Idaho Falls, ID Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Banned
- Big cats, bears, wolves, primates
- Includes
- Hybrids (e.g. wolf/dog)
- Exception
- Licensed zoos, vets, shelters
- Birds of prey
- Requires state/federal permit
- Impound
- Destroyed after 10 days unclaimed
Summary
Idaho Falls prohibits keeping big cats, bears, wolves, venomous reptiles, primates, and other wild animals or hybrids as pets, with narrow exceptions for zoos, vets, and licensed birds of prey.
Except as otherwise expressly allowed under subsection (A) hereof, it shall be unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, purchase, barter, keep, own, harbor, or transport any wild animal or hybrid as defined in Section 5-5-1.
(A) Nothing herein shall prohibit the bona fide activities of the following:
(1) A veterinary hospital operated by a veterinarian currently licensed by the State of Idaho.
(2) A animal shelter, humane society shelter, public laboratory, circus, facility for educational or scientific purposes, or public zoo, which keeps or cares for wild animals, provided protective devices or procedures adequate to prevent such animal from escaping or injuring the public are employed.
(3) The transportation, keeping or harboring of a wild animal by any officer or agent of the state or federal government in the ordinary course of their duties. (Ord. 3648, 4-9-26)
(4) Activities protected by the United States Constitution or Idaho Constitution.
(B) Impounding of Prohibited Animals:
(1) City police officers and animal control officers may take up and impound any wild animal or hybrid found or kept in violation of this Chapter or found to be at large within City limits.
(2) Any domestic animal impounded in the animal control shelter shall be retained for a minimum of seventy-two (72) hours, unless the lawful owner or keeper
Full Breakdown
Idaho Falls City Code § 5-5-4 bans selling, keeping, owning, harboring, or transporting any wild animal or wild-animal hybrid, as defined in § 5-5-1. The defined list covers alligators and crocodiles, bears, big cats (cheetahs, cougars, leopards, lions, lynx, tigers, bobcats), wolves and coyotes, porcupines, nonhuman primates, raccoons, skunks and similar carnivores, venomous reptiles, and cervids like elk and deer. Birds of prey are banned unless the keeper holds a state or federal permit. Exceptions apply to licensed veterinary hospitals, animal shelters, public zoos, and circuses that use adequate containment. Violating animals may be impounded and destroyed if not reclaimed.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a prohibited wild animal is a code violation; animal control may impound the animal, which can be destroyed after ten days unless the owner obtains a court order under § 5-5-4(B).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I own a wolf-dog hybrid in Idaho Falls?
What happens to an impounded wild animal?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Idaho Falls
Compare Idaho Falls to another location·View the Idaho animal ordinances overview
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