State laws for Pet Foxes (research in progress)

State laws for Pet Foxes:
REMEMBER THAT city or local ordinances still prevail over all these laws.  If the city or county in which you live prohibits the possession of such an animal where you live, you would be in violation of local ordinances. To find out the laws in each city and county, you would need to check with each entity individually.


UK-England, Scotland, etc:
you do not require a permit or any other paper work as they are not on the DWAL list.
as for paperwork there is none which is a bonus to living in the UK plus you can move anywhere you want in the UK and you can take your furry friend with you.
www.raskbb.com/sybilsden/viewt…



Arkansas: pet foxes allowed   
Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
www.agfc.com/
www.agfc.com/enforcement/Docum…
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Code Book - Section 15.41 Native Wildlife Pets; also
Section 15.37 and 15.38 on Importation from another state
(they ban importation of foxes from 19 states: [Gray and red foxes that originate or have lived in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming or Canada.] ).
notes: no permit needed; one time $25 "importation permit" to bring in a fox from out of state.  Arkansas also allows you to catch a fox in the wild to keep as a pet (section 15.41 A).  Also, limit of 6 foxes per household.


Florida:  allowed with permit
myfwc.com/license/wildlife/cap…
must have a class 3 permit, no-cost personal pet permit, .... not sure if an exhibition permit is required if taking it outdoors, and the Captive Wildlife Critical Incident/Disaster Plan filled out and sent in with the application form.


Illinois:   allowed   Illinois Department of Natural Resources  www.dnr.state.il.us Illinois Wildlife Code (Chapter 520 ILCS Section 5/3.25) www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/…
Officer Roy Maul   DNR.Lawreception@Illinois.gov
note: pay yearly fee of $25.50 for the "Fur-bearing Mammal Breeder Permit”.  The permit does not allow a person to capture or take a live fox from the wild.  You have to purchase the fox from another licensed breeder and you must keep and maintain records of the purchase, sale, and propagation of your foxes.


Indiana:    foxes allowed   
I HIGHLY recommend Indiana as they are hardly regulated there. It's almost like owning a dog in that respect.


Iowa:       foxes allowed       Iowa DNR       www.iowadnr.gov
2009 Iowa Code/Statutes(Code Chapters & Sections)/TITLE XI NATURAL RESOURCES/SUBTITLE 6 WILDLIFE
Steve.Dermand@dnr.iowa.gov
No permit needed.  Only must keep the sales receipt from breeder and the health cert. in line with the Dept of Agriculture and their requirements.


Michigan:    foxes allowed
Michigan is import rules will apply if you can't find one in state
www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%28…
Not sure on the link working but it says the director needs to approve the housing of the animal so try to get it in writing from the director that you are okay to get one. If the link doesn't work just go here and search for exotic
www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%28…
There is also a section on keeping red(fur farm) foxes(search for wild animal, bring a lot up but it's part way down the list)
www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%28…
It looks like the last word is to contact the director of the Michigan department of agriculture.
In Michigan, only NATIVE animals need DNR permits. This includes Red Foxes that are red in fur color (You do not need a DNR permit for a Red Fox that is Marble, Cross, Silver or ANY other color phase than red. Silvers, Marbles and Crosses ARE "Red" foxes though, just like how there are Yellow, Chocolate and Black Labradors, they are all Labradors) and you would need a permit for a Grey Fox.  Fennecs are not native to Michigan.   www.raskbb.com/sybilsden/viewt…


Minnesota:     foxes allowed    www.dnr.state.mn.us
Minnesota Statutes Chapter 97A.501
www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/st…
note:  " As long as you purchase the fox from a legal game farm and DO NOT take it from the wild, it is legal to own one. A person who owns a captive bred fox is required to maintain the receipt obtained when the animal was purchased.  This is your proof that you did not take it from the wild" - Lori Naumann, DNR officer...   lori.naumann@dnr.state.mn.us


Mississippi:
home.mdwfp.com/PDF/Wildlife/35…


Nebraska:
Nebraska state law does not require a permit to keep them


Ohio:   allowed   Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources   www.dnr.state.oh.us/   REVISED CODE OF OHIO 1531.02 "State ownership of wild animals" AND 1533.71 "License to raise or keep game birds and animals"    www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/9/…
note:  $25 a year "Noncommercial propagating license" for a "fur-bearing animal" like the fox "to hold the animals in captivity."


