Louisiana man shocked after losing pet possum Saffron

Over Mardi Gras weekend, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in the French Quarter confiscated a pet possum named Saffron from its owner.

Now, the pet owner has filed a petition in hopes of getting his beloved possum back.

Can I keep a possum as a pet in Louisiana?

Louisiana has strict laws and regulations regarding owning wild and exotic animals as pets.

Keeping wild or exotic animals as pets is not permitted.

However, in certain circumstances, the Director of the Animal Control and Rescue Center may issue a temporary permit to an individual caring for an injured or young wild animal.

So what is considered a wild or exotic pet in Louisiana?

Looking at Louisiana's pet laws, things are crystal clear when it comes to what is legally considered a wild or exotic animal.

These laws may also vary slightly from parish to parish.

Let's take a look at how Shreveport's wild and exotic pets are considered by law.

From lasc.libguides.com –

“Section 14-6. – Keeping wild, exotic, or ferocious animals.

For the purposes of this section, we designate the following as wild or exotic animals: tigers, lions, cougars, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, lynx, bobcats, bears, wolves, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, venomous snakes, and Komodo dragons. , African buffalo, hyena, coyote, deer, crocodile, crocodile, any crocodile, including but not limited to gharial, other non-human primate species, raccoon, skunk, squirrel, fox, ratite, wolf, coyote, or Jackals, a hybrid breed consisting of wolves, are bred with domestic dogs, and ocelots or margays are bred with domestic cats. ”

In some parishes, you can apply for a permit to legally own a wild exotic pet.

Save Saffron the Pet Possum

Last Mardi Gras weekend, New Orleans possum owner William Boyles had his pet possum Saffron confiscated by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in the French Quarter.

To say Boyles is devastated would be an understatement.

Because Boyles did not have legal permission to own the saffron, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries confiscated it.

William Boyles told WGNO:

“I miss him. I caught him before his eyes opened, it's like having a newborn child.

I wasn't trying to break the law when I caught him. His mother had just been hit by a car and he was no bigger than my thumb, so I was trying to save his life. ”

Boyles has started a petition on change.org in hopes of getting her beloved pet possum Saffron back.

He told WGNO: “I want my saffron back. I hope the petition gets enough signatures.”

the current, “Save Saffron the Opossum” The petition has 1,534 signatures, just under 1,000 signatures short of the new goal of 2,500 signatures.

If you would like to sign the petition to reunite William Boyles and Saffron, please sign the petition. here.

WGNO reports that the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries also seized several snakes from the French Quarter over the Mardi Gras weekend.

For more information, please visit WGNO.com.