Can You Own a Coyote in Wyoming? Wildlife Laws, Permits, and Penalties Explained

Wyoming law treats coyotes differently than almost any other state in the country. Instead of protecting them as native wildlife, the state classifies Canis latrans as a predatory animal, meaning coyotes can be shot on sight, year-round, with no license and no bag limit. That single classification changes everything about what it means to legally keep one in captivity, and it’s the first thing you need to understand before ever bringing a coyote home.

If you’re wondering whether Wyoming’s famously loose hunting rules for coyotes also mean loose ownership rules, the honest answer is more complicated. This guide walks through how the state defines coyotes, what permits apply, what your enclosure needs to look like, and where local rules or HOA covenants can override state law entirely.

Pro Tip: Before pursuing any coyote ownership permit, call your regional Wyoming Game and Fish office directly. Applications are reviewed case by case, and a phone conversation with a game warden will save you weeks of paperwork on an application that’s unlikely to be approved.

Is It Legal to Own a Coyote in Wyoming

There is no blanket statute in Wyoming that says “you may not own a coyote,” but that doesn’t mean ownership is simple or common. Wyoming Game and Fish Department rules state that prior to importing, possessing or transporting live wildlife in Wyoming, a permit is required. Coyotes fall under that framework as live, warm-blooded wildlife, which puts them squarely in permit territory rather than the “no rules apply” category some hunters assume.

This is different from species Wyoming bans outright. Under state statute, there shall be no private ownership of live animals classified as big or trophy game animals or of any wolf or wolf hybrid. Coyotes aren’t big game or trophy game, so they don’t fall under that absolute prohibition, but they’re also not exempted the way common domestic pets are. If you’re comparing coyotes to another commonly kept wild species, the process looks similar to what’s outlined in our guide on whether it’s legal to own a raccoon in Wyoming, since raccoons share the same predatory animal classification.

In practice, most Wyoming residents who end up with a coyote are wildlife rehabilitators, educators, or research facilities operating under a specific permit rather than casual pet owners. If you’re weighing a coyote against other wild or exotic animals people attempt to keep, our overview of hedgehog ownership laws in Wyoming shows how differently the state treats non-native versus native predatory species.

How Wyoming Classifies Coyotes Under Wildlife Law

Wyoming statute W.S. 23-1-101 spells out exactly where coyotes sit in the state’s wildlife hierarchy. Under the statutory definition, “predatory animal” means coyote, jackrabbit, porcupine, raccoon, red fox, skunk or stray cat, a category that historically also included gray wolves before their partial reclassification. This “predatory animal” label is the single most important fact in this entire discussion, because it strips coyotes of the protections most native wildlife receive.

Coyotes are defined as predatory animals in Wyoming, with no license requirements or stamps required to hunt them and no bag limits, and the only restriction on taking coyotes is that you cannot shoot one from a public road. Compare that to the state’s approach toward trophy game species like elk or its dual-status treatment of wolves, which Wyoming Game and Fish actively monitors and manages with set hunting seasons in designated trophy areas. Coyotes get no such oversight or protection.

Classification	Examples	Ownership Rule
Big or Trophy Game	Elk, deer, moose, bighorn sheep	Private ownership prohibited outright
Wolf / Wolf Hybrid	Gray wolf, wolf-dog crosses	Private ownership prohibited outright
Predatory Animal	Coyote, raccoon, red fox, skunk, jackrabbit	Permit required; case-by-case review
Protected Animal	Black-footed ferret, lynx, wolverine	Possession heavily restricted, special authorization only

This classification also affects animal welfare enforcement. Because coyotes are legally treated as unprotected predators rather than standard wildlife, Wyoming has no animal cruelty laws in place to protect wolves, coyotes and other predators from torture or animal cruelty in a hunting context. That same predator status is part of why potential owners face a permit gate rather than a flat “no,” since the state still wants oversight of where these animals end up and how they’re kept. If you want to see how this predator designation plays out in the field, our breakdown of coyote hunting laws in Wyoming covers the hunting side of this same statute in more depth.

Permits and Licensing Requirements for Coyote Ownership in Wyoming

Wyoming’s live wildlife possession system runs through what’s known as a Chapter 10 permit, formally titled the Importation and Possession of Live Warm-Blooded Wildlife regulation. According to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission’s Chapter 10 text, a permit is required prior to importation, possession and transportation for warm-blooded wildlife unless the species is specifically exempted. Coyotes are not on the exemption list, so this is the permit path any prospective owner needs to follow.

Here’s how the application process generally works:

1. Contact your local game warden. Applications should be submitted to a regional office or game warden for initial approval before anything moves forward.
2. Complete the Chapter 10 application in full. Incomplete forms are returned without review, so every field needs an answer or an “N/A.”
3. Describe your holding facility. You’ll need to detail exactly where and how the coyote will be housed, including physical address and enclosure specifications.
4. Wait for case-by-case review. Each application to possess live wildlife is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, so there’s no guaranteed approval timeline or outcome.
5. Confirm local compliance. Applicants must affirm the proposed possession doesn’t violate county, municipal, or other local laws or covenants.

