Alabama is home to some of the most active, charismatic squirrels in the South, and it is easy to understand why some residents are drawn to the idea of keeping one as a pet. But before you pursue that idea, you need to understand exactly where Alabama law stands — and the answer is stricter than many sources suggest.
The short answer is that owning a squirrel as a pet in Alabama is not legal under state wildlife regulations. Alabama’s squirrel species are protected under state law, and the rules around possession, transport, and importation are more restrictive than residents often realize. This guide walks you through what the law says, which species are involved, what limited permits exist, and what the real consequences of illegal ownership look like.
Is It Legal to Own a Squirrel in Alabama?
Keeping any live, protected wild bird or wild animal in Alabama is illegal without a permit issued by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Squirrels fall squarely within that protection. Alabama Administrative Code Rule 220-2-.26 makes clear that you cannot keep deer, bears, foxes, raccoons, squirrels, wild turkeys, birds of prey, or other native species as pets.
It is not legal to keep a squirrel as a pet in Alabama. Alabama issues no licenses for squirrel possession except for rehabilitation and education purposes. This puts Alabama firmly in the restrictive column when compared to states like Florida, Indiana, or Michigan, where permit pathways for pet squirrels exist.
Important Note: Some online sources claim Alabama allows squirrel ownership without a permit. Those claims conflict with Alabama Administrative Code Rule 220-2-.26 and the official Outdoor Alabama website, which are the controlling legal authorities. Always verify wildlife ownership questions directly with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR).
Alabama’s exotic pet laws are stricter and more fragmented than many people expect. Instead of maintaining a single, comprehensive list of approved pets, the state regulates wild and exotic animals through a combination of statutes, administrative rules, and agency enforcement. For squirrels specifically, the combination of Rule 220-2-.26 and Alabama Code Title 9 leaves no legal pathway for private pet ownership.
In Alabama, you cannot get a license to own a pet squirrel because Alabama law does not allow people to keep squirrels as pets under any circumstances. Even if you find a squirrel advertised for sale, that transaction is not legal. Pet squirrels are not legal to own in Alabama, and if you see advertisements for them, you should treat them with extreme caution and consider reporting them — they are not legal sales.
Which Squirrel Species Are Legal in Alabama?
None of Alabama’s native squirrel species are legal to keep as pets. Understanding which species live in the state helps clarify the scope of the prohibition. Alabama’s diverse forests, parks, and neighborhoods provide homes for several fascinating squirrel species. The three primary tree squirrel species are all protected under state law.
The Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is the species most Alabamians encounter daily. The Eastern gray squirrel reigns as Alabama’s most recognizable and abundant squirrel species, found in virtually every Alabama community, from downtown Birmingham parks to rural farmsteads. Weighing approximately 1 to 1.5 pounds at adult age, it is a medium-sized squirrel covered with gray hairs that are white at the tips, with a darker gray back and neck and a white or lighter gray belly.
The fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) is Alabama’s largest tree squirrel. The fox squirrel weighs approximately 1.5 to 2 pounds. In Alabama, fox squirrels inhabit bottomland hardwoods, the shores of bayous, deep cypress swamps, pine/hardwood forests, and upland sandhill habitat dominated by mature pines and numerous scrub oak species. Their striking coloration — often with a reddish or rust shading and a distinct black facial mask — makes them immediately recognizable.
The Southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) rounds out the three native tree squirrel species. These nocturnal acrobats do not actually fly but glide using a furry membrane called a patagium that stretches between their front and rear legs, allowing controlled glides of up to 150 feet between trees. Measuring only 8–10 inches including their flattened tail, Southern flying squirrels represent Alabama’s smallest tree squirrel species. You can learn more about their behavior and biology on our flying squirrel species page.
Squirrels are protected game species in Alabama, with a set hunting season. Only gray and fox squirrels may be legally hunted. The flying squirrel has no hunting season and receives full protection year-round. None of these protections include a pathway for private pet ownership.
