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PET REGULATIONS IN ARKANSAS

Promoting Responsible Pet Ownership

If you're wanting to purchase or adopt a new pet, use these resources to help you find out if the pet you want is prohibited or controlled (i.e., requires a permit) in your state. And don't forget to do some research on the pet you want. Many pets are expensive, time consuming, and can live for a long time. Be prepared to properly care for your pet for its entire lifetime.

Arkansas prohibited and controlled species info

Breeding, sale, or importation of the following wildlife species is not allowed, and the Commission will not issue permits for them. These are just some of the species that are listed, for a full list of prohibited species see the links below. 

  • Amphibians 
    • Newts, fire salamanders, etc. (Family Salamandridae) 
  • Birds 
    • Waterfowl (Family Anatidae) 
  • Mammals 
    • Apes 
    • Baboons (Genus Papio) 
    • Bats (Order Chiroptera) 
    • Blackbuck Antelope (Antilope cervicapra)  
    • Black-tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus)  
    • Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)  
    • Coyotes (Canis latrans) that originate from or have lived in Alaska, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming, or Canada 
    • Foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus, Vulpes vulpes) 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 
    • Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious)  
    • Large carnivores 
    • Raccoon (Procyon lotor) 
    • Rhinoceros (Family Rhinocerotidae)  
    • Skunks (Genera: Mephitis, Spilogale)  
    • Warthog (Genus Phacochoerus)  
  • Reptiles 
    • Anacondas (Genus Eunectes) 
    • Box turtles (Genus Terrapene) 
    • Large Asian and African Pythons: Reticulated, Burmese and Rock Pythons (Malayopython reticulatus, Python bivittatus, P. molurus, P. natalensis, P. sebae) 

For more information and a full list of terrestrial prohibited species, please see the following links below: 

Captive Wildlife • Arkansas Game & Fish Commission (agfc.com) 

09.14 — Native Wildlife Pets Restricted (agfc.com) 

Additionally, the breeding, sale, or importation of several aquatic species is not allowed in the state of Arkansas. For more information on prohibited aquatic species, please see the links below. 

Code 26.13 – Certain Exotic Species Prohibited https://apps.agfc.com/regulations/26.13/ 

Code Addendum J1.01 – Approved Commercial Aquaculture Species List https://apps.agfc.com/regulations/J1.01/ 

Code Addendum J1.03 – Approved Stocking Species List for Privately Owned Lakes and Ponds https://apps.agfc.com/regulations/J1.03/ 

Code 26.30 – Possession of Certain Live Carp Prohibited https://apps.agfc.com/regulations/26.30/ 

AGFC Prohibited Aquatic Species per Code 26.13 

    • Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus 
    • Blueback herring Alosa aestivalis 
    • Eurasian ruffe Gymnocephalus cernua 
    • Mexican banded tetra Astyanax aeneus 
    • Orfe Leuciscus idus 
    • Piranha Family Serrasalmidae 
    • Roach fish Rutilus rutilus 
    • Round Goby Neogobius melanostromus 
    • Rudd Scardinus erthropthalmus 
    • Snakehead Family Channidae 
    • Stickleback fish Family Gasteroseidae 
    • Walking catfish Clarias bactrachus 
    • White Perch Morone americana 
    • Yellow perch Perca flavescens 
    • Chinese mitten crab Ericher sinensis 
    • Marbled crayfish Procambarus virginalis 
    • Everglades crayfish Procambarus alleni 
    • Redclaw crayfish Family Cherax 
    • Rusty crayfish Orconectes rusticus 
    • Smooth Marron Cherax cainii 
    • Yabby Cherax destructor 
    • Big-Ear radix Radix auricularia 
    • Channeled apple snail Pomacea canaliculata 
    • Chinese mystery snail Cipangopaludina chinensis 
    • Ghost Ramshorn snail Biomphalaria havanensis 
    • New Zealand mud snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum 
    • Quagga mussel Dreissena bugensis 
    • Quilted melania Tarebia granifera 
    • Red-rim melania Melanoides tuberculata 
    • Zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha 

Now, keep in mind, just because an animal is legal to own in the state, it doesn’t mean the city you live in allows it. Many local cities and counties have their own restrictions on which animals are legal to keep, and which are not. Consider checking with your local city and/or county for their regulations regarding what pets you can and can’t own. It is your responsibility to comply with all local laws, ordinances and covenants before importing or possessing live wildlife.