There isn't really a reason for hedgehogs to be illegal in California. 4488; amended May 29, 1992, effective July 1, 1992. Look at that adorable face! Ummm…technically speaking, the biological order called Insectivora was abandoned and a subset of them were classified in a new order called Eulipotyphyla. Hedgehogs are considered illegal by default in the state of CA simply because they are not on the list of legal animals in this state. Size: The largest species is the brown greater galago. Perhaps Wyoming had permits at one time. — All species; The terms “etc.” and “All species” are catch-all words that cover law enforcement for anything not specifically specified in the code. AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Heavenly Hedgies is an Amazon Associate. Maryland allows them, as well. We at Hamor Hollow are erring on the side of caution by listing hedgehogs as Illegal/Restricted in Georgia. Under exotic and wild animal laws in the United States, hedgehogs are listed as illegal to keep … You don't want an over-zealous government official knocking on your door saying that you have a hedgehog in your home illegally! Until yesterday, it was a crime to be prickly but loveable — if you were a hedgehog, that is. Per Pennsylvania House of Representatives: In the near future, I will introduce legislation which would allow for the ownership or possession of certain “pocket pets,” namely hedgehogs and sugar gliders, to be kept as pets in Pennsylvania. • Expansion of the restricted primate species that can be possessed by private individuals without a special license, to include all non-human primates in an effort to protect public health and safety. All other animals kept as pets, including dog hybrids, domestic cat hybrids, and exotic small cat species such as servals, are either considered livestock or exotic pets. Is it legal to keep a pet African Pygmy Hedgehog in Colorado? Trust me when we say that we totally understand how ridiculous it is that there are actually states where pet hedgehogs are illegal. The updated rules were recently approved by the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council. Unfortunately, hedgehogs are still illegal or restricted in: California. By purchasing through our links, we may earn a small commission on sales, that helps us continue to provide informative and educational information for hedgie lovers. And forget the idea of trying to get a permit to have a hedgehog as a pet in California. It’s a little-known fact of hedgehog ownership, but it’s true. The new provisions will be effective Dec. 5, 2015. In Italy, it is illegal to keep wild hedgehogs as pets. • Prohibiting a person from allowing native desert tortoises to reproduce in captivity in an effort to reduce the number of unwanted captive desert tortoises. Washington, DC (Fairfax County, Virginia). And no, hedgehogs do not! Illegal to possess pet hedgehogs. If you'd like to read more about zoonotic diseases that hedgehogs can carry -if they are exposed to it – please read this. Natural habitat: Africa. We searched by using “exotic” and/or “hedgehog” as search terms. Unrestricted: 11-May-2017Updated: Mon 08-Apr-2019, Hedgehog Licensing Issue Resolved Without Legislation. An article published 15 years ago by the CDC that produced a scare when it said, “Such animals can carry and introduce zoonotic agents, a fact well illustrated by the recent outbreak of monkeypox in pet prairie dogs.” Interestingly, the author affiliations for this article are with the University of California, in another state that believes hedgehogs are a danger to safety. That's the big issue.” The basis for this belief? Yet the Georgia code still uses the order Insectivora. In Idaho and Oregon, USA, European hedgehogs are illegal. However, there are a few places where it’s still illegal – Pennsylvania, Hawaii, California, Georgia, Arizona, and Maine. "The fuss is that African pygmy hedgehogs are legal in all but five states; Pennsylvania is in the minority. But here's the gotcha…”Any animal that is not found on any of the lists is considered prohibited“. AUGUSTA – After receiving word that the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife added hedgehogs to the unrestricted animal list, the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee voted Ought Not to Pass on Senator Eric Brakey’s (R-Androscoggin) bill, LD 35. “I’m really glad this issue could be resolved for these students without the need for further legislation,” said Sen. Brakey. If you don't think it happens, you're wrong. All other animals kept as pets, including dog hybrids, domestic cat hybrids, and exotic small cat species such as servals, are either considered livestock or exotic pets.“Importing” refers to animals being brought into Wisconsin during vacation travel as well as animals relocating permanently into the state. We're sorry that this post wasn't useful for you! As things are in February 2020, exotic animals require a $50 annual permit from the Pennsylvania Game Commission to have as a pet. This seemingly contradictory information is due to the state’s Department of Natural Resources having had past requirements that most owners of exotic pets obtain possession permits. New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife — Exotic and Nongame Wildlife Permit Applications, New Jersey Individual Hobby Wildlife Species Possession Permit Application (for pets). Per State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection: A "household pet" is an animal from a traditional companion animal species: dog, domestic cat, ferret, hedgehog, pet bird, rabbit, or domestic rodent (gerbil, guinea pig, hamster, or domestic mouse or rat). In our opinion the defeat of House Bill 1273 outweighs any previously-debated grandfathered possession loopholes relating to the amendment of § 137.1 in 1992. Here you … There are also many unknown questions related to natural predators and potential diseases when any non-native animal is introduced into the wild. In Wisconsin, USA, an import permit from the state department of agriculture is required to bring a hedgehog into the state. 