169.12 Sale and purchase of native wild reptiles and wild amphibians. (1) POSSESSION; GENERAL. No person may take from the wild or possess live native wild reptiles or live native wild amphibians unless the person is authorized to do so under rules promulgated by the department or unless sub. (3) applies. (3) POSSESSION OF NATIVE FROGS. A person using native frogs for bait while fishing may take from the wild, possess, and kill more than 5 native frogs, but may not possess more than 5 of any subspecies of native frog for more than 24 hours. (4) RESTRICTIONS ON SALES AND PURCHASES. Unless authorized to do so under rules promulgated by the department, no person may sell or purchase live native wild reptiles or live native wild amphibians except for the following: (a) Color variants of these wild reptiles and wild amphibians that have been bred in captivity and have coloration that is clearly distinct from the normal morphological color patterns. (b) Leopard frogs, mud puppies, and tiger salamanders that are sold or purchased under the authorization of a Class A captive wild animal farm license. (c) Native reptiles or amphibians that are legally taken or reared outside this state and that are sold to educational institutions under the authorization of a Class A captive wild animal farm license. (6) EXEMPTION FOR VETERINARIANS. (a) Veterinarians are exempt from the requirement under sub. (1) for the purpose of
May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26)
169.12
providing medical treatment to native wild reptiles and native wild amphibians. (b) For purposes of par. (a), “medical treatment” does not include rehabilitation. History: 2001 a. 56.
169.14
Carcasses of captive wild animals. (1) RESTRICTIONS ON SALES AND PURCHASES. (a) No person may sell the carcass of any captive wild animal unless the seller provides to the purchaser written proof of origin. (b) No person may purchase or possess the carcass of any captive wild animal unless the purchaser maintains written proof of origin during the time the purchaser possesses the carcass. (c) No person may sell or purchase the gallbladder of a bear that was a captive wild animal. (d) No person may preserve and mount a carcass of a captive wild animal for consideration unless that person holds a valid taxidermist permit issued under s. 29.506. (2) TAGGING REQUIREMENTS FOR CAPTIVE WILD ANIMAL FARMS. (a) A person killing a wild animal under the authority of a captive wild animal farm license shall tag the carcass in the manner required by the department before removing the carcass from the farm. No person may remove the tag from the carcass except as provided in par. (b). (b) A person acquiring a carcass tagged under par. (a) that is to be consumed for food may remove the tag at the time the carcass is prepared for final consumption. The person shall keep the tag in evidence until the carcass is consumed or otherwise disposed of. (c) For purposes of pars. (a) and (b), for the carcasses of wild reptiles and wild amphibians, a person need not tag each carcass, but shall tag each shipment in the manner required by the department. (3) INAPPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN CARCASSES. (a) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to the raw fur or dressed fur of furbearing wild animals that are possessed as authorized by a license issued under s. 169.18. (c) The selling, purchasing, or possessing of carcasses of endangered or threatened species is subject to s. 29.604 and not to this section. History: 2001 a. 56.
169.15
Captive wild animal farm licenses. (1) IS(a) The department shall issue a Class A captive wild animal farm license to operate a captive wild animal farm that grosses $10,000 or more in annual sales to any person who files a proper application for the license and who pays the applicable fee. (b) The department shall issue a Class B captive wild animal farm license to operate a captive wild animal farm that grosses less than $10,000 in annual sales to any person who files a proper application for the license and who pays the applicable fee. (d) The applicant shall specify the location of the enclosures for the wild animals on the application. (2) AUTHORIZATION. (a) A captive wild animal farm license authorizes the holder of the license to possess, propagate, kill, exhibit, purchase, and sell live captive wild animals of the species specified by the department on the license. (b) A captive wild animal farm license authorizes the killing of captive wild animals only by the holder of the license or an employee of the holder of the license. (3) CALCULATION OF ANNUAL SALES. (a) The calculation of annual sales under sub. (1) and par. (b) shall be based on sales from the prior year that involve live captive wild animals that are any of the following: SUANCE.
Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats.
CAPTIVE WILDLIFE
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1. Native wild animals. 3. Harmful wild animals. 4. Endangered or threatened species. (b) For the first year that a person is issued a captive wild animal farm license, the person shall be issued a Class B captive wild animal farm license, unless one of the following applies: 1. The person operated a game bird and animal farm licensed under s. 29.867, 1999 stats., on January 1, 2003, that grossed $10,000 or more in annual sales. 2. The person elects to be issued a Class A captive wild animal farm license. (4) CONTROL OF WILD ANIMALS. (a) A person holding a captive wild animal farm license shall control the wild animals at all times in the manner required by the department and shall keep the wild animals at the locations specified on the application for the license. (b) If any member of the family ursidae, felidae, or canidae escapes from its enclosure or fenced area on a captive wild animal farm, the person holding the captive wild animal farm license shall notify the department within 24 hours after the escape. (5) RULES. The department may promulgate rules to establish additional standards, limitations, and requirements for captive wild animal farm licenses and for captive wild animal farms, including fencing of the farms. History: 2001 a. 56.