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The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking to inform and educate the public about certain species that are “restricted live wildlife" which cannot be imported, exported, or possessed without a special license or lawful exception.

The issue has arisen because of recent cases in the Tucson area involving possession of Gila monsters, among the most common restricted live wildlife. Other common species include skunks, hedgehogs, deer, Gambels quail, snapping turtles, clawed frogs, alligators, and piranhas.

See http://www.azgfd.gov/eservices/special_licenses/pdfs/rules/R12-4-406.pdf for the complete list of restricted live wildlife in Arizona. .

“Different species are on the list for different reasons. Either they pose a public safety threat, they are native wildlife, commercial trade has or may impact population numbers, or they pose a danger and/or disease transmission risk to native wildlife, livestock, pets, or humans,” said Regional Supervisor Raul Vega of Game and Fish in Tucson.

Monkeys are a special case. The only primates on the restricted live wildlife list are the great apes, which are orangutans, chimpanzees, and gorillas. Therefore, it is lawful to own any other species of primate.

However, by state law, a legal primate must be confined to the owner's private property, and transported by the owner only by cage, crate, or carrier. In addition, the legal owner of a primate may only transport it to or from a licensed veterinarian, into or out of the state for lawful purposes, or within the state to complete a lawful sale. Human contact is strictly regulated to prevent public safety issues.