Which States Allow Hedgehogs as Pets

Who could blame anyone that wants a hedgehog? I mean, c'mon! Who wouldn't want to own a hedgie? However, it's important to know which states allow hedgehogs as pets. You certainly don't want legal issues by having them in a state that bans them. Sadly, in states where they're considered illegal, hedgehogs can be confiscated. Shockingly, they may even euthanize a confiscated hedgehog. Honestly, it would be easier to show you a short list of states where hedgehogs are illegal. But so you can be sure, we'll tell you which states allow hedgies as pets. We'll also let you know which states have restrictions that may interfere with your quilly obsession. And if you're thinking of proceeding with hedgehog ownership in one of the states where they're illegal, we'd like to give you some compelling reasons to reconsider.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: We would like to thank Savannah Brady for allowing us to use the picture of her hedgehog which we modified to be our protester in this article.

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Seriously! Look at that adorable face! Trust me when we say that we totally understand how ridiculous it is that there are actually states where pet hedgehogs are illegal. In our opinion, some of these states allow pets that are far more dangerous than a hedgehog could ever be. We won't go throwing any genus or species names around, but we're pretty sure that you'll have one or a few come to mind. So what gives?

We believe that fear and ignorance is what creates unreasonable restrictions when it comes to laws concerning hedgehogs as pets. They aren't rodents or pestilence. They don't carry salmonella without being exposed to it – which is true of all animals – not just hedgehogs. There isn't any negative environmental impact caused by you owning one. We guarantee there won't be a zombie apocalypse created by hedgehog ownership! Nonetheless, we don't want any harm to befall them because they're living in one of the states that doesn't allow hedgehogs as pets.

California certainly isn't on the list of states that allow hedgehogs as pets! In the Golden State, they have a hard-line stance on having hedgehogs as pets. We've read their reasoning for it and we are going to repeat ourselves that the statutes in place are based on fear and/or ignorance.

They've categorized several animals as being a danger to safety. While that may be true for some animals that have been banned, it's hardly applicable to African Pygmy hedgehogs. Oh! And be careful of those gerbils…those pose a threat as well! Please read the following direct quote:

Section 671, Title 14, of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) was established to restrict the possession of thousands of different species of animals for one or more of the following reasons: (1) because their numbers are threatened or endangered in the wild, (2) because they pose a threat to our native fish and wildlife, agriculture or public health and safety. The Legislature, in Section 2118 of the Fish and Game Code, included all species of the Order Insectivora on its list of prohibited species.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

And forget the idea of trying to get a permit to have a hedgehog as a pet in California. They only allow permits for hedgehogs “to qualified individuals or institutions for limited purposes such as research, public exhibition, or shelter… Permits are not issued to import or possess any wild animal for pet purposes.” And they do consider a hedgehog a wild animal.

The bottom line is that hedgehogs are illegal in the state of Georgia unless you obtain a permit as referenced in O.C.G.A. Section 27-5-4. It has gone through the rumor mill that you can own a hedgehog in Georgia on a “technicality” since they aren't specifically listed in Section 27-5-5 (b)(1)(B).

Ummm…technically speaking, the biological order called Insectivora was abandoned and a subset of them were classified in a new order called Eulipotyphyla. Yet the Georgia code still uses the order Insectivora. Potatoe, potato, tomatoe, tomato….make no mistake…. that's not a battle you want to fight. You're unlikely to win because there's verbiage in the code that leaves law enforcement a wide berth. We have quoted the code for you below:

Georgia Code

TITLE 27 Game and Fish / Chapter 5 Wild Animals

Section 27-5-5. Wild animals for which license or permit required:

(b) Except as provided in this Code section, a license or permit is required for the following wild animals and any others specified by regulation of the board:

(1) Class Mammalia:

(B) Order Insectivora (shrews, moles, etc.) — All species;

O.C.G.A. Section 27-5-5

The terms “etc.” and “All species” are catch-all words that cover law enforcement for anything not specifically specified in the code. Hopefully one day, there will be an exception that says All species except Atelerix albiventris; or any other normally domesticated species. Until such time, if you want to own a hedgehog in Georgia, apply for the permit and pray they grant it. Oddly enough, they'll allow licensed breeders to have hedgehogs as long as they aren't sold within the state – but no pets!

