Where is the flying Squirrel legal?

Any of the following from any area outside the state of Alabama; ...species of raccoon, species of skunk, wild rodent, or strain of wild turkey

The wild-rodent import ban that this site's prairie-dog research already documents names squirrels specifically in the underlying regulation text. A flying squirrel brought into Alabama from outside the state is a wild rodent under this rule.

How this rule works: A prohibited list rather than a permitted one, last amended October 2024. Two clauses do most of the work for pet keepers: everything the federal government lists as injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act is banned by reference, and a group of species is banned specifically when it comes from outside Alabama.

Order Rodentia is restricted as a whole ('All species (D)') except for a specific list of domesticated species (hamsters, rats, mice, guinea pigs, chinchillas); flying squirrels are not among the exceptions. This section number is carried over from this site's prairie-dog research, which cites the same Sciuridae subsection for a different genus in the same family; the exact subsection should be re-confirmed against the primary text before publishing.

How this rule works: § 671(b) defines (D) detrimental and (W) welfare. § 671.1(a) lists permit types; none covers pet keeping. The only possession permit, Animal Care, requires lawful possession in California before January 1992.

FAMILY Sciuridae Sciuridae (all in family, except the following two species for exhibition in government zoos only: Callosciurus prevosti (squirrel, prevost's) and Sciurus variegatoides (squirrel, variegated) and except all species in the genus Marmota for research in government universities only)

Confirmed directly from the HDOA prohibited-animal-list PDF. The whole squirrel family is prohibited; the only carve-outs are two unrelated tree squirrels (zoo exhibition only) and marmots (university research only). The flying squirrel is not one of the named exceptions, so no legal pathway exists at all, unlike states where a science/exhibition permit at least exists.

How this rule works: HDOA's prohibited species list, which bans the entire squirrel family Sciuridae except two zoo-exhibition species and university-research marmots.

Squirrel, Southern Flying Glaucomys volans

Requires Permittee Category 5, the same exhibitor-only category New Hampshire uses for the box turtle. There is no category 1 for an individual, so a private keeper cannot be permitted for one.

How this rule works: Fis 804.02 is the non-controlled possession list, needing no permit. Fis 804.05 is the controlled table, and the number beside each species is the permittee category allowed to hold it. Category 1 is an individual, category 5 is an exhibitor, so a species marked 5 alone cannot be kept by a private person at all.

ECL § 11-0512 bars knowingly possessing, harboring or importing 'any wild animal for use as a pet.' DEC's own guidance names bats, large cats, owls, skunks, sugar gliders, flying squirrels and wolves as requiring the special license under § 11-0515(1)/6 NYCRR Part 175, which is issued for education, exhibition, propagation or rehabilitation, not personal pet-keeping.

How this rule works: Bars knowingly possessing, harboring, selling or importing any wild animal for use as a pet, with the special license path set out in ECL § 11-0515(1) and 6 NYCRR Part 175.

Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans)

Listed among Rhode Island's native wild animals that cannot be kept without institutional status, the same treatment this site's box-turtle research documents for other Rhode Island natives. Not a pet species here.

How this rule works: One of the most species-specific schemes in the country. § 3.6 defines domestic animals, § 3.7 sets general prohibitions, § 3.9 governs permits, and § 3.17 is the long exempt list of animals that need no exotic animal possession permit. Anything not domestic, not native and not on the § 3.17 list needs a permit.

The family Sciuridae. Common names include: chipmunks, marmots, prairie dogs, squirrels, and woodchucks.

Arizona's restricted-live-wildlife rule reaches the whole squirrel family by name (the same entry this site's prairie-dog research already documents), which covers the flying squirrel.

How this rule works: Restricted wildlife requires the applicable federal licences and permits, an appropriate special licence, or a lawful exemption.

Flying squirrels are not dangerous/large enough for Class I or II, so they default to Class III, which requires a free license (a 'Personal Pet' questionnaire suffices). FWC requires the animal's lineage trace to a lawfully captive-bred, USDA-licensed source; a wild-caught animal, even one hand-raised from birth, does not qualify.

How this rule works: FWC's captive wildlife chapter sets the Class I, II and III tiers, with Class III requiring only a free personal-pet permit.

Confirmed directly from the current DNR rule text. Order Rodentia requires a license except for a short list of domesticated genera (Cavia, Chinchilla, Gerbillus, Meriones, Mesocricetus); flying squirrel is not among the exceptions. Species reached by this section 'shall only be licensed for scientific, educational, or public exhibition purposes' — no personal-pet permit path exists.

Illinois is home to four native tree-squirrel species, all classed as protected wildlife; the flying squirrel is one of them and cannot be held in captivity without an IDNR permit. Whether IDNR treats non-native-sourced, captive-bred flying squirrels differently was not confirmed in the text reviewed.

How this rule works: Places ownership of wild birds and mammals in the state and requires an IDNR permit to hold protected native wildlife, including tree squirrels, in captivity.

A permit is required under this rule for the following Class I wild animals: (1) Rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus). (2) Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis, Sciurus niger, and Glaucomys volans).

Glaucomys volans is named explicitly as a Class I wild animal requiring a permit; whether this permit tier is issued for personal/pet purposes specifically was not separately confirmed.

How this rule works: Three classes by risk. Class I is rabbits and squirrels, Class II is a long and specific list of small wild cats plus Indiana's furbearers, Class III is wolves, bears, all other wild cats, venomous reptiles and large crocodilians. Both the Class II and Class III lists end with the same sentence exempting hybrids with a domestic dog or cat, which is the clearest hybrid answer any state gives.

Maryland strictly regulates possession of wildlife native to the state; multiple sources confirm the Department does not issue personal pet-possession permits for squirrels specifically, only rehabilitation (time-limited) or other institutional permits.

How this rule works: Opens Maryland's Captive Wildlife subtitle with legislative findings supporting strict regulation of possessing wildlife native to the state.

the wild animal or wild bird was not acquired unlawfully or merely as a pet

North Carolina's captivity license covers native wildlife (including the flying squirrel) for 'scientific, educational, exhibition, or other purposes,' but the statute expressly disqualifies a license sought merely for pet-keeping.

How this rule works: North Carolina's captivity-license statute, which bars issuing a license for a wild animal acquired merely as a pet.

Ohio classifies the flying squirrel as a game quadruped; no person may take, possess, buy, sell, or transport native wildlife without a permit from the Division of Wildlife. The permits confirmed in the sources reviewed were rehabilitation-oriented; a personal-pet pathway was not confirmed.

How this rule works: Ohio's Division of Wildlife chapter, which defines game quadrupeds (including the flying squirrel) and requires a permit to possess native wildlife.

the Commissioner shall not issue a permit for the keeping or possession of any wild animal in captivity

Vermont bars bringing in, transporting, or possessing any live wild bird or animal without authorization, and permits are described as rarely issued outside science, education, or rehabilitation purposes.

How this rule works: Closed list. § 4709 bars bringing in, transporting or possessing any live wild bird or animal without authorisation. Reg 881: 'the Commissioner shall not issue a permit for the keeping or possession of any wild animal in captivity, except for bona fide scientific or educational purposes' unless the species is designated domestic, a domestic pet, or unrestricted. The Unrestricted Wild Animals List is maintained separately on the department website and was not obtainable.

Flying squirrels are a protected wild animal; no person may take, transport, or possess one except as authorized by the DNR, though 'proof of source' allows possessing one legally killed, taken, or obtained in another state or province.

How this rule works: Lists Wisconsin's protected wild animals, which may not be taken, transported or possessed without DNR authorization.