Exotic pet laws in Iowa

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(8); §§ 717F.3, 717F.4

A member of the order crocodilia, including but not limited to alligators, caimans, crocodiles, and gharials.

The crocodilian clause names alligators. § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or bringing one into the state, and the only private route was the § 717F.4 registration of animals already held on July 1, 2007.

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 8, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(4)

A member of the family ursidae of the order carnivora, including bears and pandas.

Every bear is a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal, and the only route was the 2007 registration.

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 1, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(1)

A member of the family canidae of the order carnivora, including but not limited to wolves, coyotes, and jackals. However, a dangerous wild animal does not include a domestic dog.

A canid other than the domestic dog, the fennec fox's position. § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal, and the only route was the 2007 registration.

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 1, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(3)

A member of the family felidae of the order carnivora, including but not limited to lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, ocelots, and servals. However, a dangerous wild animal does not include a domestic cat.

A felid other than the domestic cat. § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal, and the only route was the 2007 registration.

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 1, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(3)

A member of the family felidae of the order carnivora, including but not limited to lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, ocelots, and servals. However, a dangerous wild animal does not include a domestic cat.

A felid other than the domestic cat. § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal, and the only route was the 2007 registration.

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 1, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(7); §§ 717F.3, 717F.4

A member of the order of primates other than humans, and including the following families: callitrichiadae, cebidae, cercopithecidae, cheirogaleidae, daubentoniidae, galagonidae, hominidae, hylobatidae, indridae, lemuridae, loridae, megaladapidae, or tarsiidae. A member includes but is not limited to marmosets, tamarins, monkeys, lemurs, galagos, bushbabies, great apes, gibbons, lesser apes, indris, sifakas, and tarsiers.

Every nonhuman primate is a dangerous wild animal in Iowa, and the capuchins belong to cebidae, one of the families the definition names. § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or bringing one into the state, and the only private route was the § 717F.4 registration of animals already held on July 1, 2007.

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 8, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(9)(d); §§ 717F.3, 717F.4

A member of the family elapidae, viperidae, crotalidae, atractaspidae, or hydrophidae which are venomous, including but not limited to cobras, mambas, coral snakes, kraits, adders, vipers, rattlesnakes, copperheads, pit vipers, keelbacks, cottonmouths, and sea snakes.

Cobras are named in the venomous snake clause, and elapidae is one of the families it covers. § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or bringing one into the state, and the only private route was the § 717F.4 registration of animals already held on July 1, 2007. The king cobra and the Asian Naja species are on CITES Appendix II, which governs import and export, not keeping.

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 8, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(7); §§ 717F.3, 717F.4

A member of the order of primates other than humans, and including the following families: callitrichiadae, cebidae, cercopithecidae, cheirogaleidae, daubentoniidae, galagonidae, hominidae, hylobatidae, indridae, lemuridae, loridae, megaladapidae, or tarsiidae. A member includes but is not limited to marmosets, tamarins, monkeys, lemurs, galagos, bushbabies, great apes, gibbons, lesser apes, indris, sifakas, and tarsiers.

Every nonhuman primate is a dangerous wild animal in Iowa, and the definition names marmosets among its examples. § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or bringing one into the state, and the only private route was the § 717F.4 registration of animals already held on July 1, 2007.

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 8, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(3); §§ 717F.3, 717F.4

A member of the family felidae of the order carnivora, including but not limited to lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, ocelots, and servals. However, a dangerous wild animal does not include a domestic cat.

The felid definition names cougars. § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or bringing one into the state, and the only private route was the § 717F.4 registration of animals already held on July 1, 2007. Federally, the Big Cat Public Safety Act of 2022 (16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)) bars any person outside a licensed exhibitor, sanctuary or state institution from breeding or possessing a cougar unless the animal was born before December 20, 2022, and registered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service within 180 days, so no new pet is lawful anywhere in the country whatever the state rule says. The Florida panther subspecies is also endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 8, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(1)

A member of the family canidae of the order carnivora, including but not limited to wolves, coyotes, and jackals. However, a dangerous wild animal does not include a domestic dog.

Vulpes zerda is a canid, and the only exception written into the paragraph is the domestic dog.

Existing owners: Registration by December 31, 2007, was the only way in. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 1, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(9)(e); §§ 717F.3, 717F.4

A member of the superfamily henophidia, which are limited to reticulated pythons, anacondas, and African rock pythons.

