Mississippi Inherently Dangerous Wild Animal Possession Rules

Miss. Code Sections 49-8-1 through 49-8-19 make it unlawful to import, transfer, sell, purchase, or possess any wild animal classified as inherently dangerous to humans without a permit issued by the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. The list, detailed in MDWFP Rule 32, includes nonhuman primates, large carnivores, big cats, hyenas, elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, and certain venomous reptiles. Permit holders must meet caging, insurance, and reporting standards. Counties and municipalities may enact ordinances more stringent than the state list, but cannot authorize possession the state forbids. Federal Lacey Act amendments further restrict private big-cat ownership.

Possessing or transferring an inherently dangerous wild animal without a permit is a Class I violation, punishable by fines of two thousand to five thousand dollars and up to five days county jail.