If you’ve watched a coyote trot through a Seattle greenbelt or a Spokane backyard and wondered whether you could legally raise one as a pet, the short answer is no. Washington law closes off private coyote ownership through several overlapping statutes, not just one simple rule.
Understanding why matters, especially if you’re weighing a hand-raised pup, a rescue situation, or just curious about the legal boundaries around wildlife in your state. Below, you’ll find exactly how Washington classifies coyotes, who is allowed to hold one under narrow exceptions, and what happens if someone tries to keep one anyway.
Is It Legal to Own a Coyote in Washington
Private coyote ownership is illegal in Washington under state law, full stop. It is illegal in Washington to own animals that pose a risk of rabies infection, and this includes bats, skunks, foxes, raccoons, and coyotes. That prohibition alone would be enough to block private ownership, but it isn’t the only barrier.
The specific rule codifying this is WAC 246-100-197, titled “Rabies – Measures to prevent human disease,” and beyond the rabies-based prohibition, it is also illegal to possess wild animals in Washington, with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife serving as the relevant authority on that separate law. In other words, even if the rabies rule didn’t exist, the state’s general wild animal law would still stand in the way…