Wild Animals

Possession of Wild Animals

State law provides some regulation of the types of wild animals that individuals may possess, keep as a pet, take for game hunting, sell, or propagate. Local governments may impose additional restrictions. Check with your city or county for more information about the laws in place in your area.

Dangerous Wild Animals

Texas Law

Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 822, Subchapter E
This subchapter, "Dangerous Wild Animals," defines and regulates "dangerous wild animals." It discusses local control and registration, liability for animal attack and escape, and proper treatment of wild animals.
Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 240, Subchapter A
This subchapter, "Regulation of Keeping of Wild Animals," authorizes counties to regulate keeping certain wild animals in unincorporated portions of the county.

Understanding the Law

Animal Control Handbook: Wild Animals - Dangerous (p.16-18)
Created by the Texas Association of Counties, this publication discusses regulations pertaining to the keeping of dangerous wild animals in Texas.
Tiger King 2.0: Is a Texas Roadside Zoo Permissible?
This blog post, written by a Texas attorney, discusses the legality of owning exotic pets that are considered "dangerous wild animals." The author also discusses liability issues that might arise if the owner invites others to view or care for their animals.

Other Wild Animals

Texas Law

Texas Administrative Code, Title 31, Part 2, Chapter 65: Wildlife
Texas Parks and Wildlife Regulations on wildlife including necessary permits for various species. Animals regulated include: game animals, game birds, deer, exotic species, threatened and endangered species, bobcats, raptors, alligators, "fur bearing" animals (beavers, raccoons, foxes, minks, and others).
Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 63, Subchapter B
This subchapter, "Nongame Animals," discusses the trapping, keeping, transporting, and selling of certain wild, nongame animals. Bats, wolves, and armadillos are specifically discussed.

Understanding the Law

Wildlife Permits
Permits from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are required for a person to possess, display, care for, propagate, collect, transport, or sell certain protected wildlife species. These include permits for: exotic snakes, fur bearing animals (beavers, raccoons, etc.), falcons and other raptors, bobcats, nongame wildlife, white tailed deer, alligators, endangered species, and more.

Health & Safety of Wild Animals

Texas Laws & Regulations

Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 822, Subchapter E
This subchapter, "Dangerous Wild Animals," defines and regulates "dangerous wild animals." It discusses local control and registration, liability for animal attack and escape, and proper treatment of wild animals.
Texas Administrative Code, Title 25, Part 1, Chapter 169: Zoonosis Control
Texas Department of State Health Services regulations related to control of zoonosis, which are diseases transmissible between animals and humans. Includes regulations on caging requirements of dangerous wild animals and care of animals in zoos, carnivals, and circuses.

Understanding the Law

Detailed Discussion of Texas Animal Cruelty Laws: IV. What About Wild Animals?
This article from the Animal Legal and Historical Center describes Texas laws relating to the care and treatment requirements for wild animals held in captivity.
Animal Control Officer Training Manual
According to the agency, this resource is a "study reference prepared by the Texas Department of State Health Services' Zoonosis Control Branch (ZCB). The online manual contains chapters covered in the ZCB's Basic ACO Training course, including such topics as animal identification, capture and restraint, transportation, impoundment, and disposition, plus health, safety, sanitation, records, controlled substances, animal cruelty, investigations, and communication skills."

Nuisance Wildlife

Sometimes wildlife can be dangerous or harmful to humans. Texas law addresses certain species of wild animals that can become a nuisance to humans and sets out ways that people can mitigate the dangers of these species.

Nuisance Wildlife
These guides from Texas Parks and Wildlife discuss "nuisance wildlife" including: alligators, bears, cowbirds, urban coyotes, feral hogs, herons, mountain lions, overabundant deer, ticks, and woodpeckers.
Feral Hog Laws and Regulations in Texas
This article by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension discusses laws and regulations surrounding feral hogs in Texas.

Endangered Species

Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 68
This chapter, "Endangered Species," authorizes Texas Parks and Wildlife to submit a list of fish or wildlife threatened with statewide extinction. It establishes crimes and penalties related to endangered species.
Texas Administrative Code, Title 31, Part 2, Chapter 65, Subchapter G
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department regulations for the division for nongame and rare species.

Who Can I Contact?

Texas Department of State Health Services, Zoonosis Control
This department works with local officials to investigate pests and diseases which are transmissible from animals to humans (including rabies & West Nile Virus). Includes disease reporting contacts by county.
Texas Parks and Wildlife
This site provides information about threatened and endangered species, hunting, wildlife observation, nuisance wildlife, and much more.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Nongame and Rare Species Program
This Texas agency divison is responsible for conducting field research, interpreting the data and partnering with private landowners to support conservation of threatened species.
Texas Wildlife Services
Contact the Texas office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture--Wildlife Services with concerns about nuisance wildlife.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Endangered Species Program
Provides access to laws, policies, a library of documents and extensive information about the federal endangered species program.

Texas State
Law Library

Animal Law

Wild Animals

Possession of Wild Animals

Dangerous Wild Animals

Texas Law

Understanding the Law

Other Wild Animals

Texas Law

Understanding the Law

Health & Safety of Wild Animals

Texas Laws & Regulations

Understanding the Law

Nuisance Wildlife

Endangered Species

Who Can I Contact?