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PET REGULATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI

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.

Mississippi prohibited and controlled species info

Mississippi regulations state that it is unlawful for any person to import, transfer, sell, purchase or possess any wild animal classified as inherently dangerous by law or regulation unless that person holds a permit or is exempt from holding a permit; these regulations, therefore, also indicate the requirements that must be met in order to obtain either a permit or an exemption.  

 The following wild animals are some of the species classified as animals inherently dangerous to humans. For a full list see rule-83-animals-inherently-dangerous-to-humans-proposed.pdf: 

    • Gibbons 
    • Orangutans 
    • Chimpanzees 
    • Gorillas 
    • Baboons 
    • Wolves (including crosses between wolves and domestic animals) 
    • Bears 
    • Wolverine 
    • Hyenas 
    • Lions 
    • Tigers 
    • Jaguars 
    • Leopards 
    • Cheetah 
    • Cougar 
    • Elephants 
    • Rhinoceroses 
    • Hippopotamus 

Additionally, to possess a nongame species for personal use, one must follow the appropriate license requirements. Nongame wildlife taken from the wild for personal use may not be bought, sold, offered for sale, bartered, exported for sale, nor exhibited except as otherwise provided by these regulations, other regulations of the Commission, by scientific collecting permits, or by other permits issued by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.  

The following list includes some of the nongame species in Mississippi. For a full list and more information see w_-_23-non-game_wildlife_in_need_of_mgmt-final.pdf: 

    • Red salamander 
    • Eastern newt 
    • Narrowmouth frog 
    • Pine woods tree frog, cope’s gray tree frog, squirrel tree frog 
    • Northern crawfish 
    • Common snapper turtle 
    • Plainbelly water lizard 
    • Black king snake, prairie king snake, scarlet king snake 
    • Pygmy rattler snake 
    • Southeastern shrew 
    • Big brown bat 
    • Eastern chipmunk 
    • Southern flying squirrel 
    • Meadow jumping mice 
    • Eastern wood rat 
    • Bluenose shiner 

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.