A Wild Animal as a Pet
N.D.C.C. § 36-01-08.4 — no pet skunk or raccoon, and rules for primates and wolves
No one may keep a skunk or a raccoon in captivity, except a federally licensed zoo, and the state veterinarian confiscates any animal kept in violation. The board of animal health sets rules for keeping a primate, a wolf or a wolf hybrid.
Who handles this in North Dakota: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the North Dakota directory.
The board may require a license for nontraditional livestock: $7 a year for a bird species and $15 for any other, with yearly caps of $40 and $100 for someone holding several.
Which animals need a license is in the board's rules, not the statute. Whether a particular animal may be kept is a question for the board of animal health or a licensed North Dakota attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- N.D.C.C. § 36-01-08.4 — Ownership of skunks and raccoons prohibited - Exception
- N.D.C.C. § 36-01-08.1 — Nontraditional livestock license - Fee
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Dakota attorney.