You've just found the most cuddly, friendly squirrel in your backyard. Wouldn't it make a great pet? Or, perhaps you think an exotic animal like a monkey would make a good companion. However, you should consider many factors before turning a wild animal into a pet.

Most native wildlife and many exotic animals may not legally be kept as pets in Georgia.
Young animals undergo dramatic behavioral changes as they mature. They become very aggressive and try to escape, and returning such an animal to the wild will usually result in its death.
The dietary needs of most wild animals are different from common domestic pets. Many exotic pets suffer from malnutrition because of their special needs, resulting in a constant state of bad health or death.
Many wild animals are most active at night. This normal behavior can be very disruptive when you are trying to sleep.
Many diseases which affect people can be carried by healthy animals. Some examples of diseases transmissible to people (i.e. zoonoses) include rabies, tularemia, plague, salmonellosis, and others. Vaccines against these diseases are not approved for use in wild animals.
Some animals are very long lived and require extensive care. Monkeys can live more than 40 years. Who would care for the animal should something happen to you?
Veterinarians may be unfamiliar with diseases of wildlife or exotic pets. Typically, veterinarians are unwilling to treat animals held illegally for liability reasons.

Ask Yourself:

Is what I am doing legal?
Am I willing to risk the health, and possibly the life, of myself and my family?
Am I willing to risk destroying the animal?
Am I willing to change my lifestyle to conform to the animals natural and unalterable behavior?

If you cannot truthfully answer "yes" to each question, do not attempt to keep a wild animal as a pet.

Native Wildlife

By Georgia Law, most native species of wildlife cannot be held without permits or licenses. These licenses are not issued for the purpose of holding native wildlife as pets. These restrictions apply to the various species of animal, regardless of the origin or morphology.

Exceptions

Georgia Law allows the taking of certain native species -- namely rats, mice, armadillos, coyotes, groundhogs, beaver, freshwater turtles, venomous snakes, frogs, spring lizards, fiddler crabs, freshwater crayfish, freshwater mussels, and nutria -- because of their status as a nuisance or other reason. State regulations prohibit the holding of live armadillos, coyotes, groundhogs, and beaver without the proper permits or licenses. Certain freshwater turtles, mussels, and other species on Georgia's Protected Wildlife List cannot be possessed or collected without proper licenses.

The following list of species native to Georgia may not be held as a pet regardless of its origin or morphology. Although extensive, this list does not include all native wildlife that is prohibited. If there is any doubt about the legality of possessing any species, contact the Special Permit Unit at 770-918-6408.

Mammals

Armadillo
Bats, all species
Black Bear
Bobcat
Chipmunk
Cottontail Rabbit
Coyote
Cougar
Flying Squirrel
Fox Squirrel
Gray Fox
Gray Squirrel
Groundhog
Marsh Rabbit
Mink
Mole
Muskrat
Opossum
Pocket Gopher
Raccoon
Red Fox
River Otter
Skunk
Swamp Rabbit
Weasel
White-tailed Deer

Reptiles and Amphibians

Alligator
Alligator Snapping Turtle
Black Racer
Bog Turtle
Box Turtle (Eastern, Florida, Gulf Coast, Three-toed)
Brown Snake
Coachwhip
Corn Snake
Crayfish Snake (Glossy, Striped)
Crowned Snake (Southeastern, Central Florida)
Diamondback Terrapin
Earth Snake (Rough, Smooth)
Fence Lizard
Flatwoods Salamander
Florida Worm Lizard
Garter Snake
Georgia Blind Salamander
Glass Lizard (Eastern, Island, Mimic, Slender)
Gopher Tortoise
Green Anole
Green Salamander
Hellbender
Hognose Snake (Eastern, Southern)
Indigo Snake
Kingsnake (Black, Eastern, Mole, Scarlet)
Map Turtle (Alabama, Barbour's, Common)
Milksnake
Mud Snake
One-toed Amphiuma
Pigeon Mountain Salamander
Pine Snake (Florida, Northern)
Pine Woods Snake
Queen Snake
Rainbow Snake
Rat Snake (Black, Gray, Yellow)
Redbellied Snake
Ribbon Snake
Ringneck Snake
Rough Green Snake
Scarlet Snake
Sea Turtle (Green, Hawksbill, Leatherback, Loggerhead, Ridley)
Six-lined Racerunner
Skink (Broadhead, Coal, Five-lined, Southeastern Five-lined, Ground, Mole)
Spotted Turtle
Striped Newt
Water Snake (Banded, Brown, Florida Green, Northern, Redbelly)
Worm Snake

Birds and Fishes

All species of birds encountered in the wild in Georgia are protected by state and federal laws except English sparrows, European starlings, and pigeons.

All species of fish native to the waters of Georgia are protected.

Non-Native Wild Animals/Exotics

The animals listed below are examples of the exotic species regulated under Georgia Law. The Department should be consulted before any exotic animals which are not normally domesticated in Georgia are acquired. Hybrids or crosses between any combination of domestic animals, wildlife, or regulated wild animals and all subsequent generations are regulated in Georgia and may not be held without a license. The exotic species listed below, except where otherwise noted, may not be held as pets in Georgia. This list is not all inclusive.

Marsupials (wallabies, kangaroos, sugar gliders, etc.); all species

Note: Sugar gliders are legal as pets if the owner possesses valid documentation that the animal originated from a source inspected and regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Insectivores (shrews, moles, hedgehogs, tenrecs, etc.); all species
Lemurs; all species
Bats; all species
Primates (monkeys, apes, etc.); all species
Sloths, armadillos, etc.; all species
Pangolins or scaly anteaters; all species
Rabbits and hares; all species except those normally domesticated
Rodents (capybaras, cavies, prairie dogs, degus, etc.); all species except those normally domesticated in Georgia such as hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs
Whales, dolphins, etc.; all species
Carnivores (weasels, ferrets, foxes, cats, bears, wolves, etc.); all species.

Note: European ferrets are legal as pets if neutered by 7 months old and vaccinated against rabies. Wolf hybrids are not a legal pet in Georgia. Most exotic cat hybrids, such as a savannah cat, are not a legal pet in Georgia.

Aardvark; all species
Elephants; all species
Conies; all species
Manatee, dugong; all species
Ungulates (hoof stock); all species except American bison, water buffalos, and llamas
Rhinoceros
Wart hog
Hippopotamus
Hawks, eagles, vultures, etc.; all species
Turkeys; all species except those normally domesticated
Cuckoos; all species
Owls; all species
Sky larks
Bulbuls; all species
Thrushes; all species of genus Turdus
White eyes; all species of genus Zosterops
Yellow hammers
Sparrows; all species of genus Passer except English sparrow
Cape weaver
Baya weaver
Queleas; all species
Blackbirds, grackles, etc.; all species of genera Molothrus, Quiscalus, Agelaius
Monk parakeet (a.k.a. Quaker parakeet)
Java sparrow (a.k.a. Java Rice Bird, Java Rice Finch)

Note: The Georgia Department of Agriculture has determined the Quaker or Monk Parakeet and the Java Rice Bird are prohibited from entry into the State of Georgia due to being capable of breeding in the wild and, if established in the wild, presenting a threat of being detrimental to the agriculture industry of this State.