Chapter 169 — CAPTIVE WILDLIFE
40 sections in this chapter.
Wis. Stat. § 169.01 Definitions
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169.01 Definitions. In this chapter: (1) “Animal” means any mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, mollusk, or arthropod or any egg of any bird, reptile, amphibian, mollusk, or arthropod except that “animal” does not include any mollusk or arthropod, or any egg of any mollusk or arthr…
Wis. Stat. § 169.02 Title to wild animals
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169.02 Title to wild animals. (1) TITLE VESTED IN OWNER. Except as provided in sub. (3), legal title to a live captive wild animal or the carcass of a captive wild animal is vested in the person who owns the wild animal if the person is in compliance with this chapter and the rul…
Wis. Stat. § 169.03 Interagency cooperation
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169.03 Interagency cooperation. The department of natural resources and the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall cooperate with each other with respect to any wild animal that is subject to regulation under this chapter and under ch. 93 or 95. History: 2…
Wis. Stat. § 169.04 Possession of live wild animals
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169.04 Possession of live wild animals. (1) RESTRICTIONS ON POSSESSION. (a) No person may possess any live wild animal unless the wild animal is legally obtained. (b) No person may possess any live wild animal unless the person holds a license or other approval to possess the wil…
Wis. Stat. § 169.05 Taking of wild animals
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169.05 Taking of wild animals. (1) REQUIREMENT. No person may take any wild animal from the wild except as authorized under a bird hunting preserve license, a wild fur farm license, a rehabilitation license, or a scientific research license or under s. 29.319. (2) EXEMPTION FOR C…
Wis. Stat. § 169.06 Introduction, stocking, and release of wild animals
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169.06 Introduction, stocking, and release of wild animals. (1) REQUIREMENT; PERSONS OTHER THAN THE DEPARTMENT. (a) No person may introduce, stock, or release into the wild, or import into this state to introduce, stock, or release into the wild, any wild animal except as authori…
Wis. Stat. § 169.07 Exhibition of live wild animals
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169.07 Exhibition of live wild animals. (1) REQUIREMENT. (a) No person may exhibit any captive live native wild animal or any captive live nonnative wild animal of the family ursidae except as authorized under a captive wild animal farm license, a rehabilitation license, a nonpro…
Wis. Stat. § 169.08 Propagation of wild animals
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169.08 Propagation of wild animals. (1) REQUIREMENT. No person may propagate any native wild animal or any nonnative wild animal of the family ursidae except as authorized under a captive wild animal farm license, a bird hunting preserve license, a wild fur farm license, a nonpro…
Wis. Stat. § 169.085 Rehabilitation of wild animals
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169.085 Rehabilitation of wild animals. (1) REQUIREMENT. No person may rehabilitate any wild animal except as authorized under a rehabilitation license. (2) INAPPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN WILD ANIMALS. This section does not authorize the rehabilitation of harmful wild animals. Histor…
Wis. Stat. § 169.09 Hunting of captive wild animals
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169.09 Hunting of captive wild animals. (1) REQUIRE- May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 5 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. MENT; GENERALLY. No person may hunt a captive wild animal except as authorized under a bird hunting preserve license, a bird dog training li…
Wis. Stat. § 169.10 Sale and purchase of live wild animals
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169.10 Sale and purchase of live wild animals. (1) SALE. Except as authorized under a captive wild animal farm license, a bird hunting preserve license, a wild fur farm license, or a nonprofit educational exhibiting license or under s. 29.319, no person may sell or offer to sell …
Wis. Stat. § 169.11 Harmful wild animals
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169.11 Harmful wild animals. (1) DESIGNATION. (a) The department shall designate by rule cougars, members of the family ursidae, wild swine, and feral swine as harmful wild animals. After consulting with the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection and the departm…
Wis. Stat. § 169.12 Sale and purchase of native wild reptiles and wild amphibians
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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 o…
