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 authorized under a bird hunting preserve license, a bird dog training license, a hound dog training license, a dog club training license, a bird dog trial license, a hound dog trial license, a stocking license, a rehabilitation license, or a scientific research license or under s. 29.319.

(b) No person may introduce, stock, or release into the wild, or import into this state for introducing, stocking, or releasing into the wild, any wild animal unless the department has given its authorization under par. (c) and the person has complied with the requirements under par. (d).

(c) The department may authorize the introducing, stocking, releasing into the wild, or importing of a species of wild animal only if the department has determined that the wild animal will not be detrimental in any manner to the conservation of the natural resources of this state.

(d) Introducing, stocking, or releasing a wild animal under this section is subject to all of the following requirements:

1. If a wild animal has been exposed to or infected with any contagious or infectious disease, as defined under rules promulgated by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 95.001 (2), the person introducing, stocking, or releasing the wild animal shall ensure that a veterinarian files a copy of a valid certificate of veterinary inspection with the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection certifying that the wild animal is free of any such diseases before the introducing, stocking, or release.

2. A person introducing, stocking, or releasing wild birds under the authority of a stocking license, a bird hunting preserve license, a bird dog training license, or a bird dog trial license may only introduce, stock, or release wild birds that meet all of the following requirements:

a. The wild birds originate from a flock of a person participating in the national poultry improvement plan under 9 CFR part 145 and any other captive wild birds with which they have had contact originate from such a flock.

b. Within 30 days before the introducing, stocking, or release, the wild birds meet the requirements of any rules promulgated by the department under sub. (3m).

(2) Reports. At the request of a municipality in an area in which wild animals are introduced, stocked, or released under sub. (1), the department shall require a person who introduced, stocked, or released those wild animals to report to the municipality the number and species of wild animals introduced, stocked, or released and the location at which the animals were introduced, stocked, or released.

(3) By the department. The department may import into this state to introduce, stock, or release into the wild, may introduce, stock, or release into the wild, or may authorize introducing, stocking, or releasing into the wild, a wild animal without holding a license as required under sub. (1) (a).

(3m) Introduction requirements.

(a) The department may promulgate rules to establish the following:

1. Additional requirements that wild animals shall meet before they enter this state.

2. Additional requirements that any animals shall meet before they may be introduced, stocked, or released into the wild.

(b) The requirements under par. (a) may include mandatory testing of the animals for disease.

(4) Exemption. Subsections (1) to (3m) do not apply to wild animals that are released into the wild after being accidentally trapped or confined.

History: 2001 a. 56.