A Wild Animal as a Pet
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 37-477 — no pet wolf, skunk, wild cat or bear, and a permit for other wildlife
No one may keep in captivity a wolf, a skunk, or any member of the cat or bear families other than the house cat. Zoos, public parks and nature centers, accredited zoos, and permit holders raising lynx or bobcats for fur are exempt.
Who handles this in Nebraska: legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the Nebraska directory.
Keeping other wild birds or wild mammals, or a protected species, takes a captive wildlife permit from the Game and Parks Commission, which costs no more than $30 a year and expires on December 31.
Animals kept since 1986 could stay. An animal legally kept on March 1, 1986, may be kept for the rest of its life, but not sold or traded without the commission's written permission.
A violation is a Class IV misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $500. Whether a particular animal needs a permit is a question for the Game and Parks Commission or a licensed Nebraska attorney.
Sources for this section (4)
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 37-477 — Certain animals kept in captivity; permit required; exceptions
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 37-482 — Certain wild animals; keeping in captivity; violations; penalty
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 37-479 — Captive wildlife permit; issuance; fee; prohibited acts
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-106 — Misdemeanors; classification of penalties; sentences; where served
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Nebraska attorney.