Wis. Stat. § 169.14 Carcasses of captive wild animals
Wis. Stat. § 169.15 Captive wild animal farm licenses
Wis. Stat. § 169.18 Wild fur farm license
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169.18 Wild fur farm license. (1) ISSUANCE. The department shall issue a wild fur farm license to any person who files a proper application and who pays the applicable fee. (2) AUTHORIZATION; LIMITATIONS. (a) A wild fur farm license authorizes all of the following: 1. The holder …
Wis. Stat. § 169.19 Bird hunting preserve licenses
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169.19 Bird hunting preserve licenses. (1) ISSUANCE. The department shall issue a Class A or a Class B bird hunting preserve license to any person who files a proper application and who pays the applicable fee. (2) AUTHORIZATION. (a) A Class A or a Class B bird hunting preserve l…
Wis. Stat. § 169.20 Dog training licenses
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169.20 Dog training licenses. (1) BIRD DOG TRAINING LICENSE. (a) The department shall issue a bird dog training license to any individual who is at least 10 years of age who files a proper application and pays the applicable fee. If the department issues a bird dog training licen…
Wis. Stat. § 169.21 Dog trial licenses
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169.21 Dog trial licenses. (1) BIRD DOG TRIAL LICENSE. (a) The department shall issue a bird dog trial license to any person who files a proper application and who pays the applicable fee. (b) A bird dog trial license authorizes the holder of the license to purchase, possess, rel…
Wis. Stat. § 169.23 Stocking license
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169.23 Stocking license. (1) ISSUANCE. The department may issue stocking licenses. If the department issues stocking licenses, it shall issue a stocking license to any person who files a proper application and who pays the applicable fee. (2) AUTHORIZATION. A stocking license aut…
Wis. Stat. § 169.24 Rehabilitation license
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169.24 Rehabilitation license. (1) ISSUANCE. The department shall issue a rehabilitation license to rehabilitate wild animals to any individual who is at least 18 years of age, who meets the qualifications under rules promulgated under sub. (2), and who files a proper application…
Wis. Stat. § 169.25 Scientific research license
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169.25 Scientific research license. (1) ISSUANCE. (a) The department shall issue a scientific research license to any person who is engaged in a study or in research that the department determines will lead to increased, useful scientific knowledge and who files a proper applicat…
Wis. Stat. § 169.26 Nonprofit educational exhibiting license
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169.26 Nonprofit educational exhibiting license. (1) ISSUANCE. The department shall issue a nonprofit educational exhibiting license to any nature center, aquarium, or educational institution if the center, aquarium, or institution is a nonstock, nonprofit corporation described u…
Wis. Stat. § 169.27 Nonresident temporary exhibiting license
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169.27 Nonresident temporary exhibiting license. (1) ISSUANCE. The department shall issue a nonresident temporary exhibiting license to any individual who is a nonresident or to any business organization that is not organized under the laws of this state, if the individual or org…
Wis. Stat. § 169.29 Validation licenses
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169.29 Validation licenses. (1) ELIGIBILITY. (a) Initial validation license. A person to whom all of the following conditions apply is eligible for an initial validation license: 1. The person has a license or permit under s. 29.863, 1999 stats., s. 29.865, 1999 stats., s. 29.867…
Wis. Stat. § 169.30 Endangered or threatened species
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169.30 Endangered or threatened species. No person may take from the wild, introduce, stock, release into the wild, exhibit, propagate, rehabilitate, hunt, sell, purchase, transfer, or engage in any other activity related to a live wild animal that is an endangered or threatened …
Wis. Stat. § 169.31 License and tag fees
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169.31 License and tag fees. (1) FEES. The following fees shall be paid to the department for the issuance or renewal of licenses: (a) Captive wild animal farm licenses. 1. The fee for an initial Class A captive wild animal farm license is $200 and the fee for an initial Class B …
Wis. Stat. § 169.32 Licenses; effective periods
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169.32 Licenses; effective periods. (1) CAPTIVE WILD ANIMAL FARM LICENSE. A captive wild animal farm license is valid from the date of issuance until the following December 31. (4) WILD FUR FARM LICENSE. A wild fur farm license is valid from the date of issuance until the 3rd Dec…
Wis. Stat. § 169.33 Licenses; applications; renewals; terminations
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169.33 Licenses; applications; renewals; terminations. (1) APPLICATION. The application for a license under this chapter shall be on a form provided by the department or in a format approved by the department, and shall request the information required by the department. The depa…
Wis. Stat. § 169.34 Denial and revocation of licenses based on child support delinquency
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169.34 Denial and revocation of licenses based on child support delinquency. (1) SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS REQUIRED. The department shall require an applicant who is an individual to provide his or her social security number as a condition of applying for, or applying to renew, any…
Wis. Stat. § 169.35 Denial and revocation of licenses based on delinquent taxes or unemployment insurance contributions
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169.35 Denial and revocation of licenses based on delinquent taxes or unemployment insurance contributions. (1) SOCIAL SECURITY AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS REQUIRED. The department shall require an applicant who is an individual to provide his or her social security number and an …
Wis. Stat. § 169.36 Record-keeping and reporting requirements
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169.36 Record-keeping and reporting requirements. (1) CAPTIVE WILD ANIMAL FARM LICENSES, BIRD HUNTING PRESERVE LICENSES, AND NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITING LICENSES. (a) Records; generally. Each person holding a captive wild animal farm license, a bird hunting preserve license,…
Wis. Stat. § 169.37 Inspections
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169.37 Inspections. (1) DEPARTMENTAL AUTHORITY. For purposes of enforcing this chapter and the rules promulgated under this chapter with respect to a person who is required to have a license or maintain records under this chapter, a conservation warden or representative of the de…
Wis. Stat. § 169.38 Inspections of items subject to regulation by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection
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169.38 Inspections of items subject to regulation by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection. (1) DEPARTMENTAL AUTHORITY. For purposes of enforcing s. 90.21 and rules promulgated under that section and ch. 29 and rules promulgated under that chapter, with res…
Wis. Stat. § 169.39 Humane care and housing
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169.39 Humane care and housing. (1) COMPLIANCE WITH RULES. No license may be issued under this chapter unless the department determines that the applicant will comply with all of the rules promulgated under subs. (2) and (3). (2) RULES; GENERAL. The department shall promulgate an…
Wis. Stat. § 169.40 Trespassing
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169.40 Trespassing. A person who hunts, traps, kills, or takes a wild animal subject to regulation under this chapter on land subject to a license issued under this chapter without the permission of the license holder or of the holder’s employee or agent is liable to the license …
Wis. Stat. § 169.42 Taking custody of captive wild animals
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169.42 Taking custody of captive wild animals. (1) INTAKE OF WILD ANIMALS. A conservation warden may take into custody a wild animal that is subject to regulation under this chapter on behalf of the department if the conservation warden has reasonable grounds to believe that the …
Wis. Stat. § 169.43 Local ordinances
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169.43 Local ordinances. A municipality or county may enact and enforce an ordinance that prohibits the possession or selling of live wild animals. History: 2001 a. 56.
Wis. Stat. § 169.45 Penalties; revocations
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169.45 Penalties; revocations. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “violation of this chapter” means a violation of this chapter or any rule promulgated under this chapter. (2) PENALTIES. For a violation of this chapter, a person shall be subject to a forfeiture of not more than $20…
Wis. Stat. § 169.46 Natural resources surcharges and restitution surcharges
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169.46 Natural resources surcharges and restitution surcharges. (1) NATURAL RESOURCES SURCHARGES. (a) If a court imposes a fine or forfeiture for a violation of this chapter or a rule promulgated under this chapter, the court shall impose a natural resources surcharge under ch. 8…