Is It Legal to Own a Hedgehog in Illinois

In nature, a hedgehog travels many miles every night. [14] A hedgehog with an insufficient litter may show signs of depression, such as excessive sleep, refusal to eat, repetitive behavior, and self-harm. Hedgehogs need a reasonable amount of exercise to avoid liver problems due to obesity. Therefore, a domesticated hedgehog must have access to a wheel. Wheels should be carefully selected to avoid foot injuries. [15] • Ground squirrels, marmots, beavers, hedgehogs, porcupines and other large rodents Since a hedgehog is usually kept in a cage or similar enclosure, it is allowed in some homes where cats and dogs are not allowed. In other words, hedgehogs are legal to keep as pets in Wisconsin. Some regions have banned hedgehog farming because others transmit the highly contagious disease of foot-and-mouth disease. They can also transmit salmonella bacteria, as well as viral and fungal diseases, and their sharp spines can pierce the skin and cause infection. The argument for banning hedgehogs in Pennsylvania is the risk that the animal will escape and become a nuisance in the Pennsylvania ecosystem. It is illegal to import, breed and possess hedgehogs throughout Australia.

In Wyoming, it`s legal to own a hedgehog and you don`t need a license. According to the NGO UAPPEAL, you can legally keep a hedgehog as a pet in Delaware. California, United States Georgia, United States Hawaii, United States Omaha Nebraska, United States New York City, New York, United States (a call to the city information service 311 revealed that hedgehogs are not expressly prohibited – in no case listed by name as definitely legal or illegal. They were listed as illegal in the city`s Health Code in 2000.[1]) Fairfax County, Virginia, United States (legal as of February 2019) And in case you`re wondering why such laws are even in place. Again, fear and ignorance. State veterinarian Robert Cobb was quoted as saying, “This has to do with the spread of the disease to our native species, as well as our wildlife, which is native to the state of Georgia. That is the big problem. The basis of this belief? An article published by the CDC 15 years ago caused fear when it stated, “Such animals can carry and introduce zoonotic agents, a fact well illustrated by the recent outbreak of monkeypox in prairie dogs.” Interestingly, the author of this article`s affiliations are with the University of California, in another state that views hedgehogs as a security threat. If you want to know more about the zoonoses that hedgehogs can transmit – if they are exposed to them – please read this. Several sites on the internet did not know if hedgehogs were allowed as pets in New Jersey without a license.

You read it here with proof: New Jersey residents must have a $10 annual permit to own a hedgehog as a pet. Since hedgehogs are not specifically listed as exempt alien mammals, you must obtain an individual hobby license under sections 7:25-4.2 and 7:25-4.6(a) of the New Jersey Administrative Code. In Alabama, many exotic animals are forbidden to own them as pets, but hedgehogs are completely legal. While you had to have a license to own a hedgehog in Maine, it is now on the Maine Department of Fisheries and Wildlife`s list of unrestricted species. Please note that this list only refers to the legality of the African pygmy hedgehog in the United States. If you have any news or updates to improve the accuracy of this list, please contact us with a source! In North Carolina, you can legally keep a hedgehog as a pet. In fact, exotic animal laws in North Carolina are very loose, which means you`re allowed to keep almost all wild animals without regulation. Illegal/Restricted: 23-May-2018Updated: Mon 08-Apr-2019 While many exotic animals require a permit to be kept in Missouri, hedgehogs are not restricted in the state.

