Doña Ana County, NM Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule type
- Outright possession ban, not a permit
- Governing section
- County Code § 134-19
- Banned examples
- Wolves, big cats, bears, primates, venomous snakes
- Exception
- Vet facilities; State wildlife rehab/education permit holders
- Enforcer
- Animal Control Unit / Codes Enforcement
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Doña Ana County only
Summary
Doña Ana County outright bans keeping wolves, big cats, bears, primates, venomous snakes, gila monsters, alligators and other listed wild or exotic species as pets anywhere in the unincorporated county, with narrow exceptions for vets and permitted wildlife rehabbers.
§ 134-19. Prohibited animals. A. Wildlife and exotic animals. A person shall not possess, harbor, or keep any wild or exotic animal of a species that in its natural life is potentially dangerous or ferocious. Such animals, though they may be trained and domesticated, remain a danger to others, and include: (1) Wolves, coyotes, foxes, dingoes, and other members of the nondomestic canine families; (2) Lions, pumas, panthers, mountain lions, wild cats, and other members of the nondomestic feline families; (3) All bears (Ursidae)... B. Exceptions. This section shall not apply to veterinary facilities, or individuals holding a State of New Mexico wildlife rehabilitation or educational use permit.
Full Breakdown
A prohibits any person from possessing, harboring, or keeping a wild or exotic animal of a species that in its natural life is potentially dangerous or ferocious, on the reasoning that such animals remain a danger to others even when trained or domesticated. B carves out a narrow exception: the ban does not apply to veterinary facilities or to individuals holding a State of New Mexico wildlife rehabilitation or educational-use permit, which dovetails with the special-permit process for rehabilitators and falconers under § 134-16. There is no general permit path around this ban for a private owner who simply wants to keep one of the listed species as a pet; the only door open is a state rehabilitation or educational-use license. Enforcement runs through the Animal Control Unit and Codes Enforcement Department for the unincorporated county only.
Violations & Fines
Possessing, harboring, or keeping a prohibited wild or exotic animal violates § 134-19 and is punishable under Chapter 134's general penalty, § 1-20. Upon probable cause, an Animal Control Officer may investigate, enter property (excluding a private residence) to inspect, and issue a citation or file a criminal complaint in Magistrate Court; a police officer may destroy an animal that poses an immediate, serious threat to human life if it cannot be safely captured. Prosecutions must commence within one year of the violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I legally own a wolf-dog hybrid or a big cat in unincorporated Doña Ana County?
Is there any way around the exotic animal ban?
Are venomous snakes covered by this ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Doña Ana County
Compare Doña Ana County to another location·View the New Mexico animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.