Key Insight: Alabama also prohibits importing wild rodents — including squirrels — from other states. Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Regulation 220-2-.26 states that no person, firm, corporation, partnership, or association shall transport species such as wild rodents (including mice, rats, squirrels, and chipmunks) within the state. This means even a squirrel legally purchased in another state cannot be brought into Alabama as a pet.
Permit and License Requirements in Alabama
The permit landscape in Alabama for squirrel possession is narrow and does not include any pathway for private pet ownership. Two types of permits exist under Alabama law — neither of which applies to keeping a squirrel as a companion animal.
The first is a wildlife rehabilitation permit. According to Outdoor Alabama, wildlife rehabilitators can get permits to care for mammals, but this must be done with the goal of releasing them. Even veterinarians and caring citizens cannot keep wildlife without having a permit to do so. If you find an injured squirrel, your legal path is to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator — not to keep the animal yourself.
The second is a public exhibition permit. The Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources may issue an annual permit to a person qualified by education or experience in the care and treatment of wildlife, to possess wildlife for public exhibition purposes, at a cost of $25.00. This permit is designed for zoos, nature centers, and educational programs — not private households.
This creates significant problems for rehabilitators and rescues that take in squirrels that cannot be released due to an injury that will not heal or a birth deformity. Because they cannot get a permit or license to legally keep them long-term, they face the difficult choice of euthanizing the squirrel, letting it take its chances in the wild, or keeping it illegally.
There are no permits available to keep squirrels in the long term as pets. If you apply for a permit with the intention of keeping a squirrel permanently, that application will not be approved for pet purposes. Contact the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division directly if you have questions about a specific situation involving an injured or orphaned animal.
Where to Legally Obtain a Pet Squirrel in Alabama
There is no legal source from which you can obtain a pet squirrel for private ownership in Alabama. You could apply for a permit, but it must be done with a view to eventually releasing the squirrel — you cannot keep it long-term as a pet.
If you encounter an advertisement for a pet squirrel being sold to Alabama residents, that sale is not compliant with state law. Squirrels can only legally be bought from USDA-licensed breeders, and if someone is trying to sell a squirrel without a USDA license, even if they are licensed by the state or county to possess that squirrel, that constitutes wildlife trafficking and is a federal crime. Alabama’s prohibition adds another layer: even a USDA-licensed transaction does not make private squirrel ownership legal in this state.
If your interest in squirrels comes from a love of wildlife rather than a desire for a specific pet, Alabama offers excellent opportunities to observe all three native species in the wild. Exploring the different types of squirrels found across the country may also help you identify legal alternatives in other states, should you be considering relocation.
Pro Tip: If you find an orphaned or injured squirrel in Alabama, the correct step is to contact your nearest licensed wildlife rehabilitator or call the ADCNR Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. Do not attempt to raise the animal yourself without authorization — even well-intentioned care without a permit is a violation of state law.
Housing and Care Requirements in Alabama
Because private squirrel ownership is not legal in Alabama, no state-issued housing or care standards exist for pet squirrels in a household context. However, understanding the biological needs of squirrels is useful both for those working with rehabilitators and for anyone evaluating whether a squirrel would even be appropriate as a pet if laws were different.
Squirrels have demanding spatial and dietary needs that most households cannot realistically meet. The gray squirrel is found in deciduous forests of oak and hickory, typically mixed with pines and other hardwoods, and commonly eats a variety of mast such as acorns, hickory nuts, seeds, and fruits. Replicating this diet in captivity requires deliberate planning and access to varied, species-appropriate foods.
In states where squirrel ownership is permitted, enclosure requirements are substantial. Enclosures must be large enough to allow climbing, foraging behavior, and natural movement — a small cage is entirely inadequate for any squirrel species. Flying squirrels prefer heavily forested areas with abundant den trees and nearby water sources. Even the smallest Alabama squirrel species has spatial needs far beyond what a standard small-animal cage provides.
Veterinary care is another practical concern. Finding a veterinarian in Alabama with experience treating squirrels is difficult, since there is no legal pet population for practitioners to develop expertise with. Many animals experience stress when kept outside their natural habitats, and their behavior may become unpredictable over time. For squirrels, this stress can manifest as aggression, self-harm, or refusal to eat — all serious welfare concerns.
