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In the absence of a federal law on monkey acolytes, state laws prevail. So whether it`s legal or illegal to have monkeys as pets depends on where you want to keep the monkeys. If you live in California, you may be out of luck. It is illegal for anyone in Alabama to sell, offer for sale, import or possess any of the animals on this list. In the case of venomous reptiles, it is also illegal to release these animals into the wild. Some animals are prohibited in certain circumstances, but others are not. Some imported birds must have legal import documents that then prevent them from applying for a license, including: Dangerous animals cannot be kept as pets unless you are a zoo, licensed circus or other acceptable organization. Dangerous animals include large cats, coyotes, wolves, bears and venomous reptiles. Primates are not allowed as pets unless they were owned and already registered before 2011. You can get an exemption for a capuchin monkey support animal with a permit. There are no restrictions on other alien species. Special permits are required for the possession of a capuchin monkey by persons with disabilities. Permits are required for the importation, transportation and possession of illegally possessed wildlife.

The federal Captive Wildlife Safety Act affects what Alabama animals can keep as pets. Under this law, it is illegal to sell feral cats across state borders. Species covered by this law include: For example, crocodiles are illegal in most states. Venomous reptiles such as cobras, twig snakes, and mambas are also illegal in many states. Permits are required to own or breed wildlife in Maine. You are not allowed to own deer, bears, moose or wild turkeys. Other prohibited animals include lion, cheetah, wolf, monkey, camel, alligator, monk parakeet and humpback swan. If you have permits, you can keep emus, domestic ferrets, sugar gliders and chinchillas.

According to the Florida Administrative Code, it is illegal to own Class I animals and Class II animals require a license. Class I animals include bears, big cats, rhinos, crocodiles, chimpanzees and more. Class II includes howler monkeys, macaques, bobcats, pumas, cheetahs, alligators, wolves, giraffes and more. A 2010 law prohibits the import, sale and spread of alien species. This law further restricts the capture and keeping of venomous reptiles and other affected reptiles, unless the owner already has a permit before the law. You do not need a permit to keep ferrets, parrots, hedgehogs, chinchillas and other small rodents. This condition limits potentially dangerous animals. Bears, big cats, wolves and primates are included in the list of illegal animals to own in this state. If you had a primate under 35 pounds due before October 1, 2010, you can retain ownership of that animal. In Rhode Island, you can get permits to keep bears, hyenas, tigers, lions, cheetahs, elephants, monkeys, wolves, hippos, giraffes, and Gila monsters. Permits require proof of adequate knowledge and housing for the animals. Animals that do not require permits include geckos, chinchillas, and sugar slides.

Some states have not completely banned monkeys as pets. These states have some sort of law or restriction that those who want to keep monkeys as pets must abide by. At the time of that 2012 letter, Arizona, Indiana, Mississippi and Tennessee all have partial bans on monkey ownership. These bans make it illegal to own monkeys, but not monkeys. Tennesseans can have any type of monkey except a baboon, and monkeys are not allowed. In Arizona, all monkeys are allowed, but monkeys are not. In Indiana, you can have monkeys and great apes, but you must have a permit for monkeys. Mississippi allows all monkeys except baboons and macaques and prohibits all types of monkeys.

Florida and Texas allow some species of monkeys but ban others. These laws are evolutionary, so check your own state`s statutes if you`re considering having a monkey as a pet. Even for a restrictive state like Illinois, exotic animals are allowed due to a registration and licensing system. The list of exotic animals that are legal to own in any state with complete bans depends on a combination of state, county, or city legislature. If you live in a state where pet monkeys are legal or restricted with proper permits, it`s important to understand that monkeys are wild animals, no matter how tame they may seem. Arizona`s administrative code states that it is illegal to possess non-domestic dogs and cats, primates (except non-infant primates free of zoonoses), alligators, crocodiles, poisonous snakes, and many others. Special permits may be granted to certain individuals or groups to keep these animals if the application falls under the categories of education, public health, commercial photography, wildlife rehabilitation or wildlife management. While some states do not regulate monkeys as pets, some states have restrictions regarding these animals. Although a pet monkey is not directly prohibited, some rules cover the breed of monkeys that humans are allowed to keep. Arizona, Mississippi, Indiana and Tennessee have some restrictions that make it illegal to keep a monkey as a pet, but not monkeys. Monkeys are allowed in Tennessee, with the exception of monkeys and baboons.

Ohio residents cannot have more than four of each type of collection reptiles or wild native amphibians collectible. Service muriquis are allowed. Connecticut has a grandfather system for all monkeys owned before January 10, 2010, but no longer allows permitting. In Illinois, residents can only own a capuchin monkey if they have a permanent motor disability or a permanent motor disability. Any other form of private property is prohibited. An exotic monkey may seem endearing, but it is quite controversial to keep it as a pet. Monkeys can be susceptible to various health problems, become aggressive, and usually require a lot of maintenance. Yet there are estimates of nearly 15,000 pet monkeys in the United States. In which states can you have a monkey as a pet? Pets prohibited as pets in Tennessee include chimpanzees, gorillas, baboons, wolves, bears, lions, tigers, cheetahs, elephants, rhinos, crocodiles, alligators, and poisonous snakes. There are no rules for monkeys and small feral cats such as ocelots, servals and bobcats. Other animals that do not require a permit include ferrets, chinchillas, llamas, alpacas, camels, giraffes, ostriches and kangaroos. In 2012, 17 states had no restrictions against residents who practice the art of herding monkeys.

However, animal welfare groups and others are working to get more states to pass laws banning monkeys as pets. Currently, the states of Washington, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Alabama, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina have no restrictions on keeping monkeys as pets. In 2012, however, a law was pending to restrict monkey farming in Washington state, North Carolina and South Carolina. Pennsylvania does not list exotic animals that are legally kept without permission. What exotic animals are legal in Utah, California or Nevada? Regardless of the condition you are in, we will investigate the legality of owning exotic animals. Maybe you`ve always wanted to own a pet monkey, or you`re wondering if it`s legal for your neighbor to have this puma in their garden. Fortunately for your curiosity, every state has exotic animal laws that allow, restrict, or prohibit the possession of certain animal species. The following article describes some of these state laws in more detail. Permits are required to import legal pets listed in section 4-71-6.5 of the Hawaii Bylaws. These animals are subject to quarantine rules before being legally distributed to their owners. Mackenzie Maxwell continues to be interested in the law and has been involved in legal matters since 2010. She served for a time in Congress, as a member of Silvestre Reyes` communications team, and helped voters understand the laws of the House of Representatives.

She remained active in local politics to understand the laws that govern her area. As a writer, Mackenzie has worked with several lawyers to create thoughtful and useful content. While there are no federal regulations for primate ownership, each state really does what it wants. There are states like Arizona that don`t regulate monkey ownership at all, and others, like West Virginia, that ban very specific species of monkeys. Georgia`s Department of Natural Resources describes illegal animals as inherently dangerous. This classification includes kangaroos, primates, non-domesticated dogs, non-domesticated cats, crocodiles, alligators, elephants, bats, piranhas, air-breathing catfish, gila monsters, cobras and other venomous snakes. If you want to have a capuchin monkey as a service animal, a special permit is required. You don`t need a permit for sugar gliders or European ferrets. Domestic rabbits and small rodents are also allowed without a permit, with the exception of hedgehogs.