20 Pa.B. Fairfax joins Arlington and Loudoun counties as jurisdictions in Northern Virginia that permit hedgehogs. Before you rush to get a hedgehog to give them their forever home, please locate a qualified hedgehog veterinarian first. Whatever you do, DON'T identify yourself or address! • Clarification of definitions and language, consolidation of some rules, and updating of references. That’s how much people love hedgehogs. Let's always remember that with the privilege to have hedgehogs, comes the responsibility to love and provide for their needs. Many times this is due to local lawmakers misclassifying hedgehogs as the wrong species or simply not understanding what a hedgehog is. The county made the change because hedgehogs have become popular, and zoning officials said they have received an increasing number of inquiries about whether it was allowable to keep them as pets. (d)   An animal whose possession is prohibited pursuant to this section may be seized by any authorized employee, officer or agent of the Department or of any other agency of the City of New York, and the Commissioner shall provide for such animal's appropriate disposition. Austria: European hedgehogs are protected and cannot be kept as pets. Hedgehog Growth Chart. Hedgehogs, like all other small animals, are complex and unique individuals who require a lifetime of special care, food, and supplies.So before you go looking online for a hedgehog because you love Sega’s classic blue guy and want to buy your own Sonic on a whim, read on to find out why a hedgehog is anything but an ideal “pet.” Shockingly, they may even euthanize a confiscated hedgehog. Suffice it to say that exotic animals can and have been seized in Pennsylvania. The following animals may not be kept as pets: • Gophers, woodchucks, beavers, hedgehogs, porcupines, and other large rodents, Legalized: Tue 22-Jan-2019Updated: Mon 08-Apr-2019. § 137.1. Sadly, in states where they're considered illegal, hedgehogs can be confiscated. We know you must be really excited to legally have a hedgehog as a pet. Meet Quilly.  If there’s ever a question you want to ask about hedgehogs, click on his image to see if he’s already answered it on the Ask Quilly page. Let us explain. They have an organized table that specifies which animals require a permit. … In years gone by, hedgehogs were able to be kept as pets as long as it could be proven that they were bred and born within the state by breeders legally permitted to do so. Hedgehogs are legal in all of New England and most of the United States. September 5, 2017 January 12, 2018 admin Exotic Animals as Pets. AlabamaArizonaColoradoDelawareFloridaIllinoisIowaKentuckyMaineMassachusettsMinnesotaMissouriNebraskaNew HampshireNew MexicoNorth DakotaOklahomaRhode IslandSouth DakotaTexasVermontWashingtonWisconsin**, AlaskaArkansasConnecticutDistrict of Columbia*IdahoIndianaKansasLouisianaMarylandMichiganMississippiMontanaNevadaNew Jersey**North CarolinaOhioOregonSouth CarolinaTennesseeUtahVirginiaWest VirginiaWyoming*. Hedgehog Supplies However, there are a few places where it's still illegal--Pennsylvania, Hawaii, California, Georgia, and Maine--but you may be able to own one with a permit in these states. African Pygmy hedgehogs are legal. Laws are continually changing so it’s best to contact your state Fish and Game Commission or Department of Fish and Wildlife and check your local regulations. Pennsylvania. This list is not all inclusive. If you live in one of the locations that have recently legalized hedgehog ownership, we would like to leave you with something to consider. Are Hedgehogs Legal in Georgia. This may be a city or town police department, county sheriff's office, state department of fish and wildlife, or the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Per Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division: The animals listed below are examples of the exotic species regulated under Georgia Law. Section 27-5-4. Per the California Department of Fish and Wildlife: There are at least 17 known species of hedgehogs. That includes counties, cities, and in large cities, districts. Since hedgehogs are not specifically listed as an exempt exotic mammal, you must obtain an Individual Hobby permit according to NJ Administrative Code Section 7:25-4.2 & 7:25-4.6(a). #2: Hedgehogs. Breeders must obtain USDA licensing and are not permitted to sell to CA residents. Why can't I have a hedgehog, sugar glider, ferret, or other restricted, non-native species as a pet in California? However, permits are not granted unless: Applicant shall provide documentation of at least 2 years experience of hands-on work with the designated species. They aren't rodents or pestilence. I mean, c'mon! While doing our research, several sites stated that Wyoming allowed hedgehogs but required a permit. According to Hedgehogbreederalliance.org, there are only a few states in the US where it is illegal to keep and breed pet hedgehogs. Do Hedgehogs Bite? Colorado is not one of them. Here’s why non-native animals like hedgehogs, sometimes desired as pets, are not a good idea or legal under current regulations. In our opinion, some of these states allow pets that are far more dangerous than a hedgehog could ever be. Or, they may require a permit in order to be in compliance. Domesticated hedgehogs are legal to own in most of the United States, but not in ALL states. Canada: In Quebec, European hedgehogs are illegal. However, in Pennsylvania, it’s illegal to own a hedgehog as a pet. Currently in Pennsylvania, hedgehogs and gliders are not listed as exempt exotic animals in statute and may therefore be banned by the Game Commission under their legal authority. Nonetheless, we don't want any harm to befall them because they're living in one of the states that doesn't allow hedgehogs as pets. In fact, we found ourselves quickly caught up in a convoluted mess regarding legalities. We've read their reasoning for it and we are going to repeat ourselves that the statutes in place are based on fear and/or ignorance. As we previously mentioned, the list of states that are hedgehog-friendly is much, much longer than ones that are hedgehog-hostile. Clipping and Trimming Hedgehog Nails. We at Hamor Hollow are still researching this location. And that could be you, if you wanted: for a couple hundred bucks, you can legally purchase your very own living, breathing pine cone. 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