169.15 Captive wild animal farm licenses.

(1) Issuance.

(a) The department shall issue a Class A captive wild animal farm license to operate a captive wild animal farm that grosses $10,000 or more in annual sales to any person who files a proper application for the license and who pays the applicable fee.

(b) The department shall issue a Class B captive wild animal farm license to operate a captive wild animal farm that grosses less than $10,000 in annual sales to any person who files a proper application for the license and who pays the applicable fee.

(d) The applicant shall specify the location of the enclosures for the wild animals on the application.

(2) Authorization.

(a) A captive wild animal farm license authorizes the holder of the license to possess, propagate, kill, exhibit, purchase, and sell live captive wild animals of the species specified by the department on the license.

(b) A captive wild animal farm license authorizes the killing of captive wild animals only by the holder of the license or an employee of the holder of the license.

(3) Calculation of annual sales.

(a) The calculation of annual sales under sub. (1) and par. (b) shall be based on sales from the prior year that involve live captive wild animals that are any of the following:

1. Native wild animals.

3. Harmful wild animals.

4. Endangered or threatened species.

(b) For the first year that a person is issued a captive wild animal farm license, the person shall be issued a Class B captive wild animal farm license, unless one of the following applies:

1. The person operated a game bird and animal farm licensed under s. 29.867, 1999 stats., on January 1, 2003, that grossed $10,000 or more in annual sales.

2. The person elects to be issued a Class A captive wild animal farm license.

(4) Control of wild animals.

(a) A person holding a captive wild animal farm license shall control the wild animals at all times in the manner required by the department and shall keep the wild animals at the locations specified on the application for the license.

(b) If any member of the family ursidae, felidae, or canidae escapes from its enclosure or fenced area on a captive wild animal farm, the person holding the captive wild animal farm license shall notify the department within 24 hours after the escape.

(5) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to establish additional standards, limitations, and requirements for captive wild animal farm licenses and for captive wild animal farms, including fencing of the farms.

History: 2001 a. 56.