Oklahoma: allowed


Pennsylvania:    foxes allowed
www.pacode.com/secure/data/058…
you need to keep calling the pgc about it. but only talk to one person there, otherwise, you will get conflicting stories. the person to talk to is Jason in the permits department, in harrisburg
717-787-4250. request an application. they will send you the requirements.
this is what you will need:
2-year experience.
an approved pen (bottom fence also) with a shelf.
a letter of approval from your township
a bill of sale
once you get everything together, an officer will come and inspect the pen. (lets hope you get a fair officer) mine is great, never have any problems with him. the fox cannot be brought home until you get your permit.  oh, and the letter of experience has to be in detail. at least mine did anyway.


Rhode Island:
www.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes…


Utah:
it looks like Foxes are allowed as pets, apparently only the red fox is... "Fox, privately owned, ranch-raised amber, blue and silver forms (Vulpes vulpes)" is listed under "R657-3-2. Species Not Covered by This Rule. The following species of domestic animals are not governed by this rule"
wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/
wildlife.utah.gov/rules/R657-0…


Virginia:        foxes allowed
4 VAC 15-30-10 - Possession, importation, sale, etc., of wild animals. Under the authority of §§ 29.1-103 and 29.1-521 of the Code of Virginia it shall be unlawful to take, possess, import, cause to be imported, export, cause to be exported, buy, sell, offer for sale, or liberate within the Commonwealth any wild animal unless otherwise specifically permitted by law or regulation. Unless otherwise stated, for the purposes of identifying species regulated by the board, when both the scientific and common names are listed, the scientific reference to genus and species will take precedence over common names.
But it IS considered lawful to possess any animal that VA considers domestic.   VA listed red fox under domestic races of animals.


Wisconsin:   allowed   Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources dnr.wi.gov/ dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/c… State statute "169.04 Possession of live wild animals" and "169.15 Captive wild animal farm licenses."
Donna.Leighton@Wisconsin.gov
note:  for "native captive wild animals," which a red fox apparently would be, a Class B "Captive Wild Animal Farm License" $50 Initial Application/$25 Renewal is required.  Also, the fox must be kept in a pen at all times that meets the minimum requirements as listed in the regulations pamphlet; the fox "may not be kept in any part of a building or home where people live unless receiving temporary health care.


Wyoming:         foxes allowed
"zillahkatz" from Sybil's Message Board lives there, "You can own foxes in Wyoming and most other exotics. You can't own moose, deer, elk as pets."

==============================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------
==============================================
Arizona: no pet foxes allowed
www.azgfd.gov/

R12-4-406. Restricted Live Wildlife
8. All species of the order Carnivora. Common names include: carnivores, skunks, raccoons, bears, foxes, and weasels;

R12-4-401. Live Wildlife Definitions
24. "Restricted live wildlife" means wildlife that cannot be imported, exported, or possessed without a special license or lawful exemption. Restricted live wildlife are listed in R12-4-406.
Wildlife Holding License
– A wildlife holding license shall authorize an individual to possess, transport, import, display for educational purposes, photograph for commercial purposes, purchase, propagate, export, give away, or euthanize either restricted live wildlife...for any of the following purposes: advancement of science, wildlife management, or promotion of public health or welfare...

Officer Tyler with the Arizona Game and Fish Dept.:
"Foxes are restricted here, you can't have them as pets at all"  "I do not offer any licenses that allow people to have foxes as pets in Arizona."
480-324-3542


California:   not allowed   California Dept. of Fish and Game www.dfg.ca.gov/  htt…
FGC@fgc.ca.gov
note: all banned; Section 2118 of the Fish and Game Code and Section 671, Title 14, California Code of Regulations.


Colorado:   not allowed   Colorado Dept. of Natural Resources - Division of Wildlife wildlife.state.co.us/ &nb…
note: "Wildlife in general may NOT be held as pets in Colorado.  There are some exceptions" but those are only for educational reasons and rehabilitation; no private pet ownership of foxes.


Georgia: not allowed Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources - Wildlife Resources Division www.georgiawildlife.com/ list on www.georgiawildlife.com/docume…


Idaho:         not allowed
fishandgame.idaho.gov
IDAHO CODE  www.legislature.idaho.gov/idst…
TITLE 25 ANIMALS  CHAPTER 2 INSPECTION AND SUPPRESSION OF DISEASES AMONG LIVESTOCK
25-236. Possession, sale, trade, barter, exchange and importation of animals. (1) No person shall possess, offer for sale, trade, barter, exchange or importation into the state of Idaho any fox, skunk or raccoon, except as provided in subsection (2) or (3) of this section.  (2)  Fur farms may possess or import any domestic fur-bearing animals with a certificate of veterinary inspection and domestic fur-bearing animals may be sold, traded, bartered or exchanged between fur farms in Idaho.   (3)  Public parks, zoos, museums, and educational institutions may possess or import the animals listed.
IDFGINFO@idfg.idaho.gov
note:  "it isn’t legal to own a fox as a pet in Idaho"


Maryland: not allowed


Massachusetts: not allowed Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/index.…
note: no private ownership of foxes, the only permits for a fox are issued only for certain scientific, educational, etc specific reasons, not for pet ownership.


