Massachusetts has some of the strictest wildlife ownership laws in the United States, and squirrels sit right at the center of that legal landscape. If you’ve ever spotted a gray squirrel bounding across a Boston park and wondered whether you could keep one at home, the short answer is: almost certainly not — at least not that species.
The Bay State takes a fundamentally different approach to exotic and wild animals than most other states. Rather than publishing a long list of banned species, Massachusetts regulators publish only what you may possess, rather than what you may not. That single distinction shapes everything about how you need to research squirrel ownership here, and this guide walks you through exactly where the legal lines fall.
Is It Legal to Own a Squirrel in Massachusetts?
The direct answer depends entirely on which species you have in mind. Squirrels, being wild animals, fall under specific regulations that generally prohibit their ownership as pets. Under Massachusetts law, it is illegal to keep native wildlife, including squirrels, as pets without the appropriate permits.
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) says possessing a pet squirrel in the Bay State without a license is illegal. MassWildlife considers squirrels a “game species” subject to regulated hunting seasons and management programs. That classification carries real legal weight: game species are managed for conservation, not kept as companion animals…