If you are interested in Alabama wildlife more broadly, our guides on bats in Alabama, owls in Alabama, and hawks in Alabama cover other native species you can observe and appreciate without any legal concerns.
Local and Municipal Restrictions in Alabama
Even in states where squirrel ownership is permitted at the state level, local ordinances frequently add restrictions. In Alabama, where state law already prohibits private squirrel ownership, municipal codes can only be equal to or stricter than state law — they cannot make squirrel ownership legal where state law forbids it.
Cities and counties may adopt stricter animal ordinances, meaning state-level legality does not always guarantee local approval. In Alabama’s case, cities like Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile each maintain their own animal control ordinances that generally mirror or exceed state wildlife protections.
Many prohibitions and permit requirements for dangerous wild animals, venomous snakes, primates, and large felids are enacted locally; zoning and nuisance rules can also restrict backyard possession of wildlife. Even if you believed you had a basis for keeping a squirrel, local zoning or HOA restrictions could independently prohibit it.
Local ordinances, landlord policies, and homeowner-association rules may be stricter than state law. Legal ownership ultimately depends on compliance at every level, from state agencies to municipal codes and private housing agreements. In Alabama, the state-level prohibition makes this analysis straightforward: no local exception exists that permits private squirrel ownership.
If you live near wooded areas and want to encourage squirrels to visit your property without keeping them in captivity, our guide on plants that affect squirrel behavior offers practical, legal ways to manage your relationship with local wildlife. You might also find our overview of animals that eat squirrels useful for understanding the ecological role these animals play in Alabama’s ecosystems.
Penalties for Illegal Squirrel Ownership in Alabama
Alabama enforces its wildlife possession laws, and squirrel ownership is not treated as a minor infraction. Enforcement is real, and the consequences extend beyond fines.
It is not legal to own a squirrel or any protected game birds in Alabama. According to the Code of Alabama Title 9, anyone caught possessing a pet squirrel is subject to a fine of no more than $500. Violation of any provision of the article also results in imprisonment for not more than three months, or both a fine and imprisonment.
Beyond the financial and criminal penalties, the animal itself is subject to confiscation. A real-world example illustrates how seriously Alabama enforces these rules. A family that had rehabilitated squirrels in Florida moved to Alabama, where state wildlife services confiscated their squirrels. Acting in response to complaints from the public, the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division confiscated the animals, stating the squirrels were being kept in captivity contrary to state law.
In addition to charges for squirrel possession, officials also investigated whether the family had illegally transported a wild rodent into Alabama — an act that could result in federal charges under the Lacey Act. This case demonstrates that Alabama does not simply issue warnings: confiscation, criminal charges, and federal referrals are all possible outcomes.
| Violation | Potential Consequence | Legal Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Possessing a squirrel as a pet | Fine up to $500 and/or up to 3 months imprisonment | Alabama Code Title 9; Rule 220-2-.26 |
| Transporting a squirrel into Alabama | State charges + potential federal Lacey Act charges | Rule 220-2-.26; 18 U.S.C. 42 |
| Selling a squirrel without USDA license | Federal wildlife trafficking charges | Federal law (USDA/USFWS) |
| Keeping a rehabilitated squirrel long-term | Permit violation; animal confiscation | Alabama Code § 9-11-320 et seq. |
State laws are frequently changing in response to concerns for public safety and animal well-being, so you should always double-check for any new or proposed state or local legislation. The Animal Legal and Historical Center’s Alabama wildlife statutes page is a reliable resource for tracking current law, as is the A-Z Animals guide to Alabama exotic pet laws.
If you are passionate about squirrels and want to engage with them legally, consider volunteering with a licensed wildlife rehabilitation organization in Alabama, supporting conservation programs, or simply creating a squirrel-friendly habitat in your yard. Alabama’s three native squirrel species are remarkable animals — and appreciating them in the wild is both legal and rewarding. For more on Alabama’s wildlife, explore our guides on frogs in Alabama, snakes in Alabama, and salamanders in Alabama.