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Possessing Live Wildlife-Quick Reference Guide

This reference guide lists some of the species that Wyoming Game and Fish Department (Department) personnel are commonly asked about possessing and/or importing.  The table within this quick reference guide indicates if possession and/or importation of live wildlife is allowed and if a permit is required.  If a species is allowed for possession under a permit, wildlife housing restrictions and other conditions may be required prior to the issuance of a permit and/or during the time frame of the permit.  Each application to possess live wildlife is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

For more detailed information, see the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission Regulation Chapter 10, Regulation for Importation, Possession, Confinement, Transportation, Sale and Disposition of Live Wildlife under the “Possession of Live Wildlife” section located on the Department’s website (http://wgfd.wyo.gov) via the “Regulations” link.  Application forms may be downloaded from this site.

How do I get a Chapter 10 Permit?

Applications are available at “Possession of Live Wildlife” or from your local game warden and Department regional offices.  Applications should be submitted to your local game warden or fisheries biologist for initial approval.  Game wardens and fisheries biologists can assist you with the application process.  Please allow a few weeks for the processing of all permit applications.  If a permit is required, it must be in possession PRIOR to importation or possession of live wildlife.  Permit renewals for wildlife that will be in your possession after the existing permit expires shall be applied for at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the existing permit. If you have questions regarding the possession and/or importation of any species, please contact the nearest Department regional office for additional information.
 

NOTE:

• All non-game wildlife used for any type of commercial use requires a Chapter 10 permit for possession. 
• Common pets such as domestic varieties of dogs, cats, gerbils, hamsters, mice, rats, guinea pigs and ferrets are exempted from Wyoming Game and Fish Commission regulations.  
• Please check with the United State Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) prior to importing or possessing wildlife.  
• Wildlife may carry toxins or diseases.  Public display, where there is a possibility of exposure, may be regulated by the Wyoming Department of Health or federal agencies.  Please check with a veterinarian for vaccination information. 
• If wildlife is to be used for scientific research, education, or a special purpose that is deemed beneficial to conservation or management goals of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the wildlife may, upon approval, be possessed with a Chapter 33 permit.
• While the Department may allow the possession or importation of various wildlife species, local laws, ordinances, and covenants may be more restrictive.  It is your responsibility to comply with all local laws, ordinances and covenants before importing or possessing live wildlife.
• Additionally, the Wyoming Livestock Board, Wyoming Department of Health, United State Fish and Wildlife Service, counties, municipalities and subdivisions have enacted further rules and regulations pertaining to the possession of wildlife.  Contact these agencies directly for further information.

• Please check the USFWS list of injurious wildlife for species prohibited from transportation between states.

Agency Contacts

Agency	Phone	Website
Animal Damage Management Board	307-777-6433	http://www.wyadmb.com/
Wyoming Dept. of Health	307-777-7656	https://health.wyo.gov/
Wyoming Livestock Board	307-777-7515	https://wlsb.state.wy.us/public
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service	307-772-2374	www.fws.gov/
Wyoming Game & Fish Dept.	307-777-4600	Cheyenne & Regional Offices

 

Possessing Live Wildlife - Quick Reference Table

This information provides basic guidelines and information regarding the complex issue of importing and possessing wildlife.  Additional permits may be required if live wildlife are used for other purposes, for example falconry (WGFD Commission Regulation Chapter 25), scientific research/educational programs/special purpose (WGFD Commission Regulation Chapter 33), or rehabilitation (WGFD Commission Regulation Chapter 45).

View/print Possessing Live Wildlife-Quick Reference Guide (pdf format).
 

Wildlife Possession & *Importation Quick Reference Table
Note: This table includes typical Chapter 10 permit issuance results and is only for quick reference.  Applications will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
Species (Common Name)	Possession Allowed?	Permit Required?	Notes (*Please check the United States Fish and Wildlife Service list of injurious wildlife for species prohibited from transportation between states)
Badger, American	Yes	Yes
Bat	Yes	Yes
Bear, Black and Grizzly	No	N/A
Beaver, North American	Yes	Yes
Bird, Game (Also see “Mallard,” below)	Yes	Yes	Wild turkeys are prohibited from importation/possession.  Migratory game birds may require a US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) permit in conjunction with a state permit.  The Wyoming Livestock Board regulates domestic livestock and poultry.
Bird, Nongame	Yes	Yes	Requires a USFWS permit in conjunction with state permit.  Those species listed as injurious under federal regulations shall not be imported.
Bird, Other (rock pigeons, Eurasian collared-doves,  and mute swans)	Yes	No (unless imported)	Permit not required unless imported.
Bird, Predacious (house sparrows and European starlings)	Yes	No (unless imported)	Permit not required unless imported.
Bird, Prohibited: monk parakeet (AKA Quaker parakeet); wild turkey	No	N/A	Please see other species listed as injurious under federal regulations .
Bird, Raptors	No	N/A	Possession may be permitted under other WGF Commission Regulations. Please check federal regulations.
Bobcat	Yes	Yes
Camel, Domestic	Yes	No	The Wyoming Livestock Board regulates domestic livestock and poultry.
Chinchilla	Yes	No
Chipmunk	Yes	Yes	Least chipmunks may be possessed and do not require a permit unless imported.
Coatimundi	Yes	Yes
Coyote	Yes	No	Importation prohibited by Animal Damage Management Board Rules.
Crustacean	Yes	No	Please refer to WGF Commission Regulation Ch. 62, Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS), for prohibited species. May not be imported for use as live fishing bait.   Those species listed as injurious under federal regulations shall not be imported
Deer	No	N/A	All deer species, including reindeer, red deer are prohibited.
Duck, Muscovy	Yes	No	The Wyoming Livestock Board regulates domestic livestock and poultry.
Elk	No	N/A
Emu	Yes	No	The Wyoming Livestock Board regulates domestic livestock and poultry.
Ferret, Black-footed	No	N/A
Ferret, Domestic	Yes	No
Fish, Game	No	N/A	May be permitted/licensed under other WGFD regulations.
Fish, Goldfish	Yes	No	Must be confined in aquaria.
Fish, Marine	Yes	No	Can only live in salt water.  Must be confined in aquaria or reared in aquaponics not connected to waters of the state.  Those species listed as injurious under federal regulations shall not be imported.
Fish, Nongame	Yes	Yes	Please refer to WGF Commission Regulation Ch. 62, Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS), for prohibited species.  Those species listed as injurious under federal regulations shall not be imported.  The Kendall Warm Springs dace shall not be possessed.
Fish, Tropical	Yes	No	Defined as not being able to live in water temps below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Must be confined in aquaria or reared in aquaponics not connected to waters of the state.    Please refer to WGF Commission Regulation Ch. 62, Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS), for prohibited species.  Those species listed as injurious under federal regulations shall not be imported.
Frog (imported into Wyoming)	Yes	No	All frogs may be imported, but shall not be used as live fishing bait.
Species (Common Name)	Possession Allowed?	Permit Required?	Notes
Frog (captured in Wyoming)	Yes	No	All frogs, except the Columbia spotted frog and the wood frog, may be captured in Wyoming.
Fox, Red	Yes	No	Importation prohibited by Animal Damage Management Board Rules.
Gopher	Yes	Yes	Northern pocket gophers may be possessed and do not require a permit unless imported.
Ground Squirrel	Yes	No (unless imported)	Permit not required unless imported.
Hedgehog, Domestic	Yes	No