It is perfectly legal to keep hedgehogs as pets in Iowa. • Insectivores (shrews, moles, hedgehogs, tenrecs, etc.); All species A “pet” is an animal of a traditional domestic species: dog, domestic cat, ferret, hedgehog, pet bird, rabbit or domestic rodent (gerbil, guinea pig, hamster or house mouse or rat). All other animals kept as pets, including dog hybrids, domestic cat hybrids, and exotic species of small cats such as servals, are considered livestock or exotic animals. After careful consideration, the Arizona Fish and Game has finally decided that the hedgehogs most commonly kept as pets in the United States are simply not adapted to the climate and cannot survive, let alone thrive, in Arizona. The idea for GL 35 was given to Senator Brakey by a 6th century student. Class at Elm Street Elementary School in Mechanic Falls who wanted the opportunity to have a hedgehog as a pet without having to jump through hoops and acquire multiple licenses like you can do in any other New England state. At Hamor Hollow, we play it safe by listing hedgehogs as illegal/restricted in Georgia. In our view, hedgehogs still on Georgia`s wild/exotic animal list trump current efforts to legalize them through House Bill 780 of 2013, House Bill 273 of 2015, Senate Bill 180 of 2015, and Senate Bill 21 of 2017.

Currently, hedgehogs and gliders in Pennsylvania are not listed as exempt exotic animals in the law and therefore can be banned by the Hunting Commission under its legal authority. The reason for such a rejection by the commission is that they are not native to Pennsylvania and could compete for food or blankets if released or escaped into the wild. Regardless, almost every other state in the country allows these tiny, harmless creatures to be kept as pets-like like gerbils, hamsters, etc. I think it is time to end this unnecessary ban. Breeders do their best to keep up to date with restrictions for hedgehogs, but please note that the information may be out of date from time to time. And if you read each list, hedgehog does not appear on any of them. But here is the Gocha. “Any animal not on one of the lists is considered prohibited.” They think so too, because if caught, it could mean up to 3 years in jail and/or fines of up to $500,000! Hawaii is very protective of its botanical and tropical flora, as well as the native insects that exist there. So they fear that the island`s wild hedgehogs will endanger these things. Previously, hedgehogs were banned, while chinchillas and hermit crabs required special permission from the Zoning Appeals Board. All 17 species of hedgehogs are allowed to be kept illegally as pets in the state of California. During our research, several sites stated that Wyoming allowed hedgehogs but needed a permit.

Even a highly referenced source like Wikipedia wrongly stated at the time of this article (February 2020). Maybe they see this article and review their information. Maybe Wyoming once had permits. Nevertheless, our information comes directly from the website of the Game and Fish Department of Wyoming. They have an organized board that indicates which animals need a permit. And no, hedgehogs don`t! YAY! Please note that misclassification is not a magic escape and legal ownership of a hedgehog is ultimately decided and enforced by local law enforcement. This can be a municipal or municipal police department, the county sheriff`s office, the State Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In California, hedgehogs are banned because they are considered endangered and pose a threat to other fish and wildlife. Pets are excluded from domestic life under California Code of Regulations Section 671, Title. In South Carolina, the law does not specifically mention hedgehogs. Other legal issuesSpain: European hedgehogs are protected and cannot be kept as pets.

African dwarfs can legally be kept as pets. In Nevada, you can legally own, transport, and sell hedgehogs without a license. Now that hedgehogs have been added to the list of animals without restriction, licenses are no longer required for ownership. Ultimately, hedgehogs are illegal in the state of Georgia unless you get a permit under NASCO Article 27-5-4. It has gone through the rumor mill that you may own a hedgehog in Georgia due to a “formality” as they are not specifically listed in section 27-5-5(b)(1)(b). Since the beginning of domestication, several new colors of hedgehogs have been created or have become common, including albino hedgehogs and pinto. Pinto is a color pattern rather than a color: a complete absence of color on the quills and skin underneath in separate places. Domesticated species prefer a warm climate (above 22°C, 72°F) and do not hibernate naturally. Hibernation attempts due to low body temperature can be fatal, but are easily reversed if caught within a few days.

Various petitions have already been filed for the legalization of hedgehogs in the New York area, but so far without success. In Britain, the European hedgehog exists in the wild. However, it is declining, which is quite worrying. For this reason, the British authorities have made the European hedgehog a protected species. This means that it is illegal to hunt but also to possess. Although hedgehogs are legal as pets in New Jersey, you will need a permit. To learn how to get approved, click here.