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Can you own a monkey in Minnesota?

Author

Mia Moss

Published Mar 10, 2026

Can you own a monkey in Minnesota?

But in Minnesota, for the most part, it's illegal to possess any wild cat, bear or primate: So no lions, tigers, cougars, bears, or monkeys. It's illegal to possess the animals in Minnesota, but legal to buy them. “Just go to the Internet — a credit card, couple of clicks, you'll have a baby cat on the way,” he said.

Similarly, are finger monkeys legal in Minnesota?

No Monkeys AllowedIn 2012, 19 states had outright bans on private monkey ownership. They are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and Wyoming.

Furthermore, can you own a fox in Minnesota? To put it simply: no, foxes are not legal in Minnesota. Note: Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) are protected wild animals in the state of Minnesota. With this license, the licensee must propagate the animals and make a profit/have a legitimate business.

Moreover, how can I legally own a monkey?

It may be illegal in your state to own a pet monkey. Even if your state allows you to own one, your local county or city may have laws requiring permits or banning them within the city or county limits. Primates are legal in Alabama, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Are sugar gliders legal in Minnesota?

MN The sugar glider is not protected by the State of Minnesota, Dept. of Natural Resources, as they are not native to Mn. Currently, in the State of North Dakota, sugar gliders are considered Category 2 species.

What pets are illegal in Minnesota?

Prohibited Animals
  • Chimpanzees.
  • Monkeys.
  • Raccoons.
  • Skunks.
  • Sugar gliders.
  • Any large cat or member of the family Felidae (cougars, jaguars, leopards, lions, ocelots, tigers)
  • Any crossbreed or member of the family Canidae (dog/coyote, dog/wolf, coyotes, dingoes, jackals, wolves)
  • Any red-eared turtle with a shell length of less than four inches.

What exotic pets can you own in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, it's illegal to possess any wild cat, bear or primate (so no lions, tigers, cougars, bears, or monkeys), but it is still legal to buy them. It's sort of like the fireworks law. A lot of times keeping exotic animals and big cats as pets doesn't end well.

Can you own a sloth in Minnesota?

Florida Sloths are definitely legal in Florida if you get a permit for a Class 3 animal. There is no mention of sloths. Minnesota This state appears to only ban primates, big cats, and bears, which would obviously leave out sloths.

How many mountain lions are in Minnesota?

U.S. Cougar Range
Several hundred miles separate Minnesota from the nearest known self-sustaining breeding population of cougars, estimated to number around 250, in the Black Hills area of South Dakota and, to lesser extent, the North Dakota Badlands.

What pets can you have in Minnesota?

Minneapolis residents can have four combined animals--cats, dogs, rabbits, or ferrets--over the age of four months. For example: Two cats and two dogs. Three dogs and one cat.

Do pet monkeys bite?

Raising a monkey around humans won't change its wild nature, and pet monkeys will never truly become domesticated. Pet monkeys often have a tendency to bite (and they have 32 teeth to deliver these nasty bites). While some monkeys are gentle, some are very aggressive.

Can you own a capuchin monkey in Minnesota?

No Monkeys Allowed
In 2012, 19 states had outright bans on private monkey ownership. They are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and Wyoming.

Can you own an owl in Minnesota?

Michigan – You need a permit before you can own an owl. MinnesotaYou can own an owl.

What is the cheapest pet monkey?

Even though keeping monkeys as pets is frowned upon—it can be difficult, costly, cruel, and dangerous—they are easily obtained from private breeders. Lemurs, tamarins, and marmosets run in the range of $1,500 to $2,500; rhesus macaques and baboons might cost $3,500; and spider monkeys tend to be around $6,000.

How much is a monkey permit?

Fees
EntitlementsFee
Resident Broker/Dealer$517.50
Nonresident Broker/Dealer$1,027.25
Resident Exhibiting$517.50
Nonresident Exhibiting$1,027.25

How much is a real baby monkey?

Monkeys cost between $4,000 and $8,000 each, depending on the monkey's age, rarity and temperament. Younger, more rare and friendlier monkeys tend to cost more.

Are monkeys dangerous?

Monkeys can carry parasites and zoonotic diseases that are dangerous to humans. They may seem to be in perfect health, but when they inevitably bite or scratch you, you may end up with a variety of health issues passed to you from your monkey that were dormant in the monkey's system.

Why do monkeys bite their babies?

And yet not only do animals sometimes fail to protect the young of their species — they often kill them themselves. Infanticide is disturbingly common in nature. It's typically committed by males that take over a pride or pack and kill whatever babies are present to make room for the ones they plan to father.

What is the cutest monkey?

Tiny monkeys are the cutest.

13 Small Monkey Breeds With Big Cute Eyes (Some Can Be Pets!)

BreedSize
Macaques16-28”
Guenons16-22”
Vervet Monkeys16-20”
Capuchin Monkeys12-22”

What is the cheapest monkey you can buy?

Even though keeping monkeys as pets is frowned upon—it can be difficult, costly, cruel, and dangerous—they are easily obtained from private breeders. Lemurs, tamarins, and marmosets run in the range of $1,500 to $2,500; rhesus macaques and baboons might cost $3,500; and spider monkeys tend to be around $6,000.

What is the best pet monkey?

Guenons are also high maintenance. There are almost two dozen species of guenons; the green monkey, vervet, and grivet are the most popular species kept as pets. They thrive in large groups. To keep this animal as a pet, you would need to keep a troop of them.

Can I have a pet raccoon in Minnesota?

Raccoons as pets in Minnesota is strictly prohibited, like the majority of the United States. Having a raccoon in your custody will result in a variety of misfortunes from outrageous fines and potential jail time to God knows what.

Can you own an alligator in Minnesota?

Reptile experts generally discourage keeping alligators as pets, especially in Minnesota, where the tropical animals aren't well suited for the cold weather. But mostly, alligators are a huge responsibility – literally.

Are foxes good pets?

Foxes don't make good pets. Although they are very rarely aggressive to humans, they may bite if distressed or panicked – which, as wild animals, they can become quite easily if in contact with people. “It's because they're so highly wired,” says Bowler.

Can you own a bobcat in Minnesota?

Minnesota has a few of its own backyard owners and dealer-breeders. While private ownership of bears, most primates, and exotic cats like lions and tigers is prohibited in Minnesota, a DNR loophole exempts "native species" from the law. Some of these permissible animals are lynx, wolves, bobcats, and cougars.

Can you keep wild fish as pets in Minnesota?

The DNR does not require pet stores to be licensed for tropical, sub-tropical, saltwater species, fish that cannot survive in Minnesota waters, or goldfish.
Minnesota: African Crested Porcupine
Prohibited animals appear to be exclusively defined as primates, non-domesticated felines including hybrids, and bears. Rabies-vector laws or native animal prohibitions may possibly restrict skunks, raccoons, and foxes. Exotic rodents, however, should be legal under these rules.

Can you own a coyote in Minnesota?

Any crossbreed or member of the family Canidae (dog/coyote, dog/wolf, coyotes, dingoes, jackals, wolves) Any red-eared turtle with a shell length of less than four inches. Any animal or species prohibited by Federal or Minnesota Law (Exotic Animal Law - Primates/Large Cats/Bear)

What exotic animals can you own in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, it's illegal to possess any wild cat, bear or primate (so no lions, tigers, cougars, bears, or monkeys), but it is still legal to buy them. It's sort of like the fireworks law. A lot of times keeping exotic animals and big cats as pets doesn't end well.

Is it illegal to have a pet squirrel in Minnesota?

Is it legal to own a pet squirrel in minnesota? no. you cannot keep a native species of wildlife as a pet in minnesota. Probably not, but when I lived in Minnesota, the squirrels were so tame that you could sometimes touch them.

What is the most exotic pet you can own?

These ten exotic pets are legal to own in many places in America, some of them just require a license.

These odd animals can truly make a great pet, but make sure to do lots of your own research.

  • Capybara.
  • Bearded Dragon.
  • Fennec Fox.
  • Wallaby.
  • Chimpanzee.
  • Hedgehog.
  • Hyacinth Macaw.
  • Chinchilla.

How many animals can you have in Minnesota?

Minneapolis residents can have four combined animals--cats, dogs, rabbits, or ferrets--over the age of four months. For example: Two cats and two dogs. Three dogs and one cat.
In 2005, a Minnesota law took effect that made it illegal in most cases for people to possess several types of exotic animals, including felids (such as lions, tigers and ocelots), bears and nonhuman primates — or any hybrids thereof, called “regulated animals” in the statute.
It's legal to own a hedgehog in most states around the United States. However, there are a few places where it's still illegal--Pennsylvania, Hawaii, California, Georgia, and Maine--but you may be able to own one with a permit in these states.