A Wild Animal as a Pet
C.R.S. 33-6-109 — wildlife belongs to the state, and keeping it takes the commission's permission
No one may hunt, take or possess wildlife that is the property of the state except as the wildlife statutes or the commission's rules allow, and no one may keep wildlife taken illegally in another state or country.
Who handles this in Colorado: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Colorado directory.
Illegal possession is a misdemeanor, with penalties that depend on the species; an endangered or threatened animal carries a fine of $2,000 to $100,000, up to a year in jail, or both. Whether a particular animal may be kept is a question for the division of parks and wildlife or a licensed Colorado attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- C.R.S. 33-6-109 — Wildlife - illegal possession - penalties
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Colorado attorney.