Chapter 29

29.885(4)(a) (a) Upon the receipt of a complaint from a person who owns, leases or occupies property on which a wild animal or a structure is allegedly causing a nuisance, the department may investigate the complaint.

29.885(4)(b) (b) The department may remove or authorize the removal of the wild animal or the structure of a wild animal if it finds that the wild animal or the structure is causing a nuisance on the property.

29.885(4m) (4m) Hunting allowed. If the department removes or authorizes the removal of a wild animal or the structure of a wild animal under sub. (3) (b), the person who owns, leases or occupies the property on which the damage occurred shall open the property to others for hunting and trapping for one year beginning on the date on which the removal activity started unless hunting is prohibited under this chapter or under any municipal ordinance.

29.885(4r) (4r) Land not required to be open to hunting. The requirements under sub. (4m) do not apply to a person to whom the department grants a shooting permit for deer causing damage that is issued as an abatement measure recommended under s. 29.889 if all of the following apply:

29.885(4r)(a) (a) The permit is the only abatement measure the person receives under s. 29.889 for damage caused by deer.

29.885(4r)(b) (b) The person waives any eligibility to receive a wildlife damage claim payment under s. 29.889 (7) for damage caused by deer.

29.885(5) (5) Abatement.

29.885(5)(a) (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.

29.885(5)(b) (b) Before taking action under sub. (3) (b) or (4), the department may require the person making the complaint to participate in any available wildlife damage abatement program administered under s. 29.889 or to follow reasonable abatement measures recommended by the department.

29.885(6) (6) Owner liability for beaver damage. A person who owns, leases or occupies property on which a beaver or a beaver structure is causing damage and who fails or refuses to give consent to the department to remove the beaver or the structure is liable for any damage caused by the beaver or the structure to public property or the property of others.

29.885(7) (7) No duty; immunity from liability.

29.885(7)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (d), no private property holder and no officer, employee or agent of a property holder owes any of the following duties to any person who enters the private property holder’s property solely to engage in a removal activity:

29.885(7)(a)1. 1. A duty to keep the property safe for removal activities.

29.885(7)(a)2. 2. A duty to inspect the property.

29.885(7)(a)3. 3. A duty to give warning of an unsafe condition, use or activity on the property.

29.885(7)(b) (b) Except as provided in par. (d), no private property holder and no officer, employee or agent of a private property holder is liable for any of the following injuries that occur on the private property holder’s property:

29.885(7)(b)1. 1. An injury to a person engaging in a removal activity.

29.885(7)(b)2. 2. An injury caused by a person engaging in a removal activity.

29.885(7)(c) (c) Except as provided in par. (d), nothing in this subsection, s. 101.11 or in the common law attractive nuisance doctrine creates any duty of care or ground of liability toward any person who uses private property holder’s property for a removal activity.

29.885(7)(d) (d) Paragraphs (a) to (c) do not apply if any of the following conditions exist:

29.885(7)(d)1. 1. An injury is caused by the malicious failure of the private property holder or an officer, employee or agent of the private property holder to warn against an unsafe condition on the property, of which the private property holder has knowledge.

29.885(7)(d)2. 2. An injury is caused by a malicious act of a private property holder or of an officer, employee or agent of a private property holder.

29.885(7)(d)3. 3. An injury is sustained by an employee of a private property holder acting within the scope of his or her duties.

29.885 History History: 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1995 a. 79; 1997 a. 27; 1997 a. 248 ss. 637 to 641; Stats. 1997 s. 29.885; 1999 a. 32; 2001 a. 56; 2005 a. 82; 2021 a. 62.

29.885 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 12 and ss. NR 19.03, and 19.75, Wis. adm. code.

29.886 29.886 Management of double-crested cormorants.

29.886(1) (1) In this section:

29.886(1)(a) (a) “U.S. depredation order” means the depredation order for double-crested cormorants to protect public resources that was issued by the U.S. department of interior, fish and wildlife service, in 50 CFR 21.48, to reduce or minimize the wildlife damage caused by double-crested cormorants.

29.886(1)(b) (b) “Wildlife damage” means adverse impacts on fish, including fish hatchery stock, wildlife, plants, and their habitats.

29.886(2) (2) The department shall, in cooperation with federal agencies, administer a program in a manner that complies with the U.S. depredation order to control and manage double-crested cormorants in order to reduce wildlife damage caused by double-crested cormorants.

29.886 History History: 2005 a. 287.

29.887 29.887 Wildlife control in urban communities.

