Living with Wildlife
Wildlife Are Not Pets
Colorado Parks and Wildlife takes a conservative stance to owning wildlife in order to maintain our unique ecosystem and protect the animals.
You cannot remove a wild animal in Colorado and take it home as a pet. Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations do not allow keeping any state-regulated wildlife as pets, even if those animals are allowed in other states. Even when you hand-raise a wild animal, it still maintains its wild behaviors.
These animals:
Animals You Can Own in Colorado
Some animals sold commercially are considered exotic wildlife. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has created two categories of species called Unregulated Wildlife and Domestic Animals. Species listed on these lists are legal to own, import, or sell. You do not need a license from CPW to have one of these species, but you must comply with all other federal, state, and local laws dealing with importation, disease and other issues.
If a species is:
Unregulated - The species must be native to the tropic/subtropic only.
Regulated - If the native range is outside or extends outside of the tropic/subtropic; it is regulated.
Never Release Live Animals
Live animals may never be released into the wild, except as noted under native reptiles and amphibians. Introducing live animals into the Colorado ecosystem can have devastating negative consequences.
All non-native tropical and subtropical species of snakes in the families:
- Boidae (giant snakes)
- Colubridae (modern snakes), except venomous species Acrochordidae (file and elephant trunk snakes)
- Xenopeltidae (sunbeam snakes)
- Aniliidae (pipe snakes)
- Uropeltidae (shield-tailed snakes)
- PROHIBITED: Venomous snakes. Live venomous snakes may only be possessed through a Commercial Wildlife Park License issued by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Private, noncommercial possession or the possession of a live venomous snake as a pet is prohibited.
All non-native tropical and subtropical species of lizards in the following families or subfamilies:
Some of these families or subfamilies have members that are native to Colorado and are not legal to possess without a license unless listed under "Legal Native Reptiles and Amphibians."
- Agamidae (chisel-teeth lizards)
- Anelytropsidae (snake lizards)
- Anguidae (glass and alligator lizards)
- Chamaeleonidae (chameleons)
- Cordylidae (girdle-tailed lizards)
- Corytophanidae (casquehead lizards)
- Crotaphytidae (collared and leopard lizards)
- Dibamidae (blind lizards)
- Feyliniidae (African snake skinks)
- Gekkonidae (geckos)
- Pygopodidae (snake lizards)
- Scincidae (skinks)
- Eublepharidae (Eyelid geckos)
- Helodermatidae (beaded lizards)
- Iguanidae (iguanas)
- Lacertidae (wall lizards)
- Lanthanotidae (earless monitor)
- Phrynosomatidae (earless, spiny, and horned lizards)
- Polychridae (anoles)
- Teiidae (whiptail)
- Tropiduridae (neotropical ground lizards)
- Varanidae (monitor lizard)
- Xantusiidae (night lizard)
- Xenosauridae (knob-scaled lizards)
- **Caimans
- **Leopard frog acquired from lawful out-of-state source or instate commercial producer
- **Suborder Amphisbaenia - Worm lizards
- PROHIBITED: Alligators and crocodiles require a CPW Commercial Wildlife Park license.
**Species that are not strictly tropical or subtropical.
All non-native tropical and subtropical species of turtles in the families:
- Carettochelyidae (New Guinea softshell turtles)
- Dermatemydidae (Central American river turtles)
- Kinosternidae (mud and musk turtles)
- Testudinidae (tortoises)
- Trionychidae (soft-shelled turtles)
- **Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta)
**Species that are not strictly tropical or subtropical.
All non-native tropical and subtropical species of frogs and toads in the families:
- Atelopodidae (stub-footed toads)
- Bufonidae (true toads)
- Centrolenidae (glass frogs)
- Dendrobatidae (poison dart frogs)
- Hylidae (tree frogs)
- Leptodactylidae (tropical frogs)
- Microhylidae (narrow-mouthed toads)
- Pelobatidae (spadefoot toads)
- Pelodytidae (spadefoot toads)
- Phrynomeridae (snake-necked frogs)
- Pipidae (clawed frogs, Surinam toads)
- Pseudidae (Harlequin frogs)
- Ranidae (true frogs)
- Rhacophoridae (flying frogs)
- Rhinophrynidae (cone-nosed toads)
- Order Gymnophiona - Caecilians, tropical amphibians
- **Tiger salamander acquired from lawful out-of-state source or instate commercial producer
- **Oriental fire-bellied toad (Bombina orientalis)
- **Order Urodela - Salamanders and newts
**Species that are not strictly tropical or subtropical.
Legal Non-Game, Native Reptile and Amphibian Species
Up to four individuals of each of the following species and/or subspecies of reptiles and amphibians may be taken annually and held in captivity, provided that no more than 12 are possessed in total at any time, across all of the species list. See Chapter W-10. No commercial activity is allowed.