Iowa's constrictor clause is limited to three animals and names anacondas. § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or bringing one into the state, and the only private route was the § 717F.4 registration of animals already held on July 1, 2007. Federally, the green anaconda has been injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act since 2015 (50 CFR 16.15(a)), which bars importing one into the country or shipping one to Hawaii or a territory; USARK v. Zinke (D.C. Cir. 2017) held it does not bar shipment between the continental states.

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 8, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(3); §§ 717F.3, 717F.4

A member of the family felidae of the order carnivora, including but not limited to lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, ocelots, and servals. However, a dangerous wild animal does not include a domestic cat.

The felid definition names lions. § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or bringing one into the state, and the only private route was the § 717F.4 registration of animals already held on July 1, 2007. Federally, the Big Cat Public Safety Act of 2022 (16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)) bars any person outside a licensed exhibitor, sanctuary or state institution from breeding or possessing a lion unless the animal was born before December 20, 2022, and registered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service within 180 days, so no new pet is lawful anywhere in the country whatever the state rule says.

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 8, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(9)(d); §§ 717F.3, 717F.4

A member of the family elapidae, viperidae, crotalidae, atractaspidae, or hydrophidae which are venomous, including but not limited to cobras, mambas, coral snakes, kraits, adders, vipers, rattlesnakes, copperheads, pit vipers, keelbacks, cottonmouths, and sea snakes.

Rattlesnakes are named in the venomous snake clause. § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or bringing one into the state, and the only private route was the § 717F.4 registration of animals already held on July 1, 2007.

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 8, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(1)

A member of the family canidae of the order carnivora, including but not limited to wolves, coyotes, and jackals. However, a dangerous wild animal does not include a domestic dog.

The red fox is a canid, so it is a dangerous wild animal, and that outranks its listing as a fur-bearer. § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal, and the only route was the 2007 registration.

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 1, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(9)(e); §§ 717F.3, 717F.4

A member of the superfamily henophidia, which are limited to reticulated pythons, anacondas, and African rock pythons.

Iowa's constrictor clause is limited to three animals and the reticulated python is the first, which is why the Burmese python stays legal there while this one does not. § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or bringing one into the state, and the only private route was the § 717F.4 registration of animals already held on July 1, 2007. Federally, the reticulated python has been injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act since 2015 (50 CFR 16.15(a)), which bars importing one into the country or shipping one to Hawaii or a territory; USARK v. Zinke (D.C. Cir. 2017) held it does not bar shipment between the continental states.

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 8, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(7); §§ 717F.3, 717F.4

A member of the order of primates other than humans, and including the following families: callitrichiadae, cebidae, cercopithecidae, cheirogaleidae, daubentoniidae, galagonidae, hominidae, hylobatidae, indridae, lemuridae, loridae, megaladapidae, or tarsiidae. A member includes but is not limited to marmosets, tamarins, monkeys, lemurs, galagos, bushbabies, great apes, gibbons, lesser apes, indris, sifakas, and tarsiers.

Every nonhuman primate is a dangerous wild animal in Iowa, and the definition names lemuridae and lemurs. § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or bringing one into the state, and the only private route was the § 717F.4 registration of animals already held on July 1, 2007. Lemur catta is on CITES Appendix I, which bars commercial international trade, so a pet lemur here can only come from captive breeding inside the country, and the whole family Lemuridae is listed endangered under the Endangered Species Act (50 CFR 17.11).

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 8, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(3)

A member of the family felidae of the order carnivora, including but not limited to lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, ocelots, and servals. However, a dangerous wild animal does not include a domestic cat.

Servals fall in the felid family, which Iowa defines as a dangerous wild animal, and only domestic cats are carved out, so no new keeper can own one. Owners in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep an animal after implanting an electronic identification device and registering it by December 31, 2007.

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 1, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(8); §§ 717F.3, 717F.4

A member of the order crocodilia, including but not limited to alligators, caimans, crocodiles, and gharials.

The crocodilian clause names caimans. § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or bringing one into the state, and the only private route was the § 717F.4 registration of animals already held on July 1, 2007.

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 8, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(7); §§ 717F.3, 717F.4

A member of the order of primates other than humans, and including the following families: callitrichiadae, cebidae, cercopithecidae, cheirogaleidae, daubentoniidae, galagonidae, hominidae, hylobatidae, indridae, lemuridae, loridae, megaladapidae, or tarsiidae. A member includes but is not limited to marmosets, tamarins, monkeys, lemurs, galagos, bushbabies, great apes, gibbons, lesser apes, indris, sifakas, and tarsiers.

