Can You Own a Coyote in Vermont? What State Wildlife Law Actually Says
August 17, 2026
If you have ever watched a coyote trot across a Vermont field and wondered whether one could live in your backyard, the short answer will disappoint you: no, you cannot legally own a coyote in Vermont as a pet. State wildlife law treats coyotes as wild animals first and foremost, and that classification triggers a permit system built almost entirely around science, education, and rehabilitation rather than private ownership.
Understanding why requires a look at how Vermont’s Fish and Wildlife Department defines “wild animal,” what the permit process actually involves, and what happens if someone tries to keep a coyote without going through official channels. This breakdown walks through each layer of Vermont law that applies to coyote possession, from state statutes to the penalties that follow when the rules are ignored.
Important Note: Wildlife laws can change through legislative sessions and department rulemaking. Verify current requirements directly with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and consult a licensed Vermont attorney before pursuing any permit involving a coyote or other wild animal.
Is It Legal to Own a Coyote in Vermont
Vermont law does not permit private citizens to keep a coyote as a household pet, and that rule holds regardless of how a coyote was acquired or how tame it seems. Exotic Pet Wonderland confirms this directly: pet coyotes are not legal in Vermont, and you cannot keep a coyote as a pet in Vermont. The same source notes that pet coydogs, the hybrid offspring of coyotes and domestic dogs, are also not legal to keep as pets in Vermont.
The prohibition traces back to 10 V.S.A. § 4709, which states that no person may bring into or possess any live wild bird or animal without proper authorization. Coyotes fall squarely under that definition since they are native wildlife rather than a domestic species. A separate roundup of Vermont exotic pet rules confirms the pattern, noting that wild animals, including foxes, raccoons, skunks, mink, coyotes, bobcats, lynx, servals, and most non-domestic cats and canines, are illegal to possess as pets in Vermont.
There is a narrow legal path, but it rarely leads to private ownership. As with other native carnivores covered under the same statute, permits are rarely issued for private pet ownership and are generally reserved for scientific, educational, or rehabilitation purposes. That distinction matters for anyone comparing coyote rules to species already covered on this site, including our breakdown of whether it’s legal to own a raccoon in Vermont, since Vermont applies nearly identical logic to both animals.
How Vermont Classifies Coyotes Under Wildlife Law
Vermont’s wildlife code splits animals into categories, and coyotes land in the “wild animal” bucket rather than the domestic or unrestricted-species lists that cover many common pets. This classification shapes everything from hunting seasons to possession rules. Under the general importation statute, it is unlawful for any person to bring into or possess in the State of Vermont any live wild animal of any kind, unless upon application in writing, the person obtains from the Commissioner a permit to do so, or the species is listed as a domestic bird or animal, domestic pet, or unrestricted wild animal. Coyotes do not appear on the unrestricted list, so the default rule of “permit or nothing” applies.
The state’s furbearer regulations reinforce this classification by grouping coyotes with other trapped species. Vermont’s open trapping season list includes beaver, bobcat, coyote, fisher, grey fox, red fox, mink, muskrat, opossum, otter, raccoon, skunk, and weasel, treating the animal as a managed furbearer rather than a candidate for domestication. Vermont’s specific rule on live coyotes is even more direct: a person shall not take a coyote into their possession except by killing the coyote by legal means or methods, including a muzzleloader or gun fired at arm’s length, or bow and arrow, or crossbow. In other words, state law does not contemplate capturing a live coyote to keep — the only lawful “taking” ends the animal’s life.
If you want to learn more about the species itself before digging deeper into the legal side, our coyote species profile covers behavior, range, and identification across Vermont’s landscape. It also helps to understand the predator-prey dynamics coyotes fit into; our guide to animals that eat coyotes explains where they sit in Vermont’s food web.
Pro Tip: If you found what looks like an orphaned or injured coyote pup, do not attempt to raise it yourself. Contact the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately, since unauthorized possession of a live coyote — even temporarily — can trigger the same penalties as intentional ownership.
Permits and Licensing Requirements for Coyote Ownership in Vermont
Vermont does have a formal permit system for wild animal possession, and it applies in theory to coyotes, but the criteria make private pet ownership almost impossible to justify on paper. State rules are explicit that the Commissioner shall not issue a permit for the keeping or possession of any wild animal in captivity, except for bona fide scientific or educational purposes. That single clause eliminates most hobbyist applications before they ever reach a review board.
For the categories of applications the department does consider, the process is not simple or free. According to the Animal Legal & Historical Center’s summary of § 4709, applicants shall pay a permit fee of $100.00 and a person shall not bring into, transport into, transport within, transport through, or possess in the State any live wild bird or animal of any kind without authorization from the Commissioner. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s importation and possession page adds that applicants should allow at least 30 days for permit issuance, and separate guidance confirms the application must include a veterinarian’s certificate certifying that your animal is free of contagious and communicable diseases.
