Florida Regulations on Wild and Exotic Felines

Game and Fresh Water Fish Department
620 South Meridian St.
Tallahassee, Fl 32399
904-488-1960

State Web Site: http://www.state.fl.us/
Department Web Site: http://www.floridaconservation.org/

Short Summary: Regulations Governing the Importation, Transportation, Sale, and Possesion of Wild Animals - Class I animals (includes panthera cats) can not be kept for personal use - must be commercial exhibitors. Class I permit requires 1 year and 1000 hours experience, details of experience and place acquired and 2 references. Documented educational experience in zoology or other relevant biological sciences, obtained at the college or technical school level or above, may substitute for up to six months or 500 hours of the required experience. The Class I permit applicant still has to prove another documented 500 hours or 6 months, if they have the Biological Sciences qualifications.

Class I animal permits applied for after July 1, 2000 require that facilities for Class I animals must be constructed on properties of not less than 5 acres in size. New state law passed in 2007 requires all Class I holders to have $2,000,000 liability insurance or $10,000 cash bond to cover the cost of recapture of escaped animal.

Under a Class II and Class III permit, animals can be kept for pets. Class II permits require 1,000 hours experience, or 100 hours experience and successful completion of a test. Class II and Class III wildlife shall not be possessed in multi-unit dwellings unless the dwelling in which they are housed is equipped with private entrance, exit, and yard area.

Class II permits for cougar, applied for after July 1, 2000, require that facilities for cougars must be constructed on properties of not less than 2 acres in size.

Applicants for a Class III animals must be at least 16 years of age and shall require the satisfactory completion of a questionnaire developed by the Commission that assesses the applicant's knowledge of general husbandry, nutritional, and behavioral characteristics. All permits require adherence to structural cage requirements.