Section NR 16.15 - Captive wild animal farm(1) APPLICATION. This section is developed pursuant to s. 169.15, Stats., to establish qualifications and conditions for a captive wild animal farm and applies to all captive wild animal farms including commercial operations and hobbyists.(2) PEN REQUIREMENT. (a)Confinement. No person subject to ch. 169, Stats., may possess captive wild animals unless the animals held in captivity are confined at all times to appropriate pens except wolf-dog hybrids which are under the immediate control of a person with a leash. Wolf-dog hybrids are not allowed in a dog park or similar area which is open to the public. Pens shall meet the specifications of ss. NR 16.30 to exceptas 16.38 otherwise authorized by this chapter.(b)Proper care. No person subject to ch. 169, Stats., may possess captive wild animals unless the animals held in captivity are provided proper care meeting the environmental enrichment requirements of s. NR 16.30(7), and the animal health and husbandry requirements of s. NR 16.30(8).(c)Variation approval. Variations in pen construction other than specified in ss. NR 16.30 to shall be 16.38 submitted to the department and may be approved by the department if found to comply with the intent and purpose of this section.(d)Waterfowl. All waterfowl bred, propagated or held on a captive wild animal farm shall be enclosed within a covered pen throughout the open season for hunting waterfowl in the state when written or oral notice is given to the licensee by the department or its agents.(e)Mute swans. All mute swans held on a captive wild animal farm shall be confined within a covered pen except as follows: 1. Mute swans that are pinioned by 4 weeks of age shall be confined but do not require a covered pen.2. Mute swans that are both sexually neutered and pinioned by 4 weeks of age need not be confined in a pen but shall be confined to the owner's property and not allowed to roam freely on waters of the state unless those waters are entirely bordered by lands owned or leased by the owner of the mute swans.(f)Compliance with local regulations. No initial captive wild animal farm application may be approved for the possession of harmful wild animals unless the application is accompanied by written assurance that the application is in compliance with local ordinances and zoning regulations.(3) WILD OR FERAL SWINE AND THEIR HYBRIDS. (a) Only individuals who possessed wild or feral swine on July 1, 2010 may be licensed under s. 169.15, Stats., to possess wild or feral swine. Licenses shall be applied for within 90 days of July 1, 2010. Animals must be held in strict confinement and possessed for the purpose of producing food for humans. Except as provided in ss. 169.02(1) and 169.15(2) (b), Stats., and for custom slaughter or mobile custom slaughter as defined by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, animals may not be killed on premises. Animals may only be transported live directly to facilities licensed for wild or feral under ch. 169, Stats., or to a slaughter establishment as defined by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.(b) Wild or feral swine must have an official individual identification as defined by s. ATCP 10.01(70).(c) An individual who possesses wild or feral swine under this rule must keep herd inventory records which include the age, sex and official individual identification of the animals. These records must be available to the department upon request. Note: Animal markets, slaughter and meat establishments that meet the requirements of s. NR 16.15(3) are defined and regulated by the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection in s. ATCP 10.01(90) and ch. ATCP 55.
Note: A person who is licensed under s. 169.15, Stats., to possess wild or feral swine may also need a permit under ch. NR 40, Wis. Adm. Code. Section NR 40.04(2) (f) 2. and 3., identifies live Sus domestica (feral domestic swine), Sus scrofa (Russian boar), and other wild swine, including their hybrids, as "prohibited invasive species". With certain exceptions, under s. NR 40.04(3), no person may possess, transport, transfer or introduce prohibited invasive species unless the person has a permit issued under s. NR 40.06.
(4) WOLF-DOG HYBRIDS. (a) A person who owns a wolf-dog hybrid shall have the animal sexually neutered by six months of age.(b) A person who owns a wolf-dog hybrid shall have the animal individually tattooed, implanted with a microchip, or otherwise permanently marked with information identifying the owner.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 16.15
CR 03-030: cr. Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 11-1-03; CR 09-052: am. (2) (a), (e) 1. and 2., cr. (3) and (4) Register June 2010 No. 654, eff. 7-1-10.