29.887(1) (1) The department shall establish a program to award matching grants to any city, village, or town with a population density of not less than 125 persons per square mile for up to 50 percent of the costs for projects to plan wildlife abatement measures or to engage in wildlife control efforts or both.

29.887(2) (2) A grant awarded under this section may not exceed $5,000.

29.887(3) (3) The department shall promulgate rules establishing criteria for awarding grants under this section.

29.887 History History: 1997 a. 27; 1997 a. 248 s. 643; Stats. 1997 s. 29.887; 2023 a. 50.

29.887 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 12 and s. NR 19.75, Wis. adm. code.

29.888 29.888 Wolf depredation program; wolf damage claims.

29.888(1b) (1b) In this section:

29.888(1b)(a) (a) “Federal endangered list” has the meaning given in s. 29.185 (1b) (a).

29.888(1b)(b) (b) “State endangered list” has the meaning given in s. 29.185 (1b) (b).

29.888(1m) (1m) The department shall administer a wolf depredation program under which payments may be made to persons who apply for reimbursement for death or injury caused by wolves to livestock, to hunting dogs other than those being actively used in the hunting of wolves, and to pets and for management and control activities conducted by the department for the purpose of reducing such damage caused by wolves. The department may make payments for death or injury caused by wolves under this program only if the death or injury occurs during a period of time when the wolf is not listed on the federal endangered list and is not listed on the state endangered list. The department may expend moneys under this program for its management and control activities only during a period of time when the wolf is not listed on the federal endangered list and is not listed on the state endangered list.

29.888(2) (2) The department shall establish maximum amounts that will be paid under sub. (1m) depending on the type of animal that suffered the death or injury. If the department determines that the amount available from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (5) (fv) is insufficient in a given fiscal year for making all of these payments, the department shall make the payments on a prorated basis.

29.888(3) (3) If, after making the payments under sub. (2), there are moneys remaining in the appropriation under s. 20.370 (5) (fv) for a given fiscal year, the department may use all or part of the remaining moneys in the following fiscal year for management and control of the wolf population activities conducted by the department.

29.888(4) (4) If there are any moneys remaining at the end of a given fiscal year after making the payments under sub. (2) and paying for activities authorized under sub. (3), these moneys shall lapse into the conservation fund, notwithstanding s. 20.001 (3) (c).

29.888(5) (5) 

29.888(5)(a) (a) From the sources described in par. (c), the department shall pay damage claims for damage caused by wolves during the period when the wolf is listed on the federal endangered list or on the state endangered list.

29.888(5)(b) (b) The department shall pay damage claims under par. (a) as soon as practicable after determining that the claim is eligible to be paid.

29.888(5)(c) (c) The department shall make the remainder of the payments from the appropriation accounts under s. 20.370 (1) (fb), (fe), and (fs). If the department determines that the amount available under s. 20.370 (1) (fb), (fe), and (fs) is insufficient in a given fiscal year to pay the claims under par. (a), the department may request the joint committee on finance to take action under s. 13.101. The requirement of a finding of emergency under s. 13.101 (3) (a) 1. does not apply to such a request.

29.888 History History: 2011 a. 169; 2013 a. 165 s. 115; 2017 a. 59.

29.889 29.889 Wildlife damage abatement program; wildlife damage claim program.

29.889(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “wildlife damage” means damage caused by any of the following wild animals that are not subject to regulation under ch. 169:

29.889(1)(a) (a) Deer that are not farm-raised deer.

29.889(1)(b) (b) Bear.

29.889(1)(c) (c) Geese.

29.889(1)(d) (d) Turkey.

29.889(1)(e) (e) Sandhill crane if hunting of sandhill cranes is authorized by the department.

29.889(1)(f) (f) Elk, if the department has promulgated a rule that establishes a season for hunting elk.

29.889(1)(g) (g) Cougar.

29.889(2) (2) Department powers and duties.

29.889(2)(a) (a) Assistance. The department shall assist counties in developing and administering 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.

29.889(2)(b) (b) Eligibility and funding requirements; rules. The department shall promulgate rules for eligibility and funding requirements for the wildlife damage abatement program and the wildlife damage claim program in order to maximize the cost-effectiveness of these programs. The department shall also promulgate rules to establish all of the following:

29.889(2)(b)1. 1. Authorized wildlife damage abatement measures and methods for implementing and paying for these abatement measures.

29.889(2)(b)2. 2. Forms and procedures for payment and processing of statement of claims and applications for abatement assistance.

29.889(2)(b)3. 3. Procedures and standards for determining the amount of wildlife damage.

29.889(2)(b)4. 4. A methodology for proration of wildlife damage claim payments.

