Foxes are intriguing wild animals that some people wish to keep as pets. However, fox ownership laws vary greatly depending on the state. If you want a quick answer, foxes are legal to own without a permit in Arkansas, Florida, Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.

In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about the legality of fox ownership in the United States. We have researched fox laws in all 50 states, including required permits, restrictions, banned species, and more.

States Where Foxes Are Fully Legal to Own

No Permit Required

In the following states, owning a fox is 100% legal with no permit or license required: Arkansas, Florida, Alabama, Indiana, South Carolina, and West Virginia. These states have no restrictions on keeping foxes as pets.

However, local ordinances may still apply, so it’s important to check with your city and county laws.

For example, in Florida it is completely legal to have a pet fox at the state level. But, some counties such as Miami-Dade specifically prohibit owning foxes. So always ensure you check the local laws too before getting a fox.

The regulations are more relaxed in these states, likely because foxes are not native to them. Responsible exotic pet ownership is key. Be sure to only obtain foxes from reputable breeders and have appropriate housing for them.

Unregulated Species

There are a handful of states where foxes are not regulated on a state level: Arizona, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Vermont. This means pet foxes are neither banned nor restricted at the state level.

But, like with the no-permit states, you still need to research your local county and city ordinances. For example, Kansas has no state laws on fox ownership, but keeping native foxes like red foxes is illegal in some counties like Shawnee and Douglas Counties.

So be diligent in your research before obtaining a pet fox in these unregulated states. Some counties ban ownership even though their state doesn’t. It’s also advisable to call local animal control and wildlife agencies to check policies.

States Where Fox Ownership Is Legal Under a Permit

Domesticated Foxes

In a handful of states, such as Indiana and Nevada, ownership of certain domesticated foxes or fox hybrids is permitted with the proper licensing. These tame foxes have been bred in captivity over many generations to have more dog-like personalities and appearances than their wild counterparts.

For example, the Husky fox is a stunning mix of a domesticated fox and a siberian husky.

Typically, a person has to apply for a permit or wildlife hobby license and meet specific criteria in order to legally own one of these exotic pets. Captive-bred foxes still have many of their wild instincts, so owners need to demonstrate they can properly contain and care for them.

Nevada Permits exotic pets like foxes but not native wildlife species.
Indiana Allows domesticated foxes with a Class II Wild Animal Possession permit.
Missouri Owning fox-dog hybrids allowed with permit from Conservation Department.

As you can see, laws tend to differentiate between wild red foxes or gray foxes and specialized breeds that have been in captivity for generations. Check your own state’s laws before attempting to acquire any type of fox.

Wild Foxes

It is illegal to take native foxes from the wild and keep them as pets anywhere in the United States. Wild foxes have not undergone the domestication process over time to become suitable housemates for people.

Their skittish nature, marking habits, and nighttime activity levels make them extremely difficult to manage in a typical home or yard.

States where owning wild native fox species is prohibited:

As you can see from the examples above, laws universally forbid capturing wild foxes from their habitats to keep as personal pets or for any other purpose. Not only would this be extremely difficult and dangerous for both parties, but it goes against conservation efforts to preserve fox populations in the wild.

Foxes play an important role in balancing local ecosystems, so removing them can have devastating ripple effects. If you have a strong interest in foxes, consider learning about them through reputable wildlife organizations or donating to conservation groups instead of trying to own one! 🦊

Restricted Species

Owning a fox is highly regulated across most states due to concerns over public safety, disease control, and protecting wild fox populations. Here is an overview of the legal status of fox ownership in different parts of the United States:

States Where Fox Ownership is Illegal

Keeping foxes as pets is completely banned in the following states:

  • California
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Oregon
  • Nevada

These states prohibit possession of foxes for personal use due to concerns about rabies exposure, escapes into local ecosystems, and potential attacks on people or livestock.

States Requiring Permits for Fox Ownership

The following states allow private fox ownership but only with special permits or licenses:

  • Arizona
  • Maine
  • Michigan
  • New Hampshire
  • Pennsylvania

These states restrict fox ownership to protect public health and safety. Permit requirements often include enclosure inspections, microchipping, and rabies vaccinations.

States With No Restrictions on Fox Ownership

There are a handful of states with no statewide restrictions on possessing foxes as pets:

  • Arkansas
  • Idaho
  • Missouri
  • West Virginia

However, some local jurisdictions within these states may regulate or prohibit fox ownership. It’s important to check municipal and county ordinances before obtaining a fox.

State Fox Ownership Laws
Wisconsin Allows fox ownership but classifies foxes as “dangerous captive wildlife.” Owners must adhere to stringent confinement, handling and reporting rules.
Alabama Has no state ban but certain municipalities, such as Huntsville, have enacted local fox possession bans.

As you can see, laws and regulations surrounding private fox ownership vary greatly across the country. It’s crucial to fully research your state and local statutes before attempting to purchase a fox as a pet.

Permits, veterinary certifications, microchipping and suitable caging facilities may be mandatory.

States Where Fox Ownership Is Fully Illegal

All Fox Species

Keeping any species of fox is completely banned in some states. These include California, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, and Utah. In these states, it is illegal to import, purchase, possess, or sell foxes of any kind as pets under state laws and regulations.

For example, Utah’s laws specifically prohibit possessing “potentially dangerous animals” like foxes without a permit. Meanwhile, Rhode Island bans possession of all “wild animals” with some narrow exceptions that do not include foxes.

Most other states in this category have broad bans on keeping “wildlife” or “wild animals” as pets.

The reasons these states ban fox ownership generally relate to public safety and protecting local wildlife. Foxes have not been domesticated and retain many of their wild instincts. They can be destructive in homes, prone to escaping enclosures, and potential carriers of diseases like rabies.

Allowing foxes as pets also risks some being released and damaging ecosystems.

Wild Fox Species Only

Some other states allow owning domesticated foxes like the Russian silver fox, but still prohibit wild fox species. These places include Arizona, Delaware, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon and Pennsylvania.

For example, Oregon law has special restrictions on possessing “potentially dangerous exotic animals” including wild-bred red, arctic, gray and kit foxes. But it carves out an exception for silver foxes and allows their ownership with proper permitting.

States that distinguish between wild and domesticated foxes recognize that aggressive traits have been selectively bred out of domestic strains over many generations. So while wild foxes remain too high-risk, domesticated foxes may be safe pets for experts able to properly house and care for them.

Conclusion

We have covered the legality of owning domesticated and wild fox species in all 50 U.S. states. While foxes are fully legal pets without a permit in some states, most have some form of regulation, permit requirements, or banned species when it comes to fox ownership.

Be sure to check your local city and county laws as well. We hope this guide gave you a comprehensive understanding of where foxes can be owned as pets.

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