If these species have not been in contact with species from other geographic areas, they may be returned to the wild but shall not be returned in a distance over 10 miles from where they were captured. No other live wildlife can be taken from the wild and held in captivity unless you are authorized/licensed by CPW.
- Boreal chorus frog
- Bullsnake
- Common lesser earless lizard
- Common sagebrush lizard
- Common side-blotched lizard
- North American racer
- Ornate box turtle
- Ornate tree lizard
- Painted turtle
- Plains garter snake
- Plains hog-nosed snake
- Plains spadefoot
- Plateau fence lizard
- Prairie lizard
- Terrestrial garter snake
- Tiger whiptail
- Woodhouse's toad
- Common snapping turtle
*More information:
- Commercial Wildlife Park license
- For frogs, toads, snakes, turtles, and lizards, there are several lists of the allowable families. See Chapter W-11, #1103, B for the list of families.
- Chapter W-00, #008, B, Prohibited Species List
Legal Tropical and Subtropical Species
All tropical and subtropical birds in the Order Passeriformes: including but not limited to birds in the families:
- Sturnidae (Mynahs)
- Ramphastidae (Toucans, Toucanettes)
- Fringillidae (Siskins)
- Estrildidae (Finches)
- Emberizidae (Cardinals)
- Ploceidae (Weavers)
- Timaliidae (Mesias)
- Viduinae (Wydahs)
- Thraupidae (Tanagers)
- Zosteropidae (Zosterops)
Other Unregulated Bird Species
- European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
- All Psitticine birds
- Members of the subfamily Phasianinae not native to North America except chukar partridge, grey partridge, red-legged partridge and ring-necked pheasant
- Species of ducks, geese and swans not listed in the regulations of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in the Code of Federal Regulation 50 CFR. 10.13 (October 1, 1994)
Legal Marine Animals and Tropical and Subtropical Fish Species
- Marine vertebrates and invertebrates, except anadromous and catadromous species
- All tropical and subtropical fishes, including common goldfish and koi for private aquaria or ornamental pond only. No live release. No use as bait.
Legal Mammals
Elk and fallow deer are classified as alternative livestock and are licensed by the Department of Agriculture.
- African pygmy hedgehog
- Bennett wallaby
- Dama wallaby
- Red kangaroo
- Short-tailed possum
- Sugar gliders
- Swamp wallaby
- Wallaroo
- Zebra and zebra hybrids
Domestic Animals
You do not need a license from CPW to own any of the animals on the domestic list. Please contact your city/county to see if the animal is allowed where you live. These animals must comply with regulations of the state agriculture and health departments that deal with public and animal health.
- Alpaca (Lama pacos)
- Domestic ass, burro, and donkey (Equus assinus)
- Bison (Bison bison) including hybrids with domestic cattle
- Asian Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
- Camels (Camelus bactrianus and Camelus dromedarius)
- Domestic cat (Felis catus) including hybrids with wild felines
- Domestic cattle (Bos taurus and Bos indicus)
- Domesticated races of chickens (Gallus)
- Domesticated races of chinchillas (Chinchilla laniger)
- Domestic dog (Canis familiaris) including hybrids with wild canids
- Domesticated races of ducks and geese (Anatidae) distinguishable morphologically from wild birds
- Emu (Dromiceius spp.)
- Domesticated races of European ferret (Mustela putorius)
- Domesticated races of gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)
- Domestic goat* (Capra hircus)
- Domesticated races of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris)
- Domesticated races of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)
- Domesticated races of hamsters (Mesocricetus spp.)
- Domestic horse (Equus caballus) including hybrids with Equus assinus
- Llama (Lama glama)
- Domesticated races of mice (Mus musculus)
- Domesticated races of mink (Mustela vison)
- Domesticated races of peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
- Ostrich (Struthio spp.)
- Domesticated races of pigeons and feral pigeons (Columba domestica and Columba livia)
- Domesticated races of European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
- Domesticated races of rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus)
- Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)
- Rhea (Rhea spp.)
- Domestic sheep* (Ovis aries)
- Domestic swine (Sus scrofa domestica)
- Domesticated races of turkey (Meleagria gallopavo) distinguished morphologically from wild birds
- Yak (Bos grunniens)
- PROHIBITED: All goat and sheep species in the subfamily Caprinae (including all hybrids) not native to North America. The prohibited species include, but are not limited to, mouflon, barbary sheep, tahr and chamois.
- PROHIBITED: Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) & Mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) are regulated wildlife, and private possession is prohibited unless held under a CPW Commercial Wildlife Park license.
Importing Wildlife
Bringing Wildlife into Colorado
Despite other states allowing wildlife such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, monkeys, and other animals as pets, Colorado does not allow any species not indicated in the lists above to be kept as pets, even if you possessed them as pets in another state where they are legal.
Any animals that are not on the above lists that are being imported into Colorado must follow Special Wildlife Licensing regulations.