It's perfectly legal to have a wallaby, a two-toed sloth or an African pygmy hedgehog for a pet in Montana, but don't even think about keeping a walking catfish or a cobra.

Chances are you probably won't be able to own a green anaconda and African rock python, or any giant constrictor snake, for that matter, as well as a gorilla, an orangutan, a crocodile, an alligator, or quagga mussels.

However, pacman frogs and dwarf tree frogs, as well as the emperor and Tanzanian red claw scorpions, just might be deemed legal to own and sell in Montana.

These species are included in an ongoing effort to classify exotic wildlife in Montana, as part of legislation passed in 2003. In the next few weeks, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission is accepting comments on a slew of species that people have requested to bring into Montana, or that officials think need classification.

The import, possession and sale of exotic species is regulated in order to minimize the potential health and safety risks that these species may present to humans, wildlife, livestock and agriculture, notes Tim Feldner, manager of commercial wildlife permitting for FWP.

A group composed of representatives of various state agencies and the public takes the initial look at the potential dangers posed in Montana by various species.

"They look at things like whether the species could survive in Montana, if it would cross-breed or compete for habitat with native wildlife; or if it would pose a health problem for native species or humans," Feldner said. "The committee comes up with a recommendation and that goes to the (FWP) commission.

"... You would be surprised what people want for pets."

Not every addition to the list is as a pet, he added. Some species are brought into Montana unknowingly, like the dreaded zebra mussels, which are a relative of the quagga mussels. The mussels grow in dense colonies by clinging to hard surfaces and not only clog pipelines and damage machinery such as boat engines, but they also may permanently alter a lake's ecosystem.

Species are classified as non-controlled, controlled or prohibited, with controlled species needing annual permits and most species needing import permits.

"Two frog families and two scorpion species were tentatively approved as noncontrolled and the commission tentatively approved adding Old World monkeys, giant constrictor snakes, alligators and crocodiles, quagga mussels and three exotic fish species to the list of species prohibited from being brought into Montana," said Eileen Ryce, FWP's aquatic nuisance species coordinator.

Feldner uses an incident last August, which involved a 5-foot alligator that was pulled out of a children's fishing pond near Kalispell, as a good reason to keep track of exotic species. He notes that sometimes people tire of a pet, or it outgrows their home, and they release it to the wild.

"The alligator got shot with an arrow, was hooked a couple of times and some guy finally wrestled it out of the water," Feldner said. "So there were a lot of humane issues regarding that."

A public meeting will be held at 7 p.m. May 30 at the FWP headquarters in Helena to discuss the species up for consideration. In addition, the FWP Commission also will consider approving a $25 fee to obtain or renew a permit to possess a controlled species. A tentative fee of $100 to obtain or renew a permit to sell, breed, or exchange a controlled species also will be discussed. The permits must be renewed annually.

A full list of classified exotic species is available at FWP's web site at http://fwp.mt.gov/wildthings/exotics/default.html

Public comment on the proposed rule changes may be made until June 7 by email to: fwpexotics@mt.gov or by mail to: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Attn: Beth Giddings, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, Mt. 59620.

Ryce notes that exotic species not yet classified cannot be imported into Montana. Forms to petition for classification of an exotic species are available by calling 406-444-2449.

All animals imported into the state also require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection from an accredited veterinarian and an import permit from the Montana Department of Livestock.