Every nonhuman primate is a dangerous wild animal in Iowa, and the squirrel monkeys belong to cebidae, one of the families the definition names. § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or bringing one into the state, and the only private route was the § 717F.4 registration of animals already held on July 1, 2007.

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 8, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(3); §§ 717F.3, 717F.4

A member of the family felidae of the order carnivora, including but not limited to lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, ocelots, and servals. However, a dangerous wild animal does not include a domestic cat.

The felid definition names tigers. § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or bringing one into the state, and the only private route was the § 717F.4 registration of animals already held on July 1, 2007. Federally, the Big Cat Public Safety Act of 2022 (16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)) bars any person outside a licensed exhibitor, sanctuary or state institution from breeding or possessing a tiger unless the animal was born before December 20, 2022, and registered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service within 180 days, so no new pet is lawful anywhere in the country whatever the state rule says.

Existing owners: An owner in possession on July 1, 2007, could keep the animal after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 8, 2026.

Iowa Code §§ 170.1(3), 170.1A, 170.3, 170.4; § 481A.1(21)(h)

1. A landowner shall not keep whitetail unless the whitetail are kept as farm deer under this chapter or kept as preserve whitetail on a hunting preserve pursuant to chapter 484C.

A wild whitetail is game, "The Cervidae: such as elk or deer, other than farm deer", so the rule that governs a captive one is the farm deer chapter, not a pet rule. Farm deer are livestock under the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and § 170.4 lets a landowner keep whitetail only on land enclosed by a fence of at least eight feet that the department has certified, inside its chronic wasting disease program. The other route is a licensed chapter 484C hunting preserve.

How this rule works: § 170.1(3) counts whitetail among farm deer, which § 170.3 makes livestock under the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. § 170.1A bars a landowner from keeping whitetail except as farm deer under the chapter or as preserve whitetail on a chapter 484C hunting preserve, and § 170.4 requires a certified fence at least eight feet high.

Checked against the published text on October 8, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(b)(2)(a)

The bengal must be the fourth or later filial generation of offspring with the first filial generation being the offspring of a domestic cat and an Asian leopard cat, and each subsequent generation being the offspring of a domestic cat.

F4 and later are carved out of the definition. F1 to F3 are dangerous wild animals and are banned.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 1, 2026.

§ 481A.1(21)(f); § 481A.38; § 481A.61(1)

1. Except as otherwise provided by law, a licensed game breeder whose original stock is obtained from a lawful source may possess any game bird, game animal, or fur-bearing animal, or any of their parts. Possession and use of the game birds, game animals, or fur-bearing animals obtained from a licensed game breeder are lawful.

Iowa names the gray squirrel as its first example of game, "The Sciuridae: such as gray squirrels and fox squirrels", and § 481A.38 bars possessing game except as the chapter provides. § 481A.61(1) provides two things: a licensed game breeder may hold any game animal, and possession of one "obtained from a licensed game breeder" is lawful. So the condition is the source, the flying squirrel's position, and the keeper who buys from a breeder needs no license of their own.

How this rule works: The native side of Iowa, and the half that 717F never reaches. § 481A.1(36) defines a wild animal as "a wild mammal, bird, fish, amphibian, reptile, or other wildlife found in this state", a geographic qualifier that puts an exotic pet outside the chapter. § 481A.1(21) defines game as a closed list of taxa and (f) is "The Sciuridae: such as gray squirrels and fox squirrels", the family rather than the two examples. § 481A.38 then bars possessing game or protected nongame except as the chapter provides, § 481A.42 makes protected nongame "wild fish, wild birds, wild bats, wild reptiles, and wild amphibians" and no invertebrate, and §§ 481A.60 and 481A.61 are the game breeder license, which is the only route by which a person may possess a live game animal.

Checked against the published text on October 1, 2026.

§ 481A.1(21)(f); § 481A.38; § 481A.61(1)

1. Except as otherwise provided by law, a licensed game breeder whose original stock is obtained from a lawful source may possess any game bird, game animal, or fur-bearing animal, or any of their parts. Possession and use of the game birds, game animals, or fur-bearing animals obtained from a licensed game breeder are lawful.

