Record-keeping and reporting requirements
Wis. Stat. § 169.36
in effect(1) Captive wild animal farm licenses, bird hunting preserve licenses, and nonprofit educational exhibiting licenses.
(a) Records; generally. Each person holding a captive wild animal farm license, a bird hunting preserve license, or a nonprofit educational exhibiting license shall keep a correct and complete record of all of the following information:
1. For each transaction in which live wild animals are purchased, sold, acquired, or transferred:
a. The complete name and address and the number of any license issued under this chapter of the person from whom the wild animals were purchased or acquired or of the person to whom the wild animals were sold or transferred.
b. The date of the transaction and the number and species of the wild animals.
2. All wild animals belonging to the holder of the license that have died, have been killed, or have escaped.
(b) Records; additional requirements; exemptions.
1. A person holding a bird hunting preserve license is exempt from keeping the records required under par. (a) 1. a. for those wild birds that are killed on the land subject to the license.
2. For the taking of wild reptiles or wild amphibians from the wild, a person required to hold a license for such taking under this chapter shall include in the person’s records the date of the taking and the location of the taking.
(2) Wild fur farm licenses. Each person holding a wild fur farm license shall keep a correct and complete record of the complete name and address and the number of any license issued under this chapter of each person to whom the license holder sells a live fur-bearing wild animal.
(3) Rehabilitation licenses. Each person holding a rehabilitation license shall keep a correct and complete record of all of the following information for each wild animal:
(a) The date that the wild animal in need of rehabilitation is received and the species of the wild animal.
(b) The condition of the wild animal that requires rehabilitation.
(c) The disposition of the wild animal, including the date and location of its release into the wild or its transfer to the department.
(d) The cause of death, if known, for a wild animal that dies.
(e) Health records as required by the department.
(4) Dog training and trial licenses. Each person holding a bird dog training license, a hound dog training license, a dog club training license, a bird dog trial license, or a hound dog trial license shall keep a receipt of the purchase of each wild animal purchased under the authority of the license and a correct and complete record of any testing for disease on these wild animals that is required under rules promulgated under s. 169.06 (3m).
(5) Scientific research licenses. Each person holding a scientific research license shall keep a correct and complete record of all of the following information for each wild animal:
(a) The disposition of the wild animal, including the date and location of its release into the wild or its transfer to the department.
(b) The cause of death, if known, for a wild animal that dies.
(7) Additional information. The department may impose additional record-keeping requirements on any holders of licenses under this chapter.
(8) Zoos. If a zoo or aquarium is not an accredited member of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, the governing body of the zoo or aquarium shall keep correct and complete records of all transactions involving the movement of wild animals that are native wild animals, nonnative wild animals of the family cervidae, harmful wild animals, or endangered or threatened species. The department shall determine the information to be kept in these records.
(9) Records; timing.
(a) A person holding a license subject to this section shall record all of the information required under this section within 7 days after the occurrence of the transaction or activity. A person holding a license subject to this section shall keep these records for 3 years after the last day of the year in which the record was entered.
(b) In addition to the requirements under par. (a), the person holding a license subject to this section shall provide a copy of the record required under this section to the department on a quarterly basis, as determined by the department, if the transaction or activity involved any live wild animal of the family canidae, ursidae, mustelidae, or felidae, or any harmful wild animal.
(d) The department may require, by rule, that submission of the records required under this section to the department be a condition for renewal of any license subject to this section.
(10) Reports.
(a) Each person holding a license subject to this section shall submit an annual summary report for each license year to the department that contains all of the following information for each species of wild animal possessed by the person holding the license:
1. The number of wild animals that the person holding the license possesses on the date of the report.
2. The number of wild animals that the person holding the license has purchased or otherwise acquired during the reporting year.
3. The number of wild animals that the person holding the license has sold, released into the wild, or otherwise transferred during the reporting year.
4. The number of wild animals that have been killed or have escaped or died during the reporting year.
(b) The person holding the license shall submit the annual report under par. (a) within 30 days after the last day of the license year that the report covers.
(10m) Prior records. A person required to keep records or reports under s. 29.853 (3) (b), 1999 stats., s. 29.855 (3) (c), 1999 stats., s. 29.865 (4) (b), 1999 stats., s. 29.867 (8), 1999 stats., s. 29.869 (9), 1999 stats., s. 29.871, 1999 stats., or s. 29.877 (6), 1999 stats., shall maintain copies of the records and reports that are in existence on January 1, 2003 for a period of 3 years beginning on January 1, 2003.
(11) Requirements as to form. The records and reports required under this section shall be in the English language and shall be on forms provided by the department or in a format approved by the department.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/169.36Fetched: 10/7/2026