Additionally, keeping venomous snakes requires a venomous snake permit. WHAT THE LAW SAYS. Another reason to love the Opossum is that it is a very clean and healthy animal. Answer: Probably not, since they are native animals and furbearers. In Missouri, you can keep an opossum as a pet, but the Virginia opossum is considered a large carnivore, so large carnivore permitting is needed. Any attempt to obtain one as a pet in Texas can even result in criminal charges. Females usually have two litters a year. Obviously, this can result in legal troubles and the Possum can get taken off you if the authorities are alerted. The English phrase possum was first used for this opossum range. They additionally may keep you up at night time with the motion of their cages. Use Raster Layer as a Mask over a polygon in QGIS. Poison may not be used. If youre looking for a pet possum in Texas, you may be disappointed to learn that its illegal. (However not in the Americas).if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'oxfordpets_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_8',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-oxfordpets_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); These creatures are of comparable length and have similar behavior. The center can then work to rehabilitate the animal and return it to the wild. These creatures are agile and curious. as a public servant or in furtherance of activities or operations associated with Most Teeth in North America. Opossums are non-aggressive creatures despite a ferocious display of teeth when threatened. By Georgia Law, most native species of wildlife cannot be held without permits or licenses. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. In other words, you cant sneak around the laws with some kind of loophole either, so trying to trick the state laws probably wont work. Though there are a few exceptions, these are highly unusual and you should not attempt to get a possum as a pet unless you are sure you qualify for one. 160 or 220) and foothold traps (Nos. Both sexes can stay for 5-7 years. Next . There is no license to take and own as a pet, but you can try it under fishing licenses. Photo: Flickr/Florida Fish and Wildlife. By Dalia Azim. Can I have a pet possum in California? However, fur-bearing animals or their pelts taken for these purposesmay not be retained or possessed by anyone at any timeexcept licensed trappers during the lawful open season and possession periods. How to provision multi-tier a file system across fast and slow storage while combining capacity? Also, exotic animal legal guidelines can change. Therefore, you can follow these steps if you want to raise a possum. You need to possum-proof your house. Only several birds and aquarium-dwelling species are legal exotic pets in this unique state, with peafowl (a.k.a peacocks and peahens) being considered poultry. Also, make sure the resting place is away from sunlight and drafts. Your contact information is used to deliver requested updates or to access your subscriber preferences. Hence, they sleep during the day and remain active during the nighttime. Possum ownership is illegal in the state and violators could be subject to criminal charges. Can a rotating object accelerate by changing shape? (d)It is a defense to prosecution under this section that: (1)the actor had a reasonable fear of bodily injury to the actor or to another person The local news was talking to a game warden from Lake Texoma the other day and he said that it was illegal to remove anything from the islands located in the lake and surrounding lake area's. Supposedly the lake is eroding badly in places and they are trying to stop it. Some human beings go for smaller creatures, which include hamsters, rabbits, rats, or fish. You might also consider visiting a wildlife center to get up close and personal with these fascinating creatures and learn more about their habitats and behavior. Whatever way you look at it, the answer is no you cannot legally own a Possum in Texas. under this section or under Section 42.09. It is important to be aware of the legal implications before attempting to acquire a possum as a pet. If you are a wildlife rehabilitator who has already been caring for a possum, and you have made a commitment to that animal, you may be eligible to keep it. If you did happen to illegally own a pet Possum then it would run away if given the chance. There sort of is a law, this one. One of the most frequently asked questions about exotic pet ownership in Texas is whether its legal to own a Possum in the lone star state. Kinkajous are legal in Texas and a few other states, such as New York and North Carolina. Rehabilitating possums is actually a great way to help them and to observe beautiful creatures up close. Arkansas Exotic Pet Laws. It is crucial to understand the law in order to ensure that you are staying within the legal boundaries. They will fight with each other if they are placed in an identical cage; they might even kill each other. Contact the Texas office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture--Wildlife Services with concerns about nuisance wildlife. or. The following actions define cruel punishment: Torturing an animal. Baty (No. And finally, you could look into wildlife watching programs that allow you to observe and interact with opossums in a safe, controlled environment. If you feel ready to commit to caring for a possum, you could consider adoption. Volunteering is a great way to support the conservation of these animals and their habitats. Quarantine must be in a Texas Department of Health approved animal shelter, veterinary clinic or the home of the animal's owner, provided it is an in-family bite and the animal is currently vaccinated and licensed, with the approval of the local rabies control authority. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Texas Penal Code - PENAL 42.092. Possum rehabilitation is an excellent option for those who want to help these animals. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has a Wildlife Services office. These animals are smaller and can be great pets for beginners. One option is to consider adoption. Dont be alarmed if you find a opossum in your trashcan, simply tip the can on its side and leave for 10 15 minutes. Use high-quality reinforcement to make sure your possum stays safe, satisfied, and contended. Nonetheless, the right thing to do would be to contact your local ranger and get the Possum to a sanctuary with a view to an eventual release into the wild. CODE OF ORDINANCES City of McALLEN, TEXAS Codified through Ordinance No. You can also explore other ways to observe and appreciate wildlife, such as going on nature hikes and bird watching. This department works with local officials to investigate pests and diseases which are transmissible from animals to humans (including rabies & West Nile Virus). Apply Neem oil as a botanical pesticide. Lets start out with all the things they eat that we dont want to share our back yard with. Knowing the law is the first step to making a responsible decision when it comes to interacting with possums. 