Rule 40-2-8.4 - REGULATIONS FOR GAME AND FURBEARING ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITYA. Game and furbearing animals are defined as the following: white-tailed deer, black bear, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, cottontail rabbit, swamp rabbit, raccoon, opossum, bobcat, river otter, muskrat, mink, and weasel. B. Possession of live game and furbearing animals is prohibited with the following exceptions: 1. Public zoological gardens or educational institutions. Public zoological garden and/or educational institution shall be defined as a permanent cultural institution which owns and maintains captive wild animals under the direction of a professional staff, provides its collection with appropriate care, and exhibits them in an aesthetic manner to the public on a regularly scheduled basis. a. "Public Zoo" shall further be defined as having as its primary business the exhibition, conservation, and preservation of wild animals in an educational and scientific manner. b. Public zoos must be accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), the Zoological Association of America (ZAA), or be designated as the official zoo of a municipality. c. Public zoos shall hold a USDA Class "C" Exhibitor's License. 2. Licensed veterinarians who possess and hold diseased or injured animals while providing needed medical care, except that a record must be kept of animals received, name and address of the person from whom it was received, and the disposition of such animals. 3. Any person possessing or having custody of a sick or injured animal solely for the purpose of transporting the animal to a licensed veterinarian, rehabilitator, animal shelter or MDWFP officer. 4. High-fenced enclosures that contain white-tailed deer and are permitted by MDWFP as required by Part 2, Chapter 8, Rule 8.2 AND fox, coyote, and rabbit pens that are permitted by MDWFP as required by Part 2, Chapter 8, Rule 8.1. C. All live game and furbearing animals discovered being possessed in violation of this rule shall be confiscated by MDWFP. MDWFP shall transport the animal to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or shall humanely euthanize the animal and submit samples for biological testing. Additionally, white-tailed deer inside permitted breeding pens, as defined in Part 2, Chapter 8, Rule 8.2, may be humanely euthanized by permit from MDWFP. All animals euthanized by such permit must be tested for bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, and chronic wasting disease. D. Animals and facilities permitted under this, or any other rule of the Commission, shall be subject to periodic inspection by any MDWFP personnel to determine if the animals are being held and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this rule, or any other rule of the Commission, and the requirements of the MDWFP issued permit. E. No provisions of this rule shall authorize any person to possess any live animal in violation of any city or county ordinance. Miss. Code Ann. §§ 49-1-29, 49-4-4, 49-1-41