{"data":{"id":"us-va/4vac15-20-50","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"4VAC15-20-50","heading":"Definitions; \"wild animal,\" \"native animal,\" \"naturalized animal,\" \"nonnative (exotic) animal,\" and \"domestic animal\"","body":"A. In accordance with § 29.1-100 of the Code of Virginia, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them by this section when used in regulations of the board:\n\n\"Native animal\" means those species and subspecies of animals naturally occurring in Virginia, as included in the department's 2024 \"List of Native and Naturalized Fauna of Virginia,\" with copies available in the headquarters and regional offices of the department.\n\n\"Naturalized animal\" means those species and subspecies of animals not originally native to Virginia that have established wild, self-sustaining populations, as included in the department's 2024 \"List of Native and Naturalized Fauna of Virginia,\" with copies available in the headquarters and regional offices of the department.\n\n\"Nonnative (exotic) animal\" means those species and subspecies of animals not naturally occurring in Virginia, excluding domestic and naturalized species.\n\nThe following animals are defined as domestic animals:\n\nDomestic dog (Canis familiaris), including wolf hybrids.\n\nDomestic cat (Felis catus), including hybrids with wild felines.\n\nDomestic horse (Equus caballus), including hybrids with Equus asinus.\n\nDomestic ass, burro, and donkey (Equus asinus).\n\nDomestic cattle (Bos taurus and Bos indicus).\n\nDomestic sheep (Ovis aries), including hybrids with wild sheep.\n\nDomestic goat (Capra hircus).\n\nDomestic swine (Sus scrofa), including pot-bellied pig and excluding any swine that are wild or for which no claim of ownership can be made.\n\nLlama (Lama glama).\n\nAlpaca (Lama pacos).\n\nCamels (Camelus bactrianus and Camelus dromedarius).\n\nDomesticated races of hamsters (Mesocricetus spp.).\n\nDomesticated races of mink (Mustela vison) where adults are heavier than 1.15 kilograms or their coat color can be distinguished from wild mink.\n\nDomesticated races of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus).\n\nDomesticated races of gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).\n\nDomesticated races of chinchillas (Chinchilla laniger).\n\nDomesticated races of rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus).\n\nDomesticated races of mice (Mus musculus).\n\nDomesticated breeds of European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc. and any lineage resulting from crossbreeding recognized breeds. A list of recognized rabbit breeds is available on the department's website.\n\nDomesticated races of chickens (Gallus).\n\nDomesticated races of turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo).\n\nDomesticated races of ducks and geese distinguishable morphologically from wild birds.\n\nFeral pigeons (Columba domestica and Columba livia) and domesticated races of pigeons.\n\nDomesticated races of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris).\n\nDomesticated races of peafowl (Pavo cristatus).\n\nDomesticated morphs of red cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus) visibly distinguishable from native red cornsnakes based on their unique colors and patterns.\n\n\"Wild animal\" means any member of the animal kingdom, except domestic animals, including any native, naturalized, or nonnative (exotic) mammal, fish, bird, amphibian, reptile, mollusk, crustacean, arthropod, or other invertebrate and any hybrid of these animals, except as otherwise specified in regulations of the board, or part, product, egg, or offspring of them, or the dead body or parts thereof.\n\nB. Exception for red foxes and European rabbits. Domesticated red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) having coat colors distinguishable from wild red foxes and wild European rabbits possessed in captivity on July 1, 2017, may be maintained in captivity until the animal dies, but the animal may not be bred or sold without a permit from the department. Persons possessing domesticated red foxes or European rabbits without a permit from the department must declare such possession in writing to the department by January 1, 2018. This written declaration must include the number of individual animals in possession and date acquired, sex, estimated age, coloration, and a photograph of each fox or European rabbit. This written declaration (i) shall serve as a permit for possession only and (ii) is not transferable.","path":["Title 4. Conservation And Natural Resources","Agency 15. Department of Wildlife Resources","Chapter 20. Definitions and Miscellaneous: In General"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title4/agency15/chapter20/section50/","current_through":"2026 Regular Session (effective July 1, 2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:45:20Z","sha256":"3328f1894ff0aeff8ee653a4038c12900f45fc76ba8a788857cc9febb6cd15d7","source_id":"us-va-vac","stale":false,"prev":"us-va/4vac15-20-40","next":"us-va/4vac15-20-60"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}