Chapter NR 16

NR 16.18(2)(a)1. 1. The owner of record of all tracts or portions of land comprising a single parcel shall be identical except for spouses qualifying as joint owners under the Wisconsin marital property law.

NR 16.18(2)(a)2. 2. All portions of the land comprising the single parcel shall be contiguous.

NR 16.18(2)(a)3. 3. Parcels or tracts of land may constitute a single parcel if they do not touch but are separated only by a town, county or state highway.

NR 16.18(2)(a)4. 4. Calculation of the 640 acre maximum includes bodies of water in which the bed is owned by the applicant or which are entirely surrounded by lands owned by the applicant.

NR 16.18(2)(a)5. 5. Applicants who are owners of land included in the application may lease additional contiguous parcels provided the total does not exceed 640 acres.

NR 16.18(2)(b) (b) Land leased. In order to qualify as a single parcel for an application by a lessee of land, the tract of land shall meet the following standards:

NR 16.18(2)(b)1. 1. The applicant shall provide proof of a lease specifically authorizing the right to establish a wild fur farm for the term of the license. The lease shall be in writing. Leases for a term exceeding one year shall meet the requirements of s. 706.02, Stats.

NR 16.18(2)(b)2. 2. All portions of the land included in the lease shall be contiguous.

NR 16.18(2)(b)3. 3. Separate tracts of land covered by the lease may constitute a single parcel if they do not touch but are separated only by a town, county or state highway.

NR 16.18(2)(b)4. 4. Calculation of the 640 acre maximum includes bodies of water in which the bed is leased by the applicant or which are entirely surrounded by lands leased by the applicant.

NR 16.18(3) (3) Eligibility requirements. Except as authorized by s. 169.18 (3) (b), Stats., in order to be eligible for a wild fur farm license, the applicant shall own or lease at least 40 acres of land in a single parcel. If multiple, noncontiguous parcels are sought to be licensed by an applicant, the applicant shall obtain a separate wild fur farm license for each parcel.

NR 16.18(4) (4) Authorization. The wild fur farm license authorizes the taking of beaver, coyote, mink, muskrat, otter, opossum, raccoon, skunk and weasel on the licensed facility.

NR 16.18(5) (5) Limitation.

NR 16.18(5)(a) (a) The wild fur farm license does not authorize the taking or possession of badger, bobcat, fisher, fox, lynx, marten, rabbit or wolf. No person may harvest, possess or sell these species except under the authority of chs. NR 10 and 12 and ch. 29, Stats.

NR 16.18(5)(b) (b) All skunks taken shall be immediately killed in a humane manner and may not be sold live.

NR 16.18(5)(c) (c) A person trapping on a licensed wild fur farm under the authority of a wild fur farm license issued under s. 169.18, Stats., shall comply with the trap, cable restraint and snare size and placement rules specified under s. NR 10.13 (1) (b), unless otherwise authorized in writing by the department.

NR 16.18(6) (6) Public rights. The issuance of a wild fur farm license does not affect any public right of hunting, fishing or navigation on navigable waters included within the licensed premises.

NR 16.18(7) (7) Otter quota. The number of otter which may be taken in any given year under the authority of the wild fur farm license may not exceed the number allowed an individual trapper by s. NR 10.145.

NR 16.18 Note Note: This provision does not limit the number of otter that may be taken on a licensed facility by individuals trapping under authority of a trapping license and valid otter tag issued under ch. NR 10. A wild animal nuisance or damage permit may also be applied for pursuant to ch. NR 12 and s. 29.885, Stats.

NR 16.18(8) (8) Tagging, registration, and transfer. Otter taken under the authority of the wild fur farm license shall comply with the following restrictions:

NR 16.18(8)(a) (a) Field harvest. Each person who kills an otter under the authority of a wild fur farm license shall comply with the registration requirements for wild otter found in s. NR 10.086.

NR 16.18(8)(b) (b) Live capture.

NR 16.18(8)(b)1. 1. When a live otter is captured and kept for a live sale, transfer or shipment and before it is carried by hand or transported in any manner, the licensee shall immediately validate the otter carcass tag issued by the department by slitting, tearing or punching the tag in the manner indicated by the department. The tag shall be kept in possession of the person transporting the live otter.

NR 16.18(8)(b)2. 2. The tag shall accompany the cage used to contain a live otter until the otter is killed or sold.

NR 16.18(8)(b)3. 3. If a caged live otter is sold or otherwise transferred alive to another person authorized to possess a live captive wild otter, the tag shall accompany the transportation cage used to contain a live otter and shall be retained for a period of 3 years by the person to whom the live otter was sold or otherwise transferred.

NR 16.18(8)(b)4. 4. No person may transport or possess an otter harvested on a wild fur farm unless it has been tagged in accordance with this section.

NR 16.18 History History: CR 03-030: cr. Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 11-1-03; CR 07-015: cr. (5) (c) Register September 2007 No. 621, eff. 2-1-08; CR 19-146: r. and recr. (8) Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20; correction in (8) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register June 2020 No. 774; CR 20-087: am. (8) (a) Register August 2021 No. 788, eff. 9-1-21.

NR 16.19 NR 16.19 Bird hunting preserve licenses.

NR 16.19(1) (1) Application. This section is developed pursuant to s. 169.19, Stats., to establish qualifications and conditions for class A and class B bird hunting preserve licenses.

NR 16.19(2) (2) Lessee. If the land to be licensed as a bird hunting preserve is leased, the applicant shall provide proof of a lease specifically authorizing the right to establish a bird hunting preserve for the term of the license. The lease shall be in writing. Leases for a term exceeding one year shall meet the requirements of s. 706.02, Stats.

NR 16.19(3) (3) Size of hunting area. No bird hunting preserve license may be issued for any land less than 40 contiguous acres where the discharge of firearms is legal, or area larger than 640 total acres.

NR 16.19(4) (4) Location restriction. No bird hunting preserve license may be issued for pheasants for any land less than one-quarter mile from the exterior boundaries of a state or federal wildlife area, public hunting grounds or refuge which is managed in whole or in part for pheasants except that this provision does not apply to areas in which the management for pheasants begins after the bird hunting preserve has been licensed. Except as provided in s. 169.31 (3) (bn), Stats., all lands under one license shall be contiguous.

NR 16.19(5) (5) Pen requirements. Pens used to confine native captive wild birds possessed for use under s. 169.19, Stats., shall meet the requirements of ss. NR 16.30, 16.35 and 16.38. Non-native captive wild birds possessed for use under s. 169.19, Stats., are exempt from the requirements of ss. NR 16.30, 16.35 and 16.38.

NR 16.19(6) (6) Additional stocking requirements. All wild birds stocked under the authority of a class A or B bird hunting preserve license shall be of high quality stock, fully feathered and not less than 12 weeks of age.

NR 16.19(7) (7) Hunting restrictions.

NR 16.19(7)(a) (a) A person hunting anything other than the birds listed on the bird hunting preserve license and stocked on the bird hunting preserve is required to have all applicable approvals issued and required under ch. 29, Stats.

NR 16.19(7)(b) (b) A person hunting anything other than the birds listed on the bird hunting preserve license is subject to all season restrictions, bag limits and other conditions or restrictions established by the department under ch. 29, Stats., and rules promulgated thereunder.

NR 16.19(8) (8) Pheasant management zones. Pheasant management zones are established for the purposes in s. 169.19 (4m), Stats. A person holding a Class B bird hunting preserve license may not allow the hunting or taking of hen pheasants beginning on December 15 of each year and ending on the following March 31 within the boundaries of the licensed preserve if the preserve is located totally or partially within a pheasant management zone.

NR 16.19 History History: CR 03-030: cr. Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 11-1-03; CR 08-021: cr. (8) Register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08.

NR 16.23 NR 16.23 Stocking license.

NR 16.23(1) (1) Application. This section is developed pursuant to s. 169.23, Stats., to establish qualifications, conditions and exemptions for stocking licenses.

NR 16.23(2) (2) Species.

NR 16.23(2)(a) (a) Species. Only those species authorized by the department and specified on the stocking license may be released into the wild.