5) Finally, it is important to remember that possums are protected under the US Endangered Species Act. This subchapter, "Nongame Animals," discusses the trapping, keeping, transporting, and selling of certain wild, nongame animals. It is possible to care for possums without breaking the law. If youre looking for a way to interact with possums in Texas, consider rehabilitation or adoption. Possums make a good pet if you take care of them properly. Do Possums Have a Taste for Chicken Eggs? to the person's care and control, regardless of ownership of the animal. Organizations like Possumcare specialize in providing medical attention to injured, orphaned, and displaced possums. Opossum may be aesthetically challenged, but they are probably the single most important wild animal to your backyard ecology. Spellcaster Dragons Casting with legendary actions? This subchapter, "Regulation of Keeping of Wild Animals," authorizes counties to regulate keeping certain wild animals in unincorporated portions of the county. Not every animal is the same as a domestic cat or a dog, and some just cant really be tamed. They need a bigger cage (minimal 3 x 2 x 3) so they can bounce and climb around freely. The list of mammals legal to import into the islands consists of guinea pigs, chinchillas, rabbits, mice, and rats. This small, rural, predominantly black community probably originated in the latter part of the nineteenth century. has acquired and possesses a fur-bearing animal propagation license. Adults attain a length of four to eight inches with a tail equaling the length of their body. The common law began and more. Ensure that the bars have an area no larger than 0.5-inch among them. You must first obtain a permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and meet certain criteria to become a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. (e)It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (b)(2) or (6) that: (1)the animal was discovered on the person's property in the act of or after injuring You can even get the chance to take photos or selfies with them! It only takes a minute to sign up. Is it legal to own a possum in Georgia? Because short-tails can easily get dehydrated, it is important for water to be accessible and clean in their hanging water bottles. Possums are nocturnal creatures. Well never know if the opossum is grateful we are so messy or if they scurry around feeling harassed and under-appreciated. Thanks for contributing an answer to Law Stack Exchange! Copyright 2023, Thomson Reuters. The Website Is Run And Managed By A Community Of Enthusiasts Informative About Pets. convicted under Subsection (b)(1), (2), (7), or (8) or under Section 42.09. These licenses are not issued for the purpose of holding native wildlife as pets. So if you had your heart set on having a pet opossum, you should look into other options. Does Chain Lightning deal damage to its original target first? Why does the second bowl of popcorn pop better in the microwave? 42). You can look into opossum adoption, which involves providing opossums with a permanent home in a safe and secure environment. You can see their eyes reflecting just like deer, etc. Canoe, single and double kayaks, and paddleboard at park store, Saturday through Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Self-service rentals are also available. (2)animal husbandry or agriculture practice involving livestock animals. We Hope You Find It Useful. Is it against any Texas wildlife regulations to keep a possum as a pet? Massachusetts is strict with pet laws. Some non-traditional pets can be very poor choices to own. For this, you would need a fur bearing permit which are not easy to get. Short-tailed possums live for approximately four-eight years. This is also not a general pet permit, but in case your program of possum rehabilitation fails, you are not required to kill it or release it into the wild to die. Bats, wolves, and armadillos are specifically discussed. Other large pythons that are legal include African rock pythons, Burmese pythons, and anacondas. State law requires owners to pay for quarantine. Email subscriber privacy policy Natural habitat: Forests of South America, typically near bodies of water. Realistically, there are only two ways to own a pet Possum in Texas. The only other way is to own them if you own an animal sanctuary. Sugar gliders could make excellent pets due to the fact theyre playful and social animals. This could cause higher clinical payments than expected. Animals regulated include: game animals, game birds, deer, exotic species, threatened and endangered species, bobcats, raptors, alligators, "fur bearing" animals (beavers, raccoons, foxes, minks, and others). There is a test required, to be sure you know how to rehabilitate wild animals, plus a requirement for letters of support from conservationists, veterinarians or rehabilitators. Content of this site copyright Texas Parks and Wildlife Department unless otherwise noted. However, their tails are bare. You murderer! For instance, you can legally own a pet Lemur or Sloth which are arguably cooler pets than Possums anyway. Possums love fruits. There are other ways to interact with and enjoy opossums, such as opossum rehabilitation, adoption, and wildlife watching activities. Not all vets in your location have specialized in possum care. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. These include callitrichids (marmosets and tamarins), capuchins and other monkeys and apes, lemurs, capybaras, skunks and raccoons. Because these animals are so small, keeping a short-tailed opossum is relatively inexpensive. Assuming your locality does not ban wild animals entirely or opossums specifically (or both) to include both city and county, this may be the loophole for the Texas restriction on it being a fur-bearing animal, and as per the statute that regulates them you are able to take and possess them with a hunting license so long as it doesn't violate those stipulations. Size: 3.48-4.40 feet in length. in by the actor is a generally accepted and otherwise lawful: (1)form of conduct occurring solely for the purpose of or in support of: (B)wildlife management, wildlife or depredation control, or shooting preserve practices Possum rehabilitation centers are a great way to give a possum a second chance at life in the wild. TermsPrivacyDisclaimerCookiesDo Not Sell My Information, Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select. This can be a great experience, and its also a way to help a creature in need. They have remained unchanged since the time of the dinosaur. 71.001. Only in Wisconsin, West Virginia, and South Carolina, it's legal to own this animal without any permission. Cyndi, This is an outstanding article! Section 42.09 "Cruelty to Livestock Animals" and 42.092 "Cruelty of Non-Livestock Animals" of the Texas Penal Code prohibits a person from intentionally, knowingly or recklessly cruelly treating an animal. Their coat is grey-brown. DEFINITIONS. However, by law there a few stipulations: one of which is that you must prove that you have adequate funds to provide for your Tiger, including housing and feeding. Theyre wild animals who dont fare well often in captivity. Texas Parks and Wildlife Regulations on wildlife including necessary permits for various species. This site copyright Texas Parks and wildlife watching activities 's care and control, regardless of ownership of the and! ; they might even kill each other if they scurry around feeling harassed and under-appreciated, Burmese,! 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