And in case you're wondering why such legislation is even on the books. Once again, fear and ignorance. The State Veterinarian, Robert Cobb, has been quoted saying, “This has to do with spreading of disease to our domestic species, as well as our wildlife that is indigenous to the state of Georgia. That's the big issue.” The basis for this belief? An article published 15 years ago by the CDC that produced a scare when it said, “Such animals can carry and introduce zoonotic agents, a fact well illustrated by the recent outbreak of monkeypox in pet prairie dogs.” Interestingly, the author affiliations for this article are with the University of California, in another state that believes hedgehogs are a danger to safety. If you'd like to read more about zoonotic diseases that hedgehogs can carry -if they are exposed to it – please read this.

If you ask, which states allow hedgehogs as pets, you won't find Hawaii on the list either. Hawaii's way of making hedgehog ownership illegal is by a law of omission. Let us explain. They have a law that has lists of animals that fall into one of four categories:

• Conditional Approved Animals
• Restricted Animals – For Research and Exhibition
• Restricted Animals – For Private and Commercial Use
• Prohibited Animals

And if you read each and every list, hedgehog does not appear on any of them. But here's the gotcha…”Any animal that is not found on any of the lists is considered prohibited“. They mean business too because if caught, it could mean up to 3 years in jail and/or fines up to $500,000! Hawaii is very protective of their botanical and tropical flora, as well as native insects that exist there. So, they fear feral hedgehogs on the island would endanger these things.

Another one. Pennsylvania is definitely not a state which allows hedgehogs as pets! In fact, we found ourselves quickly caught up in a convoluted mess regarding legalities. In years gone by, hedgehogs were able to be kept as pets as long as it could be proven that they were bred and born within the state by breeders legally permitted to do so. No imported lineage.

There have been conflicting stories of how that privilege was removed. Suffice it to say that exotic animals can and have been seized in Pennsylvania. As things are in February 2020, exotic animals require a $50 annual permit from the Pennsylvania Game Commission to have as a pet. However, permits are not granted unless:

Applicant shall provide documentation of at least 2 years experience of hands-on work with the designated species. Letter of approval from local governmental body must accompany application.

And there's the rub. In fact, we weren't even able to download a special permit application anywhere on the Pennsylvania Game Commission website. The above quote comes from a 2018 special permit application posted elsewhere on the internet. We have no way of knowing if there are updated applications thereafter.

For those who don't know, New York City is so large that is has five county-level administrative districts called boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. We never knew that until we did the research for this article. It's hard to imagine a city that big.

Within New York City, the particular local legislation that governs making hedgehogs illegal is the New York City Public Health Code Title IV Part B Article 161.01 (b) (23). Apparently, like other states where hedgehogs are illegal, there is an underlying fear of them being a health safety risk.

(d)   An animal whose possession is prohibited pursuant to this section may be seized by any authorized employee, officer or agent of the Department or of any other agency of the City of New York, and the Commissioner shall provide for such animal's appropriate disposition.

NYC Health Code and Rules

As we previously mentioned, the list of states that are hedgehog-friendly is much, much longer than ones that are hedgehog-hostile. We also want to remind everyone that even if having a hedgehog as a pet is legal at the state level, smaller local governments can have stricter laws which will govern your ability to own hedgies where you are.

It's always best to check into it (not all states are represented to search on the linked site). That includes counties, cities, and in large cities, districts. We searched by using “exotic” and/or “hedgehog” as search terms. When using the word “exotic”, you'll have to find their definitions to determine what constitutes an exotic animal to that governmental body. Believe it or not, some progressive townships don't classify hedgehogs as exotic because they are bred and raised in captivity as tame animals.

If you can't really tell whether your local government considers hedgehogs to be exotic animals requiring a permit to own, you may need to call. Whatever you do, DON'T identify yourself or address! You don't want an over-zealous government official knocking on your door saying that you have a hedgehog in your home illegally! If you don't think it happens, you're wrong. We know people it has happened to! So save yourself the grief. Simply find out what their requirements are and take the steps that are needed to comply.

As you can see, there are many more states that allow hedgehogs than there are that don't. It gives us hope that someday all states will welcome hedgehogs. Please keep in mind that your county or city may have ordinances that prevent you from having a hedgehog as a pet. Or, they may require a permit in order to be in compliance. Please look into it.

If you live in one of the locations that have recently legalized hedgehog ownership, we would like to leave you with something to consider. We know you must be really excited to legally have a hedgehog as a pet. Before you rush to get a hedgehog to give them their forever home, please locate a qualified hedgehog veterinarian first. You see, since hedgehogs are new to the locale, there may not be an exotic pet veterinarian to treat your ouch mouse yet. Let's always remember that with the privilege to have hedgehogs, comes the responsibility to love and provide for their needs. We all want them well cared for don't we?