A Wild Animal as a Pet
RCW 16.30.030 — big cats, bears, primates, venomous snakes and crocodilians, banned
No one may own, possess, keep, harbor, bring into the state, have custody of, or breed a potentially dangerous wild animal. Someone who legally had one before July 22, 2007 may keep that animal for the rest of its life, with the records to prove it.
Who handles this in Washington: legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the Washington directory.
- Lions, tigers, captive bred cougars, jaguars, cheetahs, leopards, snow and clouded leopards; wolves but not wolf hybrids; all bears; hyenas.
- Rhinoceroses, elephants, and all nonhuman primates.
- Cobras, mambas, coral snakes, sea snakes and every viper, rattlesnakes included; boomslangs; water and crocodile monitors.
- Crocodiles, alligators, caimans and gavials.
Zoos, sanctuaries and some others are outside the chapter under its own exemptions, not covered here. Whether a particular animal is covered is a question for local animal control or a licensed Washington attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- RCW 16.30.030 — Potentially dangerous wild animals; prohibited behavior
- RCW 16.30.010 — Potentially dangerous wild animals; definitions
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney.