You cannot own a raccoon in Oregon as a pet. State law treats all wildlife as property of the state, and since January 2017 private individuals have been barred from acquiring, buying, or keeping raccoons in their homes. One narrow exception protects people who legally owned a raccoon before that cutoff. Getting caught with an illegal raccoon carries fines up to $2,000, and the animal will almost certainly be seized.1Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Revised Statute ORS 498.029 – Purchase, Sale or Exchange of Fox, Skunk or Raccoon Prohibited
How the Ban Works
Two layers of Oregon law shut the door on pet raccoons. ORS 498.002 declares all wildlife the property of the state and makes it illegal to possess any wildlife in violation of state wildlife laws.2Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Revised Statute ORS 498.002 – Wildlife as State Property ORS 498.029 goes further and specifically prohibits anyone from offering a raccoon for sale, trade, barter, or exchange as a household pet. The same statute covers foxes and skunks.1Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Revised Statute ORS 498.029 – Purchase, Sale or Exchange of Fox, Skunk or Raccoon Prohibited
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife carries this out through OAR 635-044, which regulates who may hold live raccoons and confirms that new private possession has been closed off since January 2017.3Oregon Secretary of State Administrative Rules. Department of Fish and Wildlife Chapter 635 Division 44 635-044-0470 – Grandfathering the Possession of Black Bear, Cougar, Bobcat, Wolf, Raccoon, Skunk, Squirrel, Chipmunk and Other Non-game Wildlife Species Legally Held as Pets
In practical terms, you cannot buy a raccoon from a breeder, take one in as a gift, capture one from the wild, or bring one from another state and keep it at home.
The Pre-2017 Grandfathering Exception
If you legally owned a specific raccoon in Oregon before January 20, 2017, you may keep that animal for the rest of its life under OAR 635-044-0470. The right does not transfer to any new raccoon, and once the grandfathered animal dies, the permission ends.3Oregon Secretary of State Administrative Rules. Department of Fish and Wildlife Chapter 635 Division 44 635-044-0470 – Grandfathering the Possession of Black Bear, Cougar, Bobcat, Wolf, Raccoon, Skunk, Squirrel, Chipmunk and Other Non-game Wildlife Species Legally Held as Pets
To qualify, an owner must meet all of these conditions:
- Documentation showing the raccoon was legally obtained, such as a valid sales receipt, a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection with an Oregon Department of Agriculture import permit, or an agency transfer of ownership permit, plus a signed, notarized affidavit to ODFW explaining how the animal was acquired.
- An enclosure meeting the minimum requirements in the Oregon Enclosure and Caging Standards for Holding Wildlife. Facilities had to be compliant by January 21, 2018.
- No breeding. If an owner holds two raccoons of opposite sex, one must be sterilized by a licensed veterinarian, with written documentation of the procedure.
- A valid ODFW wildlife holding permit, renewed before it expires.
Penalties for Illegal Possession
Possessing a raccoon in violation of ORS 498.029 is a Class A violation, which under Oregon law is a civil infraction rather than a criminal offense. No jail time can be imposed, and a conviction does not create a legal disability based on a criminal record.4Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Revised Statute ORS 153.008 – Violations Procedure
The maximum fine for a Class A violation committed by an individual is $2,000. For a business or corporation, the ceiling is $4,000.5Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Revised Statute ORS 153.018 – Maximum Fines
The Raccoon Gets Seized
Enforcement officers can seize any wildlife possessed in violation of state law without a warrant. Once seized, the raccoon is forfeited to the State Fish and Wildlife Commission by court order, and the commission has broad discretion over what happens next.6Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Revised Statute ORS 496.675 and ORS 496.680 – Seizure and Forfeiture of Wildlife A raccoon habituated to humans often cannot be safely released, so the animal may be placed with a licensed facility or euthanized.
Federal Charges for Bringing One In
Bringing a raccoon into Oregon from another state when the animal is held in violation of state law can trigger federal charges under the Lacey Act, which prohibits interstate transport of wildlife possessed in violation of any state law. A knowing violation involving a sale or purchase over $350 is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000. Negligent violations carry misdemeanor penalties of up to a year and fines up to $100,000, and civil penalties can reach $10,000 per violation.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 16 U.S. Code 3373 – Penalties and Sanctions
Who Can Legally Hold a Raccoon in Oregon
Oregon does not issue permits for private individuals to acquire a new raccoon, and no application process exists for pet ownership. Certain organizations can hold raccoons with permission from the State Fish and Wildlife Commission. ORS 498.029 allows transfers to a public park, zoo, museum, or educational institution for educational, medical, scientific, or exhibition purposes when the organization holds a valid commission permit. The commission can deny the permit if the applicant lacks facilities adequate to keep the animal healthy, safe, and unable to escape.1Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Revised Statute ORS 498.029 – Purchase, Sale or Exchange of Fox, Skunk or Raccoon Prohibited
Licensed wildlife rehabilitators can also hold raccoons temporarily while treating injuries or caring for orphaned young. They work under separate ODFW permits and are trained to minimize human contact so the animal can be returned to the wild.
What to Do If You Find a Raccoon
If you come across a raccoon that seems injured, sick, or orphaned, do not try to handle or confine it. A frightened raccoon can bite and scratch, and even brief contact creates a rabies exposure risk that means expensive post-exposure treatment. Taking the animal in also puts you on the wrong side of Oregon’s possession laws, regardless of your intentions.
Call your local ODFW office or a state-licensed wildlife rehabilitator instead. ODFW maintains a list of licensed rehabilitators on its website and recommends calling before moving any wildlife.8Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. ODFW FAQ About Injured and Young Wildlife Rehabilitators can assess whether the animal actually needs help. Baby raccoons found alone are often simply waiting for their mother.