What Pets are Legal in Boise

Do you have any pets that you consider family? If you are thinking of relocating to the Treasure Valley, specifically the Boise area (which is a great place to live!), and you are a true animal lover, it is important to know which animals you can and can’t have inside of of your home prior to bringing them with you. Since Boise is an animal friendly city, many animals are permitted within the city limits; however, each category of animal species has their own personal limitations that you need to be aware of. Continue reading to find out more!

Birds- When it comes to these feathered creatures, domesticated birds are always welcome, such as parakeets and parrots, such as parrots, parakeets, and canaries. If you are raising any chickens, you can have up to three “pet” hens in the yard, but no roosters are allowed. Other types of birds that are not permitted within the city limits are: all birds of prey (including falcons and peregrines, falcons, eagles, and owls), cassowaries (from the tropical forests of New Guinea and Australia), cranes of any kind, flamingos, herons, hornbills (which are found in Asia and Africa), ostriches, and any type of penguin (yes, they can be cute and fluffy, but they are still not allowed).

Mammals- Many domesticated mammals, such as dogs, cats, domestic mice and rats, gerbils, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, ferrets, squirrels, and hamsters are allowed inside Boise homes. However, the following mammals are still prohibited from being in the city limits: aardvarks, non-human primates (for example, apes and monkeys), all members of the insectivora category (which includes shrews and moles, but again there is the exception of hedgehogs), any marine animal (this includes dolphins, seals, and whales), all hoofed animals (with the exception of domesticated farm or pack animals, for example, cows, pigs, alpacas, and horses), any marsupials such as kangaroos and platypuses (this is with the exception of sugar gliders, the Virginia opossum, and bettongs, also known as rat-kangaroos which are native to Australia), rodents that have not mentioned above (such as non-domestic rats and mice), non-domesticated dogs and cats (like wolves and mountain lions), all members of the Procyonidae family with the exception of Idahoan raccoons (these include cacomistles and coatis which are native to northern forests as well as tropical forests), all members of the Mustelidae family besides ferrets (this includes otters, weasels, badgers, minks, and wolverines), all members of the Hyaenidae order which includes aardwolves and hyenas (which are native to Africa, southwest Asia, and India), and all members of the Viverridae family which includes meerkats, civets, and linsangs (which are mainly from small island countries).

Insects- Some of us may like to have bugs as pets (even though many others only think of them as pests). The insects that are not allowed in the city limits include all those that have been listed as agricultural pests by the Idaho Department of Agriculture as well as the USDA (which is used to help protect over 144 different commodities and agricultural products!). These include, but are not limited to Apple maggots, Cereal leaf beetles, Emerald Ash Borer, European pine shoot moths, Japanese beetles, Asian Longhorn beetles, Mexican bean beetles, and Asian and European Gypsy moths.

Reptiles- If you are a reptile lover, here are some of the scaly creatures that are not allowed within the city limits: anacondas, all members of the Crocodilla order (this means all crocodiles and alligators), sea turtles of any kind (whether it be the famous Galapagos tortoises or the Aldabra tortoises which are native to the islands of Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles), venomous snakes from the Elapids family with the exception of North American species like coral snakes (this is as long as they are housed according to state guidelines; other snakes from this family that are not allowed include but are not limited to cobras, mambas, and black snakes), and venomous snakes from the Viperids family which is also with the exception of North American species including but not limiwild-caught bearded lizards and Gila monsters, Komodo dragons, ted to copperheads, rattlesnakes, and cottonmouths (so long as they are also housed under state guidelines (others that are prohibited from this family are the common adder, moccasins, and the European viper).

As seen above, any basic domestic house pets are perfectly acceptable to keep under your roof. If you’re in the more rural outer rim of Boise, you can even have the standard farm and pack animals which are also fine within the limits. They weren’t mentioned before, but aquariums to hold smaller fish as well as frogs and small turtles are also acceptable.

If you have any doubts as to bringing your pets here, you should know that Boise has many laws that protect animals; they are designed to prevent animal cruelty. For instance, there are no non-commercial kennels that are permitted. These can be defined as either a lot, premises, or portion of land that contains four or more cats, dogs, or any other combination of these that are harbored, possessed, maintained, bred, and/or cared for.

If there is any moment where you may encounter a wild or potentially dangerous animal on your property, call the local Animal Control officers. They are authorized to place humane animal traps on public as well as private properties with the owner’s permission. In no time, they will be able to safely capture the creature, and you can get back to your everyday activities like nothing happened!

Hopefully, this list has given you a clear understanding of what is and is not allowed within the city limits. You can now enjoy the comforts of Boise living either by yourself or with your favorite animal friend. If you have any other questions as to what may or may not be allowed in the area, feel free to contact the Hughes Real Estate Group for information; their number is (208) 571-7145.

Sources:

https://www.buyidahorealestate.com/blog/what-kind-of-animals-can-i-keep-in-idaho.html

http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/cassowary

http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/hornbill

http://www.nhptv.org/wild/insectivora.asp

https://www.bushheritage.org.au/species/bettongs

http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Procyonidae/

https://www.britannica.com/animal/mustelid

http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Hyaenidae/

https://www.britannica.com/animal/viverrid

https://agri.idaho.gov/main/plants/regulated-and-invasive-insect-pests/

https://www.britannica.com/animal/elapid

https://www.britannica.com/animal/viper-snake