PRINTER'S NO. 708
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.692
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY ZIMMERMAN, HAMM, KAUFFMAN, ROWE AND GILLEN,
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, FEBRUARY 21, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in permits relating to wildlife, further providing
for definitions.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definition of "exotic wildlife" in section
2961 of Title 34 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is
amended to read:
§ 2961. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Exotic wildlife." [ The phrase includes, but is not limited
to, all bears, coyotes, lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars,
cheetahs, cougars, wolves and any crossbreed of these animals
which have similar characteristics in appearance or features.
The definition is applicable whether or not the birds or animals
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18 were bred or reared in captivity or imported from another state
or nation.] As follows:
(1) The term includes all nonindigenous animals and the
following, regardless of whether the animal is bred or reared
in captivity or imported from another state or nation:
(i) All members of the order Primates (nonhuman
primates).
(ii) All members of the family Ursidae (bears).
(iii) Members of the following species:
(A) Canis latrans (coyotes).
(B) Canis lupus (gray wolves).
(C) Canis rufus (red wolves).
(D) Felis rufus (bobcats).
(E) Panthera leo (lions).
(F) Panthera tigris (tigers).
(G) Panthera pardus (leopards).
(H) Panthera uncia (snow leopards).
(I) Neofelis nebulosa (clouded leopards).
(J) Panthera onca (jaguars).
(K) Acinonyx jubatus (cheetahs).
(L) Felis concolor (cougars).
(iv) Any crossbreed of an animal specified in
subparagraph (iii) which have similar characteristics in
appearance or features.
(2) The term does not include any of the following:
(i) Any member of the class Aves (birds).
(ii) Any member of the following families:
(A) Equidae (horses, asses and zebras).
(B) Camelidae (camels, alpacas and llamas).
(C) Cervidae (deer, moose and elk).
20250HB0692PN0708 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30 (D) Bovidae (wild cattle and spiral-horned
antelopes).
(E) Muridae (rats and mice).
(F) Chinchillidae (chinchillas and viscachas).
(G) Leporidae (rabbits and hares).
(H) Erinaceidae (hedgehogs and moonrats).
(I) Petauridae (gliders and striped possums).
(iii) Any member of the species Mustela furo
(domestic ferrets).
(iv) Any member of the species Cavia porcellus
(domestic guinea pigs).
(v) Any domestic animal, as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. §
5531 (relating to definitions).
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250HB0692PN0708 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15