Bill > HB251

This bill allows individuals to own raccoons and gray squirrels as companion animals under specific conditions, namely when a wildlife rehabilitation facility determines the animal cannot survive in the wild. The animals must be up to date on required vaccines, and owners who cannot meet these requirements may be subject to a fine set by the fish and game commission. The bill explicitly prohibits trapping, breeding, and selling these animals, but provides an exception for individuals who have relocated from a state where keeping such animals is legal, allowing them to retain their existing raccoon or gray squirrel. The legislation requires that the animals will not be confiscated or euthanized without the owner's permission. The bill will take effect on January 1, 2026, and is expected to result in some additional administrative costs for the Fish and Game Department to develop a tracking and reporting system for these animals, with estimated expenditures between $10,000 and $100,000 per year.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0256&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB251