Bear traps

Under the bill, effective June 30, 2024, DNR must require all live bear traps acquired with wildlife damage abatement assistance to be equipped with remote monitors, including traps placed under the program prior to the effective date of the bill.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

AB1038,,4 The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB1038,1 Section 1. 20.370 (5) (fq) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1038,,6 20.370 (5) (fq) Wildlife damage claims and abatement. All moneys received under ss. 29.181, 29.559 (1r), and 29.563 (13) and not appropriated under par. (fr) and subs. (1) (hs), (hx), and (Ls) and (5) (fs) to provide state aid for the wildlife damage abatement program under s. 29.889 (5) (c) and the wildlife damage claim program under s. 29.889 (7) (d), for county administration costs under s. 29.889 (2) (d), and for payments under s. 29.89.

AB1038,2 Section 2. 29.885 (3) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1038,,8 29.885 (3) (bm) Notwithstanding par. (b), the department may not issue to a complainant under par. (a) a bear carcass tag for the purpose of shooting a bear that is causing damage to commercial agricultural crops.

AB1038,3 Section 3. 29.885 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1038,,10 29.885 (5) (a) The department may refuse to investigate under sub. (3) (a) if the person making the complaint refuses to participate in any available wildlife damage abatement program administered under s. 29.889 or refuses to follow reasonable abatement measures recommended by the department or by the county in which the property is located if the county participates in a wildlife damage abatement program.

AB1038,4 Section 4. 29.889 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1038,,12 29.889 (1) Definition. (intro.) In this section, “wildlife:

AB1038,,13 (b) “Wildlife damage” means damage caused by any of the following wild animals that are not subject to regulation under ch. 169:

AB1038,5 Section 5. 29.889 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1038,,15 29.889 (2) (a) Assistance Administration. The department shall assist counties in developing develop and administering administer the wildlife damage abatement and wildlife damage claim programs. The department shall provide this assistance through technical aid, program guidance, research, demonstration, funding, plan review, audit, and evaluation services.

AB1038,6 Section 6. 29.889 (2) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1038,7 Section 7. 29.889 (2) (d) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1038,8 Section 8. 29.889 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1038,9 Section 9. 29.889 (4) (a) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1038,10 Section 10. 29.889 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1038,,21 29.889 (4) (b) Filing of application. In order to be eligible for wildlife damage abatement assistance, a person is required to file an application with the participating county department in a form acceptable to the county department. An owner or lessee of land, a person who controls land or an owner of an apiary or livestock may file an application.

AB1038,11 Section 11. 29.889 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1038,,23 29.889 (4) (c) Other eligibility requirements. In order to be eligible for wildlife damage abatement assistance, a person is required to comply with eligibility requirements adopted by the department under sub. (2) (b) and with eligibility requirements specified in the plan administration under sub. (3) (c).

AB1038,12 Section 12. 29.889 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1038,,25 29.889 (5) (a) Review. A participating county The department shall review each application for wildlife damage abatement assistance to determine if wildlife damage is occurring or likely to occur.

AB1038,13 Section 13. 29.889 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1038,,27 29.889 (5) (b) Assistance. A participating county The department may provide wildlife damage assistance where for the reimbursement of costs associated with wildlife damage abatement measures if the department determines that wildlife damage is occurring or is likely to occur for the reimbursement of costs associated with wildlife damage abatement measures if the measures are authorized in the plan of administration under sub. (3) (c) 2. and the wildlife damage abatement measures are authorized in the rules adopted by the department under sub. (2) (b) and are carried out in full compliance with the direction of the department.