A Wild Animal as a Pet
SDCL § 40-3-24 — no nondomestic mammal unless the Animal Industry Board allows it
No one may bring into the state or possess a nondomestic mammal unless the Animal Industry Board's rules allow that mammal. The board allows only those it finds safe to the public and to free roaming animals, after consulting the Game, Fish and Parks Commission.
Who handles this in South Dakota: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the South Dakota directory.
A violation is a Class 2 misdemeanor, with up to thirty days in the county jail, a $500 fine, or both. Which mammals are allowed is in the board's rules, not the statute. Whether a particular animal is allowed is a question for the Animal Industry Board or a licensed South Dakota attorney.
Sources for this section (3)
- SDCL § 40-3-24 — Certain nondomestic mammals not allowed--Violation as misdemeanor
- SDCL § 40-3-25 — Promulgation of rules for bringing nondomestic mammals into state
- SDCL § 22-6-2 — Misdemeanor classes and penalties; Restitution; Misdemeanor when no penalty imposed
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed South Dakota attorney.