Alberta has an official list of animals that are controlled. There are strict regulations on what can be a pet without permits or special permissions.
Municipalities may also have additional restrictions and regulations through bylaws.
Can you own a pet rat in Alberta?
It is illegal to own a rat in Alberta.
Alberta is famous for it’s anti-rat policies. It is one of the most rat free regions of the world.
In Part 1: Mammals, top of page 6, of the Alberta Controlled Animals list, you will find ”True Rats (Genus Rattus)”. You will also find other rat and mouse-like species in this document.
You can read more about Alberta’s Rat Free policies here.
In Summary
- You can not legally own a rat in Alberta.
- Alberta is famous for being a rat free region of the world. Decades of actively poisoning and trapping rats has kept rats away.
- You can refer to the controlled animals list to determine which animals you can legally keep as pets in Alberta.
- There are other animals you can own in Alberta that are considered exotic pets.