NR 16.23(2)(b) (b) Stocking exemptions. No stocking license is required to stock the following species on private lands provided that the requirements of s. 169.06 (1) (d), Stats., are met:

NR 16.23(2)(b)1. 1. Ring-necked pheasants.

NR 16.23(2)(b)2. 2. Gray partridge.

NR 16.23(3) (3) Location. Except as provided in sub. (2) (b), the locations at which stocking is allowed are restricted to those listed, authorized and approved on the license.

NR 16.23 History History: CR 03-030: cr. Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 11-1-03.

NR 16.26 NR 16.26 Nonprofit educational exhibitors.

NR 16.26(1) (1) Application. This section is developed pursuant to s. 169.26, Stats., to establish qualifications and conditions for nonprofit educational exhibitors.

NR 16.26(2) (2) General exhibit requirements. Nonprofit educational exhibitors shall comply with all the requirements of ss. NR 16.30 to 16.38.

NR 16.26(3) (3) Exceptions to pen requirements. All interactive sessions with captive wild animals shall comply with the requirements of s. NR 16.35 (7).

NR 16.26 History History: CR 03-030: cr. Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 11-1-03.

NR 16.27 NR 16.27 Nonresident temporary exhibitors.

NR 16.27(1) (1) Application. This section is developed pursuant to s. 169.27, Stats., to establish qualifications and conditions for nonresident temporary exhibitors.

NR 16.27(2) (2) General exhibit requirements. Nonresident temporary exhibitors shall comply with all the requirements s. NR 16.35 (1) to (9).

NR 16.27(3) (3) Documents. Applicants shall provide the following documents when applying for a license:

NR 16.27(3)(a) (a) Written proof of authority to possess captive wild animals from the state of residence.

NR 16.27(3)(b) (b) Copies of all federal permits required to possess the captive wild animal being exhibited.

NR 16.27(3)(c) (c) Copies of any health certificates required by federal and state law to ship or transport animals across state boundaries.

NR 16.27(4) (4) Application submission. Applicants shall apply for the license at least 20 business days prior to entering the state with any captive wild animals for which an exhibiting license is required.

NR 16.27(5) (5) Exceptions to pen requirements. All interactive sessions with captive wild animals shall comply with the requirements of s. NR 16.35 (7).

NR 16.27 History History: CR 03-030: cr. Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 11-1-03.

NR 16.30 NR 16.30 Pen specifications, humane handling, care, treatment and transportation of captive wild animals.

NR 16.30(1) (1) Applicability. This section applies to captive wild animals that are required to be held under the authority of a ch. 169, Stats., license, except that coyote, fox and rabbit may be held pursuant to a hound dog training or trial license issued under s. 169.20 or 169.21, Stats., and confined to a hound dog training enclosure as defined under s. NR 17.001 (5s).

NR 16.30 Note Note: Pen specifications, and requirements for humane handling, care and treatment of coyote, fox and rabbit held under the authority of a hound dog training or trialing license are found in ch. NR 17.

NR 16.30(2) (2) General facility requirements.

NR 16.30(2)(a) (a) Structure; construction. Facilities for captive wild animals shall be designed and constructed so that they are structurally sound. They shall be kept in good repair, protect the captive wild animals from injury, contain the animals securely and restrict other animals from entering. Portions of buildings devoted to human occupancy may not be used as the primary enclosure or primary housing facility for captive wild animals listed in sub. (4). Possession of captive wild animals listed in sub. (4) in portions of buildings devoted to human occupancy shall be limited to temporary health care, treatment or special handling needs except that wolf-dog hybrids kept as pets may share indoor housing which is intended for human occupancy.

NR 16.30(2)(b) (b) Housing site. Facilities and areas used for storing animal food or bedding shall be free of any accumulation of trash, waste material, refuse, weeds and other discarded materials.

NR 16.30(2)(c) (c) Surfaces.

NR 16.30(2)(c)1. 1. The surfaces of facilities including houses, dens and other fixtures and objects within the primary enclosure shall be constructed in a manner and made of materials that allow them to be readily cleaned and sanitized, or removed or replaced when worn or soiled. Interior surfaces and any surfaces that come in contact with captive wild animals shall be all of the following:

NR 16.30(2)(c)1.a. a. Free of excessive rust that prevents cleaning and sanitation, or that affects the structural strength of the surface.

