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://myfwc.com/

Short Summary: Regulations Governing the Importation, Transportation, Sale, and Possesion of Wild Animals - Class I animals (includes panthera cats and cougar and cheetah) 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. New regulations passed in 2009 place cougar and cheetah in Class I. Existing class II facilities with cougars may continue to keep them, but new acquisitions can only be had by class I licensed facilities of 5 acres.

Under a Class II and Class III permit, animals can be kept for pets. Most small cats are listed under Class II. Permits require 1,000 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.

Some felines, such as leopard cats and geoffroys cats are Class III animals. Applicants 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.

UPDATE

April 28, 2010  -  FWC amends captive wildlife rules

http://myfwc.com/NEWSROOM/10/statewide/News_10_X_CaptiveRules2.htm

June 20, 2010

Florida - FWC - proposing changes to Rule 68A-6.003 Facility and Structural Caging Requirement for Class I, II and III Wildlife, requiring new applicants of Class I and Class II wildlife to meet local building codes and zoning codes for facilities and notify the county.  The FWC held workshops in Fort Lauderdale, FL on 6/15/2010, Orlando, FL on 6/16/2010, and in Gainesville, FL on 6/17/2010.