Transportation and Holding of Live Exotic Wildlife

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Permit Information for Exotic Wildlife

The transportation of both native and exotic wildlife species from out of state is governed by strict regulations. A wildlife transportation permit is mandatory, with certain species entirely prohibited from being moved across state lines. If you plan to bring wildlife into Kentucky, it’s crucial to thoroughly review these regulations to ensure compliance. Read below for more information.

​Holding Captive Exotic Wildlife

The Department does not issue permits for the holding (i.e., possession within Kentucky) of exotic wildlife; however, the importation or transportation of exotic wildlife from out of state requires a wildlife transportation permit. Environmentally injurious and inherently dangerous exotic wildlife species are prohibited unless you’re exempted; some species regularly held as livestock or pets are exempt from the transportation permit requirement.

What does this really mean?

• If you legally obtain a non-prohibited exotic species within Kentucky, then you will never need a permit from the Department, assuming the animal(s) never leave Kentucky with the intent to return.
• If you plan to bring an exotic species into Kentucky from out of state, you must have a wildlife transportation permit authorizing the movement. 
• Prohibited species may not be possessed by the general public. 

Local ordinances may be stricter than state regulations, and some counties and cities prohibit additional species or restrict wildlife possession beyond state limits. It is a person’s individual responsibility to ensure compliance with all local ordinances.  Always ensure a species you plan to possess is legal through all levels of government.

Exotic wildlife shall not be released into the wild, with the exception of pheasants and chukars.

Important Links

Permits and Reports

Prohibited Exotic Wildlife

Environmentally Injurious - A person shall not import, possess, or transport through Kentucky the following species:*

• Baya weaver (Ploceus philippinus);
  
• Blackbirds (Genus Agelaius), except native species;
  
• Cape sparrow (Passer melanurus);
• Cowbirds (Genus Molothrus), except native species;
• Cuckoo (Family Cuculidae), except native species;
• Dioch or red-billed quelea (Quelea quelea);
• European blackbird (Turdus merula);
  
• European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) that morphologically resembles wild European rabbits;
  
• Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris);
  
• Flying fox or fruit bat (Genus Pteropus);
• Fox (Genus: Cerdocyon, Lycalopex, Otocyon, Urocyon, and Vulpes);
• Gambian giant pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus);
• Giant, marine, or cane toad (Rhinella marina);
• Hawaiian rice bird or spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata);
  
• Java sparrow (Padda oryzivora);
  
• Madagascar weaver (Foudia madagascariensis);
• Mistle thrush (Turdus viscivorus);
• Monk or Quaker parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus);
• Multimammate rat (Genus Mastomys);
• Mute swan (Cygnus olor);​
  
• Nutria (Myocastor coypus);
• Prairie dog (Cynomys spp.);
  
• Raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides);
  
• Sky lark (Alauda arvensis);
• Song thrush (Turdus philomelus);
• Starling (Family Sturnidae), including pink starlings or rosy pastors (Sturnus roseus), except for Indian Hill mynahs (Gracula religiosa);
• Suricate or slender-tailed meerkat (Genus Suricata);
• Tongueless or African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis);
• Weaver finch (Genus Passer), except Passer domesticus;
• White eyes (Genus Zosterops);
  
• Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella); or
• A member of the following families:
• Suidae (pigs or hogs), except for domestic swine;
• Viverridae (civets, genets, linsangs, mongooses, and fossas); or
• Tayassuidae (peccaries and javelinas)
  

Inherently Dangerous - A person shall not import or possess the following species:*

• Alligators or caimans (Family Alligatoridae);
• African buffalo (Syncerus caffer);
• Bears (Family Ursidae);
  
• Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus);
• Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa);
• Crocodiles (Family Crocodylidae);
• Elephants (Family Elephantidae);
• Gavials (Family Gavialidae);
• Gila monsters or beaded lizards (Family Helodermatidae);
• Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius);
  
• Honey badger or ratel (Mellivora capensis);
• Hyenas (Family Hyaenidae), all species except aardwolves (Proteles cristatus);
  
• Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis);
  
• Lions, jaguars, leopards, or tigers (Genus Panthera);
• Lynx (Genus Lynx);
  
• Old World badger (Meles meles);
• Primates, nonhuman (Order Primates);
  
• Rhinoceroses (Family Rhinocerotidae);
• Snow leopard (Uncia uncia);
• Venomous exotic snakes of the families Viperidae, Atractaspididae, Elapidae, and Colubridae, except for hognose snakes (Genus Heterodon);
  
• Wolverine (Gulo gulo); or
• Hybrids of all species contained in this list.
  

​Exceptions on Wild Rabbits

A person may possess but shall not import or transport through Kentucky wild rabbits, hares, or pikas (Order ​ Lagomorpha). A person may possess native wild rabbits of the Sylvilagus genus, but shall not import or transport native wild rabbits into Kentucky.​

For more information, please review Administrative Regulations: (301 KAR 2:081/ 082).

Wildlife Transportation Permit

Application Process

An applicant for a captive wildlife transportation permit shall:

1. Be at least 18 years old;
   
2. Submit an application fee (Please refer to the License and Permit Fees page) and complete either the Individual Transportation Permit Application or Annual Transportation Permit Application (See Below for more information).

General Information

A wildlife transportation permit shall be obtained for all shipments of wildlife (native or exotic) prior to:

• Receiving a shipment​ of wildlife;
• Importing wildlife into Kentucky; or
• Transporting wildlife into and through the state to a destination outside of Kentucky.
  

All shipments of wildlife, except reptiles and amphibians, shall be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection. This is not required with your application; it must be with the wildlife during shipment and available if stopped for inspection.

A person may apply for a transportation permit to temporarily transport into and through the state to a destination outside of Kentucky a prohibited inherently dangerous species and shall not:

• Remain in the state in excess of forty-eight (48) hours;
• Stop in Kentucky for exhibition purposes; or
• Sell, trade, barter, or offer for sale, trade, or barter a prohibited animal while in Kentucky.
  

In Kentucky, prohibited exotic species must be kept in an enclosure sufficient to prevent escape and direct contact with the public.​

Permit Exempt Species

The following (both native/exotic wildlife species) ​shall not require any permits from the Department for importation, transportation, or possession: