilities. | OAR 635-056-0050(1)(a)(J)(xvii) |
| 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 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... |
| Rhode Island | Permit needed | The prairie dog is not on the exempt list, so a Department exotic animal possession permit is required, issued at DEM's discretion after inspection and a health certificate.Exotic animal possession permit from DEM Division of Agriculture | 250-RICR-40-05-3 3.17(A), 3.9(B)-(D) |
| South Carolina | No state restriction found | No state rule I found names prairie dogs. They are not on any prohibited or permit list I read. Check with SC DNR before buying. | S.C. Code Title 50 ch. 16; 47-2-10; 47-5-50;... |
| South Dakota | Not verified yet | We could not confirm South Dakota's rule for this animal yet. Ask South Dakota Animal Industry Board (captive nondomestic animals) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Tennessee | No state restriction found | Not native to Tennessee and not listed in another class, so it falls in Class III, which needs no TWRA permit. The state agriculture department may have its own import rules.Class III; no TWRA permit | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(3) |
| Texas | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Texas's rule for this animal yet. Ask Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; local animal registration agency (city or county animal control, or sheriff) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Utah | Banned | Prairie dogs are not on any Utah list, and unlisted species are presumed prohibited. Utah also bars taking native mammals from the wild for personal possession.Not on any list; treated as prohibited until assessed | Utah Admin. Code R657-3b-7 and Table 3b-1 |
| Vermont | Banned | The prairie dog is not on Vermont's Domestic, Unrestricted or Restricted lists, so it is treated as Restricted. The wildlife rule says no permit is issued to keep a wild animal in captivity except for scientific or educational purposes.Permit only for bona fide scientific or educational purposes (10 V.S.A. 4152) | 10 App. V.S.A. 18 sections 4.1 and 5.1(a) |
| Virginia | Permit needed | Prairie dogs (Cynomys) are on Virginia's list of nonnative animals needing a special permit from the Department of Wildlife Resources to possess.Special DWR permit; issuance is at the department's discretion | 4VAC15-30-40(A) |
| Washington | No state restriction found | Prairie dogs are not native to Washington and are not named in any Washington prohibited, dangerous or deleterious list, so state law does not restrict them. | RCW 16.30.010(2); WAC 220-640-050; WAC 220-64... |
| West Virginia | No state restriction found | Not on West Virginia's dangerous wild animal list, and not a native mammal under the wildlife possession law, so no state permit is required. Prairie dogs are not native to West Virginia. | W. Va. Code R. 74-1-3; W. Va. Code 20-1-2 |
| Wisconsin | No state restriction found | The prairie dog is a nonnative wild animal that is not on Wisconsin's harmful list, so state law requires no licence to keep one as a pet. It is not native to Wisconsin. | Wis. Stat. 169.04(4)(b) |
| Wyoming | Depends | The Department's guide says prairie dogs may be possessed without a permit but importation is prohibited, so an out-of-state pet is not allowed. Utah and Mexican prairie dogs are federally listed and barred.No permit if captured in Wyoming; importation prohibited; Utah and Mexican prairie dogs barred | Wyo. Game & Fish Dept, Ch. 10 Quick Reference... |
Federal law
FDA removed its interstate rules on prairie dogs in 2008 (73 FR 51912); no federal law now restricts keeping one as a pet, and state law decides.
Why states regulate it
Restrictions on prairie dogs usually come back to disease and wild capture. Prairie dogs host fleas that can transmit the bacterium behind plague, which threatens both prairie dogs and people. In 2003, prairie dogs at an Illinois animal distributor appear to have caught monkeypox from imported African rodents, and the outbreak reached 71 reported human cases across six states. Wild capture also takes animals from a species that has lost most of its historic range to eradication efforts and habitat loss. They are also highly social animals that live in family-based groups.
Before you buy
- Prairie dogs live in family groups of related females and one or two males, and burrows average 5 to 10 m long. A cage is a poor substitute for that.
- Ask whether the animal was captive-bred or taken from the wild. Wild colonies lose members to capture, and wild animals host fleas, lice and ticks.
- Fleas can carry plague, and prairie dogs may also be a reservoir for spotted fever. Ask an exotic vet about disease risks before you buy.
- Captive animals average about 8.5 years, so plan on close to a decade of care for a social, active animal.
Sources for the facts about the animal: animaldiversity.org, en.wikipedia.org, cdc.gov.
Check your own state
The legality checker shows one animal in one state with its source, and exotic pet laws by state lists every state we cover. Related guides: capybara, chinchilla, skunk.
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 prairie dog in California?
- Banned. Prairie dogs are named in the restricted rodent order, with exceptions only for domesticated hamsters, rats, mice, guinea pigs and chinchillas. The only permits are for specified purposes such as exhibiting, breeding or research, so there is no pet permit.
- Is it legal to own a prairie dog in Texas?
- We could not confirm Texas's rule yet. Ask the state wildlife agency before you buy.
- Is it legal to own a prairie dog in Florida?
- No state restriction found. Prairie dogs are named as needing no state permit for personal use.
- Is it legal to own a prairie dog in New York?
- No state restriction found. The prairie dog is not on New York's dangerous animal list or covered by the state wild-animal pet ban, so state law does not restrict it.
- Is it legal to own a prairie dog 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 prairie dogs.
- Is it legal to own a prairie dog in Illinois?
- No state restriction found. Prairie dogs are not named in the Illinois protected wildlife list or any restricted list I read. Federal rules on prairie dogs are covered separately.
- Is it legal to own a prairie dog in Ohio?
- No state restriction found. Prairie dogs are not on Ohio's dangerous wild animal list and are not native to Ohio. No state permit was found.
- Is it legal to own a prairie dog in Georgia?
- Banned. Prairie dogs are rodents, and all rodents except a short exempt list need a wild animal licence. Georgia wild animal licences go only to wild animal businesses and public exhibitors, so a pet owner cannot get one.
- Is prairie dog legal in every state?
- No. In our data it is banned in 21 states and needs a permit in 6. The table above shows each state.
- Does 'no state restriction found' mean I can buy one?
- No. It means the state rule we read does not ban it or require a state permit. County and city rules, federal law, sale and import rules and your landlord can still stop you.