Can You Own a Raccoon in West Virginia? Permit, Enclosure, and Penalties

Owning a raccoon in West Virginia is legal if you first obtain a pet-keeping permit from the Division of Natural Resources, acquired the animal through a lawful channel, and house it in an enclosure that meets state minimums. The permit costs $2 and is issued under West Virginia Code §20-2-51. Skip it and you are in misdemeanor territory, because raccoons are wildlife under state law and possessing wildlife without specific authorization violates §20-2-4.¹

The Permit You Need

The director of the WVDNR may issue a permit to keep a wild animal in captivity as a pet. The statute allows the permit only when the animal was acquired from a commercial dealer or during the legal open season for the species. The fee is $2.²

You cannot legally possess the raccoon before the permit is issued. A raccoon found in the yard, an orphaned kit taken from the woods, or an animal handed off by a neighbor does not satisfy either statutory channel, and keeping one on that basis is unlawful possession no matter how the animal came to you.

Legal Ways to Acquire the Animal

There are two paths, and in practice only one is realistic.

Buying from a commercial dealer is the straightforward route. A seller offering raccoons should hold a federal Animal Welfare Act license, typically a Class A (breeder) or Class B (dealer) license from USDA APHIS. Ask for the license number before you buy, and keep the receipt or bill of sale, because WVDNR will want proof of legal acquisition when you apply.³

The statute also allows a permit for an animal acquired during the legal open season.² In practice this path is complicated. Hunting and trapping rules are built around harvest, not live capture, and the published regulations do not specifically authorize keeping a live-caught raccoon as a pet. Call WVDNR before attempting it.⁴

Enclosure Standards

The state’s administrative rules set minimum cage dimensions, and meeting them is part of the permit process rather than a suggestion.⁵

One raccoon: 6 feet long by 5 feet wide by 6 feet high.
Two or three raccoons: 8 feet long by 5 feet wide by 6 feet high.
Each additional animal beyond three: add 2 feet of length.

Every enclosure must also include a roofed shelter or nest box, one resting shelf per animal, and at least two climbing limbs. These are floors, not generous accommodations. A raccoon is roughly the size of a medium dog, highly active, and highly intelligent, and animals kept in cramped space tend to become destructive and aggressive.

Applying for the Permit

The application goes to WVDNR and should include your name, address, contact information, proof of legal acquisition, and a description of your enclosure showing it meets the caging standards. The $2 fee is set by statute.²

Expect an inspection. A Natural Resources Police Officer may visit before the permit is approved to check cage dimensions, the strength of locks and construction, and the presence of the required shelter and climbing accessories. An escaped captive raccoon is a public safety matter, and inspections reflect that.

Penalties for Keeping One Without a Permit

Possessing a raccoon without the permit violates §20-2-4.¹ Because that section carries no specific penalty, the general wildlife penalty provision applies:⁶

Fines of $20 to $300 per offense.
Jail time of 10 to 100 days.
A judge may impose both.

These are misdemeanor penalties. Separately, any wildlife held illegally is forfeited to the state, which means WVDNR can confiscate the animal.¹

Health Risks That Should Shape the Decision

Rabies and the Vaccine Gap

Raccoons are one of the primary rabies vector species in the United States, and no rabies vaccine is licensed for use in wild animals, including raccoons. Some veterinarians will administer an off-label dog or cat vaccine, but the CDC states that vaccination history “may not preclude euthanasia and testing” if a bite occurs.⁷

If your raccoon bites someone, health authorities may require euthanasia and testing regardless of what shots the animal received. There is no quarantine-and-observe protocol for raccoons comparable to the one for dogs and cats. Bites from raccoons should be reported to local health departments, and for wild mammals that have not been vaccinated, the CDC recommendation is euthanasia.⁷

Raccoon Roundworm

Raccoons are the primary host for Baylisascaris procyonis, a parasitic roundworm whose eggs are shed in raccoon feces by the millions. Eggs become infectious after two to four weeks in the environment and can survive for years in soil. Human cases are rare, with fewer than 25 neurological cases documented in the U.S. as of 2018, but the infections that occur tend to be severe, and six of those patients died.⁸ Young children face the highest risk because of hand-to-mouth contact with contaminated soil or surfaces.

Crossing State Lines

Your West Virginia permit has no force outside West Virginia. The federal Lacey Act prohibits transporting any wildlife possessed or acquired in violation of state law.⁹ Drive your raccoon into a state where private possession is illegal, and you add a federal violation to whatever the destination state charges. Even states that allow raccoon ownership generally require their own separate permits. If you plan to move or travel with the animal, confirm the destination’s laws and secure the paperwork before you go.

Practical Realities Before You Apply

The $2 permit is the cheap part. Finding a veterinarian willing to treat a raccoon is harder, because most small-animal vets have no raccoon training and will decline. You will likely need an exotic animal vet, which in parts of West Virginia means a long drive.

Standard homeowner’s policies typically exclude liability for injuries caused by exotic or wild animals. If your raccoon bites a neighbor or guest, you may be personally liable for medical bills and damages with no insurance behind you. Specialty exotic animal liability policies exist, but they are expensive and limited in availability.

Raccoons are intelligent and nocturnal, and they tend to become more aggressive after sexual maturity around one year of age. Many owners who raise a kit find the animal unmanageable within 18 months. Wildlife rehabilitation centers in West Virginia are not required to take surrendered pet raccoons, and a hand-raised animal often cannot be released into the wild. A pet raccoon can live 10 to 15 years, so plan for that full span before you apply.

1
West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 20-2-4 – Possession of Wildlife
2
West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 20-2-51 – Permit for Keeping Pets
3
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Apply for an Animal Welfare License or Registration
4
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary 2025-2026
5
Cornell Law Institute. West Virginia Code of State Rules 58-64, Appendix A
6
West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 20-7-9
7
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Information for Veterinarians
8
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How Raccoon Roundworm Spreads
9
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Lacey Act