Colorado allows several categories of exotic pets without any license, but the state’s default position is restrictive: possessing live wildlife is generally prohibited unless a species appears on the official “unregulated wildlife” list. If an animal is on that list, you can own, import, and sell it freely. If it’s not, you likely need a special permit or can’t have it at all. Understanding which category your desired pet falls into is the key to staying legal.
How Colorado’s Wildlife Law Works
Colorado wildlife law prohibits the importation, possession, sale, and trade of any wildlife species, native or exotic, unless an exception applies. For most people interested in exotic pets, the exception that matters is the “unregulated wildlife” list maintained by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). Animals on this list require no state license. Animals not on this list are either outright prohibited or require a commercial wildlife park license or scientific collecting permit, neither of which is designed for casual pet ownership.
Noncommercial pet possession of regulated mammals has been banned by state regulation since 1983. That single rule eliminates most of the exotic mammals people commonly ask about, including primates, large cats, wolves, and bears. The state classifies certain species as “prohibited” when the Parks and Wildlife Commission determines they would be detrimental to native wildlife, making them illegal under any circumstances.
Exotic Mammals You Can Own
The list of exotic mammals that qualify as unregulated in Colorado is short. The African pygmy hedgehog is one confirmed species on the unregulated list, meaning you can keep one without a CPW license. Ferrets are also legal throughout the state. Beyond these, most exotic mammals fall under the general prohibition. Sugar gliders, for example, are not listed as unregulated, and animals like foxes, raccoons, skunks, monkeys, and big cats are firmly off-limits for private pet ownership.
If you’ve seen a specific mammal species advertised as legal in Colorado, verify it against CPW’s current unregulated wildlife list before purchasing. Breeders in other states don’t always know Colorado’s rules, and possessing an unlisted species puts you at risk of having the animal confiscated.
Reptiles and Amphibians
Reptiles and amphibians are where Colorado’s exotic pet options open up considerably. All non-native subtropical and tropical species of snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, salamanders, and newts are classified as unregulated. That means popular pet species like ball pythons, corn snakes, bearded dragons, leopard geckos, red-eared sliders, crested geckos, and dart frogs are all legal to own, buy, and sell without a license.
There are no general length restrictions on non-native snakes. Non-native venomous species that are subtropical or tropical also fall under the unregulated category at the state level, though local ordinances may add restrictions.
Native Reptiles and Amphibians
You can also keep certain native Colorado species, but with tighter limits. Up to four individuals of each allowed species can be taken from the wild per year, and you can possess no more than twelve total at any time. Legal native species include bullsnakes, western hognose snakes, plains garter snakes, racers, several lizard species (sagebrush lizards, tree lizards, side-blotched lizards, western whiptails), and western chorus frogs.
The only herptile species explicitly listed as prohibited is the green frog. Bullfrogs are classified as a game species with year-round open season, unlimited bag limits, and a license requirement. Tiger salamanders from lawful out-of-state sources are unregulated, and the larval form has a specific possession limit of 50 animals under five inches.
Hybrid Cats: Savannahs and Bengals
Colorado state law treats Savannah cats and other hybrid cats as domestic animals. The legal reasoning is straightforward: any cat bred with a domestic cat is considered domestic, regardless of how much wild DNA it carries. So at the state level, Savannah cats of any generation (F1 through F5 and beyond) are legal.
The catch is local law. Many Colorado cities and counties ban or restrict animals with any wild DNA, and these local rules override the more permissive state stance. Denver is the most notable example. Denver bans all hybrid cats except Bengals that are at least five generations removed from their wild ancestor (F4 or later). If you live in Denver and want a Savannah cat of any generation, it’s illegal. Other Front Range cities may have their own restrictions, so checking with your city or county animal control office before buying a hybrid cat is essential.
Birds and Invertebrates
Many exotic bird species are legal in Colorado as unregulated wildlife. Common pet birds like parakeets, cockatiels, parrots, and finches are not classified as wildlife under Colorado law and can be kept freely. Invertebrates such as tarantulas, scorpions, and hermit crabs also generally fall outside wildlife regulations. As with all animals on or off the unregulated list, you still need to comply with federal protections (certain parrot species are covered by international trade agreements) and any local pet ordinances.
What’s Clearly Prohibited
Colorado’s prohibited species list targets animals the Commission considers a threat to native wildlife or public safety. While the full list is maintained by CPW, the broad categories that are off-limits for private pet ownership include:
- Primates: monkeys, apes, and lemurs of all species
- Large cats: lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, and other big cats
- Bears: all species
- Wolves and wolf hybrids: treated as wildlife, not domestic dogs
- Native furbearers: foxes, raccoons, skunks, and similar mammals
- Venomous native snakes kept as pets: prairie rattlesnakes are classified as a game species with a specific season (June 15 through August 15), bag limits of three per day, and a possession limit of six
Possessing any prohibited or regulated species without authorization can result in confiscation of the animal and criminal penalties under Colorado’s wildlife statutes.
Local Laws Can Be Stricter
Even when a species is unregulated at the state level, your city or county can impose additional bans. Denver’s restrictions on hybrid cats are one example, but many municipalities also regulate exotic animals through zoning codes, homeowners’ association rules, or local animal control ordinances. An animal that’s perfectly legal in unincorporated El Paso County might be banned within Colorado Springs city limits.
Before acquiring any exotic pet, contact both CPW and your local animal control office. State law sets the floor, not the ceiling, for what’s allowed.
Bringing an Exotic Pet Into Colorado
If you’re purchasing an exotic pet from out of state or moving to Colorado with one, you need to meet import requirements beyond CPW’s wildlife rules. Colorado may require a veterinary health certificate issued shortly before transport. Specific requirements vary by species, so contact the Colorado State Veterinarian’s office before your move. The USDA notes that each state sets its own rules for interstate pet movement, and Colorado is no exception. Your veterinarian can help you obtain the right documentation, which typically involves a health exam within 30 days of travel and proof of any required vaccinations or disease testing.