---

Elk and fallow deer are classified as alternative livestock and are licensed by the Department of Agriculture. Below are the other mammals that are legal to own in Colorado:

Common Name	Genus/Species
African pygmy hedgehog	Atelerix, Erinaceus; albiventris
Red kangaroo	Macropus rufus
Short-tailed possum	Monodelphis domestca
Sugar gliders	Petaurus breviceps
Bennett wallaby	Macropus rufogriseus
Dama wallaby	Macropus eugenii
Swamp wallaby	Wallabia bicolor
Wallaroo	Macropus robustus

---

These are the species that are illegal to have in Colorado. That means there are no licenses available to possess one of these species. There are several reasons why the state has prohibited them, ranging from concerns about damage to native wildlife or habitat to the potential for spreading diseases to livestock or people.

Common Name	Genus/Species
Addax	Addax nasomaculatus
Aoudad	Ammotragus lervia
Blesbok	Damalicus dorcas
Barbary sheep	Ammotragus lervia
Brush-tailed possum	Trichosurus vulpecula, arnhemensis, caninus
Chamois	Rupicapra rupicapra
European hedgehogs	Erinaceus spp,(except Erinaceus albiventris); Hemiechinus spp., Paraechinus spp.
Gemsbok	Oryx gazella
Wild and exotic goats	Capra spp.(all wild goats exotic goats and hybrids)
Goral	Nemorhaedus goral
Grouse, red, black and Capercaillae	Nonnative species of the subfamily Tetraoninae
Hartebeest	Alcelaphus lichtensteini
Ibex	Capra ibex
Markhor	Capra falconeri
Mouflon	Ovis musimon
Oryx	Oryx dammah, leucoryx.
Wild and exotic pigs	Sus spp. (all wild pigs and hybrids)
Primates	All non-human primates, i.e. monkeys, chimpanzees
Raccoon	Porocyon spp.
Red deer	Cervus elaphus elaphus (and hybrids)
Sheep	(wild exotic Ovis spp. sheep and hybrids)
Striped skunks	Mephitis mephitis.
Tahr	Hemitragus spp.
Topi	Damalicus lunatus
White-tailed deer	Odocoileus virginnianus
Wildebeest	Connochaetes spp.

---

Common Name	Genus/Species
Big head carp	Aristichthys nobilis
Bowfins	Amiidae
Gars	Lepisosteidae
Grass carp
White amur	Ctenopharyngodon idella
Black amur	Mylopharyngodon piceus
Hybrid amur	Ctenopharyngodon idella X Aristichthys nobilis
Green frog	Rana clamitans
Indian carp	Catla, rohu, Labeo rohita, mrigal, Cirrhinus mrigala
Piranha	Including members of the genera Serrasalmus, Roosevelthiella, and Pygocentrus
Quagga mussels	Dreissena bugensis Andrusov
Rudd	Scardinius erythrophthalmus
Silver carp	Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
Snakeheads ormurrels	Member of the genera Channa and Ophicephalus
Sticklebacks	Members of the genera Apeltes, Aulorhynchus, Gasterosteus and Pungitius
Tilapia	All species
Trahira	Hoplias malabaricus
Walking catfish	Clarias batrachus
Zebra mussels	Dreissena polymorpha

---

All other species of native and exotic wildlife require a license from either the Colorado Parks and Wildlife or the state Department of Agriculture. To have or import one of these species, you must get a license first. You can get importation permits from the Department of Agriculture after obtaining a license from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

For more information, contact the following agencies:  

With wildlife questions, contact:
Colorado Parks and Wildlife; Don Masden
2300 S. Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO 81401
970/252-6006  

With alternative livestock, importations, humane care, or pet questions, contact:
Colorado Department of Agriculture—State Veterinarian 
700 Kipling St., Suite 4000, Lakewood, CO 80215
303/239-4161

With human health questions, contact:
Colorado Department of Public Health; John Pape
4300 Cherry Creek Dr. South, Denver, CO 80222
303/692-2700