What Animals Are Illegally Kept as Pets in Florida and What to Do With Wildlife Removal
Florida's rules governing captive wildlife are stricter than most people expect. Manatee County homeowners may encounter everything from raccoons in Palmetto subdivisions to raptors along the Manatee River corridor. Knowing Florida law protects both you and the animal.
What Does Florida Law Say About Keeping Wild Animals as Pets?
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) classifies captive wildlife into three groups based on risk.
Class I animals, including big cats, chimpanzees, bears, and crocodiles, are completely prohibited as personal pets. Class II animals, such as bobcats, alligators, and certain primates, require a demanding permit involving documented hands-on experience, facility inspections, and letters of reference. Class III animals, a broad default category that includes foxes, may require a no-cost permit for personal possession.
One rule catches many residents off guard: native animals can never be kept as personal pets in Florida. Raccoons, foxes, opossums, raptors, and squirrels found in your Bradenton, FL, backyard may look adoptable, but keeping them, even temporarily, can violate Florida law.
Which Common Animals Are Often Misidentified as "Adoptable"?
Several species seen around Manatee County are frequently mistaken for tameable or adoptable animals when they are actually protected native wildlife.
Raccoons may appear friendly as juveniles, but they are native animals and may never be kept as personal pets. Gray and red foxes fall under Class III wildlife, cannot be kept without a permit, and are considered high-risk rabies carriers. Raptors, including hawks, owls, and eagles, are protected under both Florida law and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Burmese pythons and other large constrictors are on Florida's prohibited species list and cannot legally be kept or released under any circumstances.
What Wildlife Is Protected in Florida?
Florida law protects all native wildlife under FWC regulations. Most native mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians may not be kept as pets. Injured or orphaned native animals must be taken to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. The FWC maintains a county-by-county rehabilitator list on its website for Manatee County residents.
What Should You Do if You Find a Potentially Illegally Kept Animal?
If you encounter an animal you believe is illegally kept or find an injured wild animal in Bradenton, FL, follow these steps.
1. Do not handle the animal, especially raccoons, foxes, or bats, which can carry rabies.
2. Contact the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-888-404-3922 for protected species such as gopher tortoises, sea turtles, or manatees.
3. Use the FWC's online rehabilitator finder for other injured native species near Bradenton, FL.
4. If a nuisance or dangerous wild animal has moved onto your property, contact a licensed wildlife removal company for safe, humane, and legally compliant removal.
When Should You Call a Licensed Wildlife Removal Professional?
Call a licensed professional when an animal is living in or near your home. A raccoon in your attic, a snake near a play area, or an unknown animal sheltering under a porch in West Bradenton is not a situation for DIY removal. Improper handling risks disease, injury, or a violation of Florida's captive wildlife regulations. Learn more at the wildlife blog page.
Get Help from a Local Wildlife Removal Expert Serving Bradenton, FL
Molter Pest and Wildlife Control provides licensed, humane wildlife removal serving Bradenton, FL, and surrounding counties, including Sarasota, Charlotte, and Hillsborough. Whether it is raccoons, bats, armadillos, or snakes, they remove the animal safely, identify entry points, and help prevent return. Call (941) 747-8525 or visit the pest control services page to request a free estimate.