It’s worth noting that ordinary pets are treated very differently. Common pets such as domestic varieties of dogs, cats, gerbils, hamsters, mice, rats, guinea pigs and ferrets are exempted from Wyoming Game and Fish Commission regulations entirely, which is why comparing a coyote to something like the requirements in our goat ownership laws in Wyoming guide can be misleading. Livestock and common companion animals sit in a completely different regulatory lane than a wildlife species carrying a Chapter 10 designation.

Important Note: Commercial use changes the permit requirement too. All non-game wildlife used for any type of commercial use requires a Chapter 10 permit for possession, so even someone hoping to display a coyote at an educational event needs authorization first.

Enclosure and Care Requirements in Wyoming

Assuming a Chapter 10 application clears the initial review stage, the enclosure itself becomes the next hurdle. Wyoming Administrative Code lays out what the Department is looking for when it inspects a proposed holding facility for any predatory animal permit.

Specifically, the Department reviews the applicant’s proposed holding facilities considering the species applied for, the number of animals requested, the welfare of the animals, the purpose for which they’ll be held, and whether the facility adequately protects Wyoming’s wildlife resources and human health and safety, and those facilities must meet Department approval before any importation or possession occurs. In other words, you can’t build the enclosure after getting the permit. Approval has to come first.

Practical considerations for anyone attempting to meet these standards include:

• Secure, escape-proof fencing. Coyotes are agile climbers and diggers, so enclosures typically need buried perimeter fencing and overhead containment.
• Separation from public access. Facilities need to minimize contact between the animal and the public, particularly given rabies and other zoonotic disease concerns.
• Veterinary documentation. A certificate of veterinary inspection is often expected before a permit is finalized.
• Adequate space and enrichment. The Department’s welfare review considers whether the facility supports the animal’s physical and behavioral needs, not just containment.

Coyotes are also opportunistic and highly food-motivated animals in the wild, a trait documented in our piece on what animals eat coyotes and their broader place in Wyoming’s food chain. That same drive makes secure feeding protocols and predator-proof storage a practical necessity for any captive enclosure, not just a regulatory checkbox.

Local Laws and HOA Restrictions That May Apply in Wyoming

State-level permit approval is only half the picture. Wyoming Game and Fish is explicit that while the Department may allow the possession or importation of various wildlife species, local laws, ordinances, and covenants may be more restrictive, and it is the owner’s responsibility to comply with all local laws, ordinances and covenants before importing or possessing live wildlife. A state permit does not override a city ordinance or a homeowners association rule.

This layered approach shows up in other Wyoming animal ownership contexts too. Just as rooster crowing laws in Wyoming vary significantly by municipality despite roosters being legal statewide, coyote possession can be permitted by the state and still prohibited by your town or county. Before investing time in a Chapter 10 application, check with:

• Your city or county planning and zoning office
• Your county health department, particularly regarding rabies vector species rules
• Your subdivision’s HOA covenants, if applicable
• Your homeowner’s insurance provider, since exotic or wild animal ownership can affect coverage

Many rural Wyoming counties have far fewer restrictions than incorporated cities, which is one reason most successful predatory animal permits are issued to applicants on large, unincorporated acreage. If you’re researching which species carry meaningful risk in these settings, our roundup of dangerous animals in Wyoming is a useful companion read for understanding how coyotes compare to other wildlife encountered across the state.

Penalties for Illegally Owning a Coyote in Wyoming

Possessing a coyote without the required Chapter 10 permit puts you in violation of Wyoming Game and Fish Commission regulations governing live warm-blooded wildlife. Because the permit system exists specifically to protect both public safety and the welfare of the animal, unpermitted possession is something game wardens actively investigate rather than overlook.

Consequences for unauthorized possession of a coyote or other regulated predatory animal can include:

• Confiscation of the animal by Wyoming Game and Fish personnel, who may relocate or euthanize the coyote depending on its condition and history of human contact
• Misdemeanor citations under Title 23 game and fish violations
• Denial of future permit applications, since a prior violation is part of the case-by-case review process
• Additional local penalties if the possession also violates a municipal ordinance or health department rule

Important Note: This article summarizes publicly available Wyoming Game and Fish Department regulations and statutes for general informational purposes. It is not legal advice. Wildlife possession rules change and are applied case by case, so confirm current requirements with your regional Wyoming Game and Fish office or a licensed attorney before acting on anything here.

A coyote that’s been raised around people also becomes a liability question, not just a legal one. An animal that’s been fed, handled, or half-tamed near a road or trail creates the same category of risk covered in our guide to roadkill laws in Wyoming, where human-wildlife interaction on public roads carries its own set of legal consequences separate from possession rules.

If you’re set on learning more about coyotes as a species before pursuing any kind of permit, our general coyote profile covers their biology, range, and behavior across Wyoming and the broader West. Understanding what you’d actually be taking on, both legally and practically, is the most useful step before filing a single application.