Jackrabbit	Yes	No	Importation prohibited by Animal Damage Management Board Rules.
Kangaroos / Wallabies	Yes	Yes
Lion, Mountain	No	N/A
Lizard (imported into Wyoming)	Yes	No	All lizards may be imported, but shall not be used as live fishing bait.
Lizard (captured in Wyoming)	Yes	No	All lizards, except the northern tree lizard, may be captured in Wyoming.
Lynx	No	N/A
Mallard, Domestic	Yes	No	Defined as morphologically distinct from wild mallards.  The Wyoming Livestock Board regulates domestic livestock and poultry.
Mallard, Captive-reared	Yes	Yes	Typically used for dog training.
Mammal (nongame)	Yes	Yes	See notes regarding certain chipmunks, mice, opossums, pocket gophers, rats, and voles.  Nongame animals are those not defined in Wyoming statutes as big game animals, furbearing animals, predatory animals, small game animals or trophy game animals.  Note that protected animals are prohibited from importation/possession. Those species listed as injurious under federal regulations shall not be imported.
Marten	Yes	Yes
Mice, Native	Yes	Yes	House, northern grasshopper, western harvest and North American deer mouse may be possessed and do not require a permit unless imported.
Mink	Yes	Yes
Mollusks	Yes	No	Please refer to WGF Commission Regulation Ch. 62, Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS), for prohibited species.  May not be imported for use as live fishing bait.
Monkey	Yes	Yes
Moose	No	N/A
Muskrat	Yes	Yes
Opossum, Virginia	Yes	No (unless imported)	Permit not required unless imported.
Ostrich	Yes	No	The Wyoming Livestock Board regulates domestic livestock and poultry.
Otter, River	No	N/A
Peccaries	No	N/A
Pigs, Wild and other members of family Suidae	No	N/A	Prohibited, except domestic pigs and pot-bellied pigs.  The Wyoming Livestock Board regulates domestic livestock and poultry.
Pika	No	N/A
Piranha	Yes	No	Must be confined to aquaria.
Porcupine, North American	Yes	No	Importation prohibited by Animal Damage Management Board Rules.
Prairie Dog	Yes	No (unless imported)	Permit not required unless imported.
Pronghorn	No	N/A
Rabbit, Cottontail	Yes	Yes
Rabbit, European	No	N/A
Raccoon	Yes	No	Importation prohibited by Animal Damage Management Board Rules.
Rat, Norway	Yes	No (unless imported)	Permit not required permit unless imported.  Those species of rats  listed as injurious under federal regulations shall not be imported
Rhea, Domestic	Yes	No	The Wyoming Livestock Board regulates domestic livestock and poultry.
Salamander (non-native)	No	N/A	Prohibited from importation as per list of injurious species under federal regulations.
Species (Common Name)	Possession Allowed?	Permit Required?	Notes
Salamander (native)	Yes	No	All native salamanders may be imported or captured in Wyoming. Imported salamanders shall not be used as live fishing bait .
Skunk	Yes	No	Importation prohibited by Animal Damage Management Board Rules.
Snake (imported into Wyoming)	Yes	No	All snakes may be imported, except those species listed as injurious under federal regulations. Snakes shall not be imported for use as live fishing bait.
Snake (captured in Wyoming)	Yes	No	All snakes, except the Great Basin gopher snake, the midget faded rattlesnake, the Black Hills red-bellied snake, the northern rubber boa, the pale milksnake and the smooth greensnake , may be captured in Wyoming.
Squirrel	Yes	Yes
Sugar Glider	Yes	No
Toad (imported into Wyoming)	Yes	No	All toads, except the Wyoming toad, may be imported, but shall not be used as live fishing bait.
Toad (captured in Wyoming)	Yes	No	All toads may be captured in Wyoming, except the western toad may not be captured in Wyoming; the Wyoming toad is prohibited from capture/possession.
Turtle (imported into Wyoming)	Yes	No	All turtles may be imported, but shall not be used as live fishing bait.
Turtle (captured in Wyoming)	Yes	No	All turtles, except the plains box turtle, may be captured in Wyoming.
Vicuna, Domestic	Yes	No
Voles, Native	Yes	Yes	Meadow voles may be possessed and do not require a permit unless imported.
Weasel	Yes	Yes
Wolf & Wolf Hybrids	No	N/A
Wolverine	No	N/A
Woodrat, Bushy- tailed	Yes	No (unless imported)	Permit not required unless imported.