Iowa defines game by family and then gives two examples, "The Sciuridae: such as gray squirrels and fox squirrels", so the whole of Sciuridae is game and the southern flying squirrel, a native, is inside it. § 481A.38 then makes it unlawful "to take, pursue, kill, trap or ensnare, buy, sell, possess, transport ... any game" except as the chapter provides. § 481A.61(1) provides two things: a licensed game breeder may hold any game animal, and possession of a game animal "obtained from a licensed game breeder" is lawful. So the condition is the source, a licensed game breeder, and the keeper who buys from one needs no license of their own.

How this rule works: The native side of Iowa, and the half that 717F never reaches. § 481A.1(36) defines a wild animal as "a wild mammal, bird, fish, amphibian, reptile, or other wildlife found in this state", a geographic qualifier that puts an exotic pet outside the chapter. § 481A.1(21) defines game as a closed list of taxa and (f) is "The Sciuridae: such as gray squirrels and fox squirrels", the family rather than the two examples. § 481A.38 then bars possessing game or protected nongame except as the chapter provides, § 481A.42 makes protected nongame "wild fish, wild birds, wild bats, wild reptiles, and wild amphibians" and no invertebrate, and §§ 481A.60 and 481A.61 are the game breeder license, which is the only route by which a person may possess a live game animal.

Checked against the published text on October 1, 2026.

Iowa Code §§ 481A.1(20), 481A.38, 481A.61(1), (4)

1. Except as otherwise provided by law, a licensed game breeder whose original stock is obtained from a lawful source may possess any game bird, game animal, or fur-bearing animal, or any of their parts. Possession and use of the game birds, game animals, or fur-bearing animals obtained from a licensed game breeder are lawful.

The raccoon is one of Iowa's named fur-bearing animals, and § 481A.38 bars possessing one except as the chapter provides. The chapter provides two things: a licensed game breeder may hold it, and possession of a fur-bearer "obtained from a licensed game breeder" is lawful. So the condition is the source, an Iowa-licensed game breeder, and § 481A.61(4) bars a breeder from acquiring fur-bearers taken from the wild in Iowa. It is not a dangerous wild animal under chapter 717F.

How this rule works: The native side of Iowa, and the half that 717F never reaches. § 481A.1(36) defines a wild animal as "a wild mammal, bird, fish, amphibian, reptile, or other wildlife found in this state", a geographic qualifier that puts an exotic pet outside the chapter. § 481A.1(21) defines game as a closed list of taxa and (f) is "The Sciuridae: such as gray squirrels and fox squirrels", the family rather than the two examples. § 481A.38 then bars possessing game or protected nongame except as the chapter provides, § 481A.42 makes protected nongame "wild fish, wild birds, wild bats, wild reptiles, and wild amphibians" and no invertebrate, and §§ 481A.60 and 481A.61 are the game breeder license, which is the only route by which a person may possess a live game animal.

Checked against the published text on October 1, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(b)(2)(b)

The offspring of a domestic cat and another member of the family felidae classified as a savannah with an ancestor classified as a serval which is a member of the species leptailurus serval. The savannah must be the fourth or later filial generation of offspring with the first filial generation being the offspring of a domestic cat and a serval, and each subsequent generation being the offspring of a domestic cat.

Iowa names the Savannah in its statute, in the same sentence pattern it uses for the Bengal. The serval is a dangerous wild animal by name at § 717F.1(5)(a)(3); paragraph (b) makes the offspring of a listed animal and "any other animal", and every subsequent generation, a dangerous wild animal too; and (b)(2)(b) carves the Savannah back out from the fourth filial generation. So F4 and later are ordinary cats, and F1 to F3 are dangerous wild animals that § 717F.3 bars anyone from owning, possessing, breeding or importing. The carve-out also requires each generation after the first to be "the offspring of a domestic cat", and a cat bred from two Savannahs does not meet those words on their face; the statute raises that question and does not answer it.

Existing owners: An F1 to F3 owned on July 1, 2007, could be kept after implanting an electronic identification device within sixty days and registering with the department by December 31, 2007. No new route exists.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 1, 2026.

Iowa Code §§ 481A.1(20), 481A.38, 481A.61(1), (4)

1. Except as otherwise provided by law, a licensed game breeder whose original stock is obtained from a lawful source may possess any game bird, game animal, or fur-bearing animal, or any of their parts. Possession and use of the game birds, game animals, or fur-bearing animals obtained from a licensed game breeder are lawful.