North Carolina: not allowed NC Wildlife Resources Commission www.ncwildlife.org/  ;
www.ncwildlife.org/License/doc…
"'Wildlife Captivity License' authorizes a person to keep a wild animal or bird in captivity. The Commission must determine that the animal or bird was acquired lawfully. Captivity licenses are not issued for the purpose of keeping wildlife as pets."
NC Administrative Code (NCAC) under Title 15A NCAC 10H .0301(c)(2)(B).
daron.barnes@ncwildlife.org;
note:  no foxes can be imported into NC and NO licenses can be given to have a fox just as a pet.


New Jersey:   Unfortunately, non-domesticated canines are considered potentially dangerous species, which means you can't have them as pets...   NJ's Division of Fish and Wildlife


Oregon:  no pet foxes allowed
www.dfw.state.or.us/ &nbs…; Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
www.oregon.gov/ODA/  … Department of Agriculture
"Red fox and Gray fox are indigenous to Oregon and cannot be imported, possessed, sold, purchased, exchanged or transported in the state unless part of a commercial fur farming operation." OAR 635-044-0015  OAR 635-056-0010. www.dfw.state.or.us/OARs/44.pd…

As of 2010, no new exotic pet permits will be given in Oregon; therefore, no new pet foxes of any species are allowed.  Senate bill 391. www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/meas…
carol.d.turner@state.or.us
egookin@oda.state.or.us



Texas:     no pet foxes allowed.     Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.   www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ &nb…;
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/…;
"Fur-bearing animals may not be possessed as pets."
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publicati…
"A Fur-bearing Animal Propagator is a person licensed to take or possess a living fur-bearing animal and hold it for propagation or sale. Species subject to these requirements include ..., all fox, ..." "A Fur-bearing Propagation Permit does not authorize individuals to possess live fur-bearing animals as pets.  This IS NOT a “pet permit.”"
info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/r…;"Texas Administrative Code  TITLE 31  PART 2  CHAPTER 65  SUBCHAPTER Q STATEWIDE FUR-BEARING ANIMAL PROCLAMATION "
Jennifer.Brennan@tpwd.state.tx.us
"It is not legal to keep fur-bearing animals (fox, otter, raccoon, opossum, skunk, etc.) as pets in Texas regardless of where they came from. Furthermore, the state health department has instituted a rabies quarantine on foxes. This pretty much restricts the movement of live foxes to animal control officers and zoo employees."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CANADA:
(view the actual webpage here: www.inspection.gc.ca/english/a… )
Importation of Foxes, Skunks, Raccoons and Ferrets
This information is current as of 2009-11-20.
An import permit issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is required for the importation of foxes, skunks, raccoons and ferrets from any country, with the exception of ferrets from the United States (1).
Permits will not be issued for foxes, raccoons and skunks purchased for import to Canada as a personal pet. Permit issuance may be considered for an animal that is in the owner's possession in the country of origin and accompanies the owner to Canada. It is the owner's responsibility to contact the applicable provincial authorities to request permission to keep such animals as pets and to obtain any required documentation.
For laboratory research and scientific purposes, or for display in a recognized zoo, these animals must be imported under permit and are subject to a minimum thirty (30) day quarantine, but do not need to be accompanied.
Foxes, skunks, raccoons, and ferrets may be imported for commercial purposes (breeding stock).
For clarification of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency import policies, please contact a local CFIA Office.
(1) Ferrets from the United States can be imported into Canada without an import permit if they are presented at the port of entry with a vaccination certificate, which has been signed by a licensed veterinarian and which states that the animals have been vaccinated against rabies in the year preceding the date of import. Ferrets less than three months of age are not subject to any import restrictions.    www.raskbb.com/sybilsden/viewt…

Here is someone else's list that I have not verified yet...
FL (with a permit)
KS (I think it's allowed, not 100% sure)
KY (not sure)
LA (not sure)
MO (some species)
NM (not sure)
TN (has restrictions on importation)
SC
WV (some species)