The Alberta provincial government maintains a list of animals that are restricted or controlled. It is broken down by type, species and genus.
A controlled animal is one that can’t be owned at all, or only in special cases like zoos or research.
There was a time a few decades ago that hedgehogs were illegal in Alberta.
But what about now? Is it legal to have a pet hedgehog in Alberta?
Can you own pet hedgehogs in Alberta?
You can legally own a hedgehog in Alberta.
They are not currently listed on the Alberta Controlled Animals Document.
Each province makes its own rules on this. Some provinces allow hedgehog ownership, and some don’t.
Keep in mind that each municipality in Alberta may make their own bylaws and regulations over and above the provincial rules. Check with your local authorities to make sure hedgehogs are legal there, but but you are generally fine in most cities and towns in Alberta.
Of course a private property owner may also have restrictions. Your landlord for example, can have animal policies.
See our list of other exotic pets that you can own as a pet in Alberta called What Exotic Pets Can You Legally Own in Alberta?
In Summary
- You can legally own a pet hedgehog in Alberta, Canada. They are not currently listed on the Alberta controlled animals list
- They used to be restricted in the 1990s
- Each province has their own laws on this. Not every Canadian province allows for hedgehog ownership
