Can I Legally Own a Groundhog In My State or Country?

In most locations, it is not legal to own a groundhog in your state or country. Owning a groundhog may be prohibited due to laws concerning wild animals or importation.

If you live in an area where groundhogs are native, such as North America and certain parts of Europe, the ownership of groundhogs is often prohibited because there are laws concerning wild animal ownership. In most of these locations, it is illegal to own a wild animal, and a groundhog counts as a wild animal.

Although the groundhog is common in many areas, it isn’t native everywhere. If you live in an area where groundhogs are not native, there may be importation laws to prevent the spread of nonnative animals. These laws are put in place to protect the natural wildlife of your area.

All that being said, there are some locations that allow you to own a groundhog as a pet. It’s important that you look up the laws for your country, state, and city or county since there may be laws concerning ownership at all levels.

In Which US States Can I Own A Groundhog?

Even though America has relatively loose animal ownership laws, it is illegal to own groundhogs in most US states. In most states and counties, it is illegal to own a wild animal as a pet and keep it in captivity. Because a groundhog counts as a wild animal, you cannot own one.

Even so, there are a few states that allow the ownership of groundhogs. Here is a look at the different states that allow you to own a groundhog.

Arkansas
Wisconsin
Idaho
Kentucky
New Mexico
Texas
Connecticut (with permit)
Delaware (with permit)
DC (with permit)
Florida (with permit)
Illinois (with permit)
Indiana (with permit)
Missouri (with permit)
Michigan (with permit)
Mississippi (with permit)
Montana (with permit)
Nebraska (with permit)
North Dakota (with permit)
Ohio (with permit)
Oklahoma (with permit)
Oregon (with permit)
Pennsylvania (with permit)
Rhode Island (with permit)
Tennessee (with permit)
Virginia (with permit)
West Virginia (with permit)
Wyoming (with permit)

Before you get excited about this long list of states, states where groundhogs are allowed with permits have specific requirements. Often, these permits are only given out with breeding purposes in mind or for hunting purposes. So, the vast majority of people who want a groundhog will not qualify for a permit.

Even if you live in a state where it is legal to own a groundhog, you still have to check with your local ordinances. Although groundhogs may be legal at the state level, your county may have laws prohibiting ownership. So, it’s important to look at your local laws to determine if you can own a groundhog.

In Which US States Is It Illegal To Own A Groundhog?

There are many states where it is illegal to own a Groundhog. Groundhogs are sometimes illegal because they are considered nuisance animals or because they are considered wild animals. Here’s a list of the states where it is outright illegal to own a groundhog.

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Georgia
Hawaii
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
South Dakota
Utah
Vermont
Washington

If you live in a state where it is illegal to own a groundhog, your local ordinances won’t change anything. If groundhogs are banned at the state level, they will be banned at the county level as well. So, anyone who lives in the states above cannot own a groundhog.

Can I Legally Own A Groundhog In Canada?

It is currently illegal to own a groundhog in Canada. By law, you are not allowed to keep any wild animal in captivity throughout Canada. Because groundhog counts as a wild animal, you are not allowed to own one as a pet in any of the Canadian states.

Ultimately, it comes down to the definition of a domesticated or wild animal. Under most Canadian laws, you can only own pets that have been domesticated to live alongside humans or be used for human purposes. Wild animals, such as the groundhog, should be left in the wild and not owned as a pet.

Can I Legally Own A Groundhog In Europe?

Europe is known for having more progressive laws concerning animals and pet ownership. Surprisingly, there aren’t many laws in place that prohibit owning a groundhog as a pet. Because groundhogs are not endangered, many countries in Europe do not have laws prohibiting their ownership outright.

Can I Legally Own a Groundhog in the UK?

In the UK, it is legal to own a groundhog as long as you follow the Animal Welfare Act of 2006. Under this law, you have to properly provide the right environment and nutrition for the groundhog and protect the creature from any pain and suffering. You do not need a wild animal license either because the groundhog does not fall under the Dangerous Wild Animal Act.

First and foremost, make sure that you have the right environment setup for your groundhog. It will need a lot of space to roam. Then, make sure to provide it with a healthy diet so it can maintain a healthy weight. Check to see if there is an exotic veterinarian in your area that can provide health care for your groundhog too.

Can I Legally Own a Groundhog in France?

Unfortunately, it is unclear if it is legal to own a groundhog in France. There do not seem to be any outright laws that prohibit owning the groundhog as a pet. In fact, there are certain species of groundhogs that are native to the Alps in France, and they’re not endangered.

Although France does not have specific laws about owning groundhogs, they have pretty specific laws about how you are supposed to treat your pets. Much like England, France has specific laws in place in order to protect pets in the nation.

Can I Legally Own a Groundhog in Germany?

Much like in France, there are no specific laws about groundhogs and owning them. Because groundhogs are not considered an endangered species, Germany does not have any specific laws regarding groundhog ownership.

Germany has more lenient importation laws than the UK and France, though. If you want to import a groundhog, it’s best to check with the state you will be staying in about their individual laws.

Can I Legally Own A Groundhog In Australia?

No. You cannot legally own a groundhog in Australia. Groundhogs are native to North America, not Australia. Australia has strict laws regarding the importation of unique and exotic pets. Groundhogs do not fit the bill for being exotic pets worthy of importation.

According to the Biosecurity Import Condition System, only certain animals are allowed to be imported to Australia. As of 2022, the only vertebrates approved for importation as pets are dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, and some species of birds. A groundhog counts as a vertebrate, but it is clearly missing from this list, showing that it is not legal to own a groundhog in Australia.

Needless to say, it is illegal to own a groundhog in Australia. Groundhogs are not native to the area, which means you would have to illegally import them into the country, which is against the law.

How Can I Find Out If I Can Own a Groundhog in My Area?

If you want to know whether or not you are allowed to own a groundhog in your area, it’s best to contact your county and state government. Talk to wildlife representatives for your area to get a quick answer about the legality of owning a groundhog.

Even though you can technically read laws about owning groundhogs in your state, most states have confusing and hard-to-find laws concerning exotic pet ownership. What this means is that you may be searching a long time before you find out if owning a groundhog is legal in your area.

That is why it is best to just call a representative and ask the question directly. They should know exactly what animals are legal in your area. To save some time, call the county representatives first. If your county allows it, then your state allows it. If your county does not allow it, it doesn’t matter if your state allows it.

Although you may be tempted to get a groundhog as a pet, even if your state prohibits it, follow the law. Especially when you are dealing with an animal as large and sensitive as a groundhog, it’s best to just follow the law and allow groundhogs to live peacefully in the wild.

Author

Tommy
Hi, I'm Tommy! I'm the founder of Floofmania.com. I am an animal enthusiast and self-proclaimed wildlife expert as well as a dog trainer and breeder of the breed Löwchen. Since I was a kid, I’ve been wildly fascinated by animals, both from growing up in a rural area where there were always animals around, but especially from seeing them in the wild.
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