29.889(2)(b)5. 5. Procedures for record keeping, audits and inspections.

29.889(2)(c) (c) Review of county administration plans. The department shall provide guidelines to counties applying for participation in the wildlife damage abatement and wildlife damage claim programs. The department shall review each plan of administration submitted under sub. (3) (c) and shall approve the plan if it is in substantial compliance with sub. (3) (c) and the rules promulgated by the department under this section.

29.889(2)(d) (d) Administrative funds. The department shall provide funding to each county participating in the wildlife damage abatement program, wildlife damage claim program or both for costs incurred in administering these programs. The amount of funding to be allocated for each county shall be based on the estimate of anticipated administrative costs prepared under sub. (3) (c) 8. but the department shall determine payments based on the actual administrative costs incurred. If actual costs exceed the estimate, the department may allocate additional funding based on criteria and using procedures established by rule.

29.889(3) (3) County administration.

29.889(3)(a) (a) County participation required. Eligibility for the wildlife damage abatement program or the wildlife damage claim program requires participation of the county in the administration of these programs as specified under sub. (4) (a) and (6) (a). The department may not administer a wildlife damage abatement program or wildlife damage claim program on behalf of or instead of a county.

29.889(3)(b) (b) Application. A county seeking to administer the wildlife damage abatement program or the wildlife damage abatement and wildlife damage claim programs shall apply to the department on forms provided by it on or before November 1 for the administration of these programs in the following calendar year or other period specified in the application.

29.889(3)(c) (c) Plan of administration. The application shall include a plan of administration to which the county agrees and in the form required by the department. The plan of administration shall include all of the following:

29.889(3)(c)1. 1. An agreement that the county shall make all records and files relating to the wildlife damage abatement program and wildlife damage claim program, including records and files concerning access of hunters to lands for which a wildlife damage claim is filed, available to the department for audit at reasonable times with the full cooperation of the county.

29.889(3)(c)2. 2. A description of authorized wildlife damage abatement measures, including designation of specifications for woven wire deer fences, for which reimbursement may be provided under the wildlife damage abatement program or which may be recommended under the wildlife damage claim program.

29.889(3)(c)3. 3. A summary of billing, allocation and accounting procedures to be used by the county and the department under this section. These procedures shall be consistent with generally acceptable accounting practices.

29.889(3)(c)4. 4. The procedure or formula to be used to determine land suitable for hunting and other hunting requirements necessary to comply with sub. (7m).

29.889(3)(c)5. 5. The procedures to be used in administering the wildlife damage abatement and wildlife damage claim programs.

29.889(3)(c)6. 6. A commitment that the county agrees to administer the wildlife damage abatement and wildlife damage claim programs so that participants are encouraged to pursue sound conservation as well as normal agricultural practices.

29.889(3)(c)7. 7. A summary of the organization and structure of the agency or unit of the county which is responsible for the administration of the wildlife damage abatement and wildlife damage claim programs.

29.889(3)(c)8. 8. An estimate of anticipated administrative costs, anticipated wildlife damage abatement assistance costs and anticipated wildlife damage claim payments.

29.889(3)(c)9. 9. Other information and conditions the department requires.

29.889(3)(cm) (cm) List of participants. A county that administers the wildlife damage abatement program or the wildlife damage claim program shall maintain a list of participants in the program and shall make the list available for public inspection.

29.889(3)(d) (d) Departmental approval; revocation. A county may not administer the wildlife damage abatement program or the wildlife damage claim program and a county is not considered a participating county for the purpose of administering these programs unless the department approves the plan of administration. The department may revoke its approval if a county does not comply with the plan of administration or this section.

29.889(4) (4) Wildlife damage abatement program; eligibility.

29.889(4)(a) (a) Participating county. In order to be eligible for wildlife damage abatement assistance, the land for which assistance is sought is required to be located in a county which is participating in the administration of the wildlife damage abatement program.

29.889(4)(b) (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 in a form acceptable to the county. An owner or lessee of land, a person who controls land or an owner of an apiary or livestock may file an application.

29.889(4)(bn) (bn) Type of wildlife damage. In order to be eligible for wildlife damage abatement assistance, the type of wildlife damage to be abated shall be limited to damage to commercial seedings or crops growing on agricultural land, damage to crops that have been harvested for sale or further use but that have not been removed from the agricultural land, damage to orchard trees or nursery stock, damage to apiaries or livestock, or damage to crops or grasses grown for use by a bird hunting preserve licensed under ch. 169.

29.889(4)(c) (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).