The striped skunk is one of Iowa's named fur-bearing animals, and § 481A.38 bars possessing one except as the chapter provides. The chapter provides two things: a licensed game breeder may hold it, and possession of a fur-bearer "obtained from a licensed game breeder" is lawful. So the condition is the source, an Iowa-licensed game breeder, and § 481A.61(4) bars a breeder from acquiring fur-bearers taken from the wild in Iowa. It is not a dangerous wild animal under chapter 717F. The list also names the spotted skunk.

How this rule works: The native side of Iowa, and the half that 717F never reaches. § 481A.1(36) defines a wild animal as "a wild mammal, bird, fish, amphibian, reptile, or other wildlife found in this state", a geographic qualifier that puts an exotic pet outside the chapter. § 481A.1(21) defines game as a closed list of taxa and (f) is "The Sciuridae: such as gray squirrels and fox squirrels", the family rather than the two examples. § 481A.38 then bars possessing game or protected nongame except as the chapter provides, § 481A.42 makes protected nongame "wild fish, wild birds, wild bats, wild reptiles, and wild amphibians" and no invertebrate, and §§ 481A.60 and 481A.61 are the game breeder license, which is the only route by which a person may possess a live game animal.

Checked against the published text on October 1, 2026.

Iowa Code §§ 481A.1(20), 481A.38, 481A.61(1), (4)

1. Except as otherwise provided by law, a licensed game breeder whose original stock is obtained from a lawful source may possess any game bird, game animal, or fur-bearing animal, or any of their parts. Possession and use of the game birds, game animals, or fur-bearing animals obtained from a licensed game breeder are lawful.

The opossum is one of Iowa's named fur-bearing animals, and § 481A.38 bars possessing one except as the chapter provides. The chapter provides two things: a licensed game breeder may hold it, and possession of a fur-bearer "obtained from a licensed game breeder" is lawful. So the condition is the source, an Iowa-licensed game breeder, and § 481A.61(4) bars a breeder from acquiring fur-bearers taken from the wild in Iowa. It is not a dangerous wild animal under chapter 717F.

How this rule works: The native side of Iowa, and the half that 717F never reaches. § 481A.1(36) defines a wild animal as "a wild mammal, bird, fish, amphibian, reptile, or other wildlife found in this state", a geographic qualifier that puts an exotic pet outside the chapter. § 481A.1(21) defines game as a closed list of taxa and (f) is "The Sciuridae: such as gray squirrels and fox squirrels", the family rather than the two examples. § 481A.38 then bars possessing game or protected nongame except as the chapter provides, § 481A.42 makes protected nongame "wild fish, wild birds, wild bats, wild reptiles, and wild amphibians" and no invertebrate, and §§ 481A.60 and 481A.61 are the game breeder license, which is the only route by which a person may possess a live game animal.

Checked against the published text on October 1, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(b), (b)(1)

However, a dangerous wild animal does not include any of the following: (1) The offspring of a domestic dog and a wolf, or the offspring from each subsequent generation in which at least one parent is a domestic dog.

Iowa writes the wolfdog out of its dangerous wild animal ban, but with a pedigree test. A first cross of a wolf and a dog is excluded, and so is every later generation in which at least one parent is a domestic dog. The opening of (b) brings "the offspring of each subsequent generation" of a listed animal back in, so a wolfdog bred from two wolfdogs, with no dog parent, is not covered by the exclusion and reads as a dangerous wild animal. Cities and counties may restrict wolf hybrids further.

Cities and counties here can prohibit what state law permits, so check your local ordinance too.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 1, 2026.

§ 481A.67

It is unlawful for a person, except as otherwise expressly provided, to take, capture, or kill fish, frogs, or turtles except during the open season established by the commission.

Chelydra serpentina is native here and taking one from the wild falls under the license, season and possession limit rules. Subsection 2 exempts snapping turtles from the noncommercial season only, not from the rest.

How this rule works: The native wildlife side. § 481A.67 governs taking turtles.

Checked against the published text on October 1, 2026.

§ 717F.1(5)(a)(9)(a)

A member of the family varanidae, which are limited to water monitors and crocodile monitors.

Water monitor usually means Varanus salvator, but Varanus niloticus is commonly called the African water monitor and the statute gives no binomial. Do not read this as permission.

How this rule works: § 717F.3 bars owning, possessing, breeding or importing a dangerous wild animal. § 717F.1(5) defines the class by family and order rather than by species name, so the boundaries are read off the taxonomy. § 717F.4 grandfathers animals already owned on July 1, 2007.

Checked against the published text on October 1, 2026.