Do not confuse this ownership permit with Vermont’s Coyote Dog Permit, which is a completely different document tied to hunting. That permit authorizes any person training, hunting, pursuing, harvesting, or in any manner involved in the taking of a coyote with the aid of dogs — it has nothing to do with keeping a live coyote as a companion animal. For a broader look at what the state does and does not allow for exotic species generally, see our guide to exotic pets legal in Vermont, and browse related coverage under our coyote tag archive for additional context on the species in this state.
| Permit Element | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $100 per application |
| Processing time | At least 30 days |
| Veterinary documentation | Certificate confirming animal is free of contagious disease |
| Approval basis | Generally limited to scientific, educational, or rehabilitation purposes |
Enclosure and Care Requirements in Vermont
Because Vermont reserves coyote permits almost exclusively for institutions rather than private households, most enclosure standards you will encounter apply to licensed rehabilitators, educational facilities, and research programs rather than individual pet owners. The state’s underlying rationale for tight enclosure and health rules ties back to public safety and disease control. Vermont’s importation framework exists in part to prevent the introduction of disease or exotic species that compete with native species, protect wild populations from animal trade, and prevent the threat from dangerous animals to human health and safety.
Any facility approved to house a coyote must satisfy the Commissioner that the arrangement does not undermine those goals. As the state’s own rule states, permits outside the research and education categories are granted only when it has been determined that the wild animal or wildlife proposed to be brought into or possessed in the State does not conflict with the purpose of this regulation. In practice, that review covers secure fencing, disease screening, and a documented plan for the animal’s care and eventual disposition.
It helps to compare this to how Vermont handles a legal, regulated animal that still requires enclosure planning. Our article on goat ownership laws in Vermont shows how the state applies fencing and containment rules to a domestic species that is legal outright — a much lighter regulatory lift than anything involving a wild carnivore like a coyote.
Key Insight: Even wildlife rehabilitators licensed to temporarily house an injured coyote must follow strict protocols aimed at eventual release, not long-term captivity. Vermont’s permit system is not designed to create a legal pathway to a “pet” coyote under any label.
Local Laws and HOA Restrictions That May Apply in Vermont
State law sets the baseline, but Vermont towns, cities, and private communities can add their own layers of restriction on top of it. This matters most for anyone who somehow secures a rare state-level permit, since local rules can still block the arrangement. Coverage of Vermont’s exotic pet landscape notes that some Vermont cities, such as Burlington, have additional restrictions and may ban non-domestic pets outright within municipal limits.
Homeowners associations and condominium covenants add another practical hurdle. Many HOA agreements in Vermont include blanket language prohibiting “wild,” “non-domesticated,” or “dangerous” animals regardless of what state permits an owner holds. If you live under an HOA, checking the covenant’s pet clause before pursuing any wildlife permit can save significant time and legal fees.
Local governments in Vermont have also shown a willingness to regulate specific animals more tightly than state law requires, a pattern visible in our coverage of pit bull laws in Vermont, where certain municipalities layer breed-specific rules on top of state statute. The same municipal authority that governs dog breeds can extend to wildlife possession, so a coyote permit approved by the state does not guarantee approval at the town level.
- Check your municipality’s animal control ordinance before applying for any state wildlife permit.
- Review HOA or condo association bylaws for language covering “wild,” “exotic,” or “non-domesticated” animals.
- Contact your town clerk’s office directly, since zoning rules for animal enclosures vary widely across Vermont.
- Ask neighboring property owners about noise or safety concerns, since local disputes can trigger nuisance complaints even where ownership is technically authorized.
Penalties for Illegally Owning a Coyote in Vermont
Vermont increased penalties for wildlife violations, and the updated fines apply directly to unauthorized possession, not just illegal hunting. According to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, maximum fines have doubled from $1,000 to $2,000 with a potential jail sentence of up to 60 days for the first offense. A repeat violation carries a steeper cost: a second offense now brings a maximum fine of $5,000 and potential jail sentence of up to 180 days. Critically, the department confirms the same penalties also now apply for possessing, transporting, buying wildlife unlawfully — language that covers exactly the scenario of keeping a coyote without a permit.
Beyond fines and jail time, Vermont law allows the state to recover the animal and any related costs. Under § 4709, the Department may dispose of unlawfully possessed or imported wildlife as it may judge best, and the State may collect treble damages from the violator for all expenses incurred. Separate statutory language confirms that anyone convicted of illegally possessing wild animals must also pay, as restitution, into the Fish and Wildlife Fund no more than the following amounts set by the department’s restitution schedule — an added financial penalty layered on top of any court-imposed fine.
Enforcement is not limited to intentional pet owners. Vermont’s hunting regulations note that anyone who assists in a violation faces the same consequences, since a person who drives, transports, scouts, counsels, or otherwise aids another person in a violation, or who knowingly possesses, consumes, or otherwise shares in the proceeds of such a violation, shall be punished as a principal. If you find an injured coyote near a roadway rather than in your yard, it’s worth reviewing our separate guide on roadkill laws in Vermont, since handling wildlife carcasses or injured animals found on the road involves its own set of possession rules.
Important Note: This article summarizes publicly available Vermont statutes and department guidance as a general overview and does not constitute legal advice. Wildlife possession cases can carry criminal exposure, so consult a licensed Vermont attorney before acquiring, housing, or applying for a permit related to any wild animal, including a coyote.
Vermont’s approach to coyote ownership reflects a broader pattern the state applies to native carnivores: possession without a permit is illegal, permits for private ownership are almost never granted, and violations carry real financial and criminal consequences. If you’re weighing whether a similar species might be a legal option, our breakdown of wolf ownership rules in Vermont shows how the state draws a sharper line between pure wolves and wolf-dog hybrids than it does for coyotes, which remain restricted across the board. Before pursuing any path toward keeping a wild animal in Vermont, a direct conversation with the Fish & Wildlife Department is the safest first step.