NR 16.30(2)(c)1.b. b. Free of jagged edges or sharp points that might injure the animals.

NR 16.30(2)(c)2. 2. All surfaces shall be maintained and cleaned. Surfaces of facilities, including houses, dens and other fixtures and objects within the facility that may not be readily cleaned and sanitized, shall be replaced when worn or soiled.

NR 16.30(2)(c)3. 3. Raised floors shall be constructed in a manner that protects the captive wild animals’ feet and legs from injury, and that do not allow the animals’ feet to pass through any openings in the floor. If the floor of the enclosure is constructed of wire, a solid resting surface or surfaces that are large enough to hold all the occupants of the enclosure at the same time comfortably shall be provided.

NR 16.30(2)(d) (d) Drainage and waste disposal. Facility owners shall provide for regular and frequent collection, removal and disposal of animal and food wastes, bedding, debris, garbage, water, other fluids and wastes and dead animals, in a manner that minimizes contamination and disease risks. Standing puddles of water in captive wild animal enclosures shall be drained or mopped up after cleaning or periods of rainfall so that the animals stay dry. Trash containers in facilities and in food storage and food preparation areas shall be leakproof and shall have tightly fitted lids on them unless the caretaker is present.

NR 16.30(2)(e) (e) Storage. Supplies of food and bedding shall be stored in a manner that protects the supplies from spoilage, contamination and vermin infestation. The supplies shall be stored in a manner that allows cleaning underneath and around the supplies. Foods requiring refrigeration shall be stored accordingly, and all food shall be stored in a manner that prevents contamination and deterioration of its nutritive value. All open supplies of food shall be kept in leakproof containers with tightly fitting lids to prevent contamination and spoilage.

NR 16.30(2)(f) (f) Pest control. An effective program for the control of insects, external parasites and birds and mammals that are pests, shall be established and maintained to promote the health of the captive wild animals and reduce contamination.

NR 16.30(3) (3) General pen and shelter requirements.

NR 16.30(3)(a) (a) Pen specifications.

NR 16.30(3)(a)1. 1. Enclosures shall be constructed and maintained so as to provide sufficient space to allow each captive wild animal to make normal postural and social adjustments with adequate freedom of movement. Inadequate space may be indicated by evidence of malnutrition, poor condition, debility, stress or abnormal behavior patterns.

NR 16.30(3)(a)2. 2. All captive wild animals housed in the same primary enclosure shall be compatible. Captive wild animals with a vicious or aggressive disposition shall be housed separately.

NR 16.30(3)(b) (b) Shelter from the elements. Outdoor facilities for captive wild animals shall include one or more shelter structures that are accessible to each animal in each outdoor facility, and that are large enough to allow each animal in the shelter structure to sit, stand and lie in a normal manner and to turn about freely. Metal barrels, cars, refrigerators, freezers and similar objects may not be used as shelter structures. In addition to the shelter structures, one or more separate outside areas of shade shall be provided, large enough to contain all the captive wild animals at one time and protect them from the sun. Shelters in outdoor facilities for captive wild animals shall contain a roof, 4 sides and a floor and shall:

NR 16.30(3)(b)1. 1. Provide the captive wild animals with adequate protection and shelter from the cold and heat.

NR 16.30(3)(b)2. 2. Provide the captive wild animals with protection from the sun, wind, rain or snow.

NR 16.30(3)(b)3. 3. Be provided with a wind break and rain break at the entrance.

NR 16.30(3)(b)4. 4. Contain clean, dry bedding material if the ambient temperature is below 50°F (10°C). Additional clean, dry bedding is required when the temperature is 35°F (1.7°C) or lower.

NR 16.30(3)(b)5. 5. The sheltered part of a facility shall be sufficiently ventilated when captive wild animals are present to provide for their health and well being, and to minimize odors, drafts, ammonia levels and moisture condensation. Ventilation shall be provided by windows, doors, vents, fans or air conditioning.