NR 19.71(13)
(13) "Wildlife rehabilitation advisory committee" means a group of volunteers appointed by the secretary or secretary's designee to advise and provide recommendations about wildlife rehabilitation to the department.
NR 19.71(14)
(14) "Wildlife rehabilitator" means a person authorized to capture, receive, temporarily possess, transport or transfer orphaned, sick or injured wildlife for the purpose of wildlife rehabilitation under a valid license issued pursuant to this subchapter.
NR 19.72
NR 19.72 General wildlife rehabilitation provisions. NR 19.72(1)(1) The title to all wildlife and their offspring held under a wildlife rehabilitation license remains under the jurisdiction of the department as described in s.
169.02, Stats., and may not be sold, traded or bartered without the consent of the department.
NR 19.72(2)
(2) The department may restrict wildlife rehabilitation of specific wildlife species, either statewide or in certain geographic areas to control the spread of disease, to protect public health or to prevent harmful environmental impacts.
NR 19.72(3)
(3) The department may restrict wildlife species authorized for rehabilitation based on the facilities and qualifications of the applicant or licensee.
NR 19.72(4)
(4) A wildlife rehabilitation license does not authorize the capture, receipt, possession, transportation or transfer of wildlife for any purpose other than wildlife rehabilitation.
NR 19.72(5)
(5) This license does not exempt the licensee from local ordinances that apply to activities authorized by this license.
NR 19.72(6)
(6) This license does not authorize the practice of veterinary medicine as defined in s.
453.02 (6), Stats.
NR 19.72(7)
(7) The licensee shall display his or her license to department agents or other law enforcement agents upon request.
NR 19.72(8)
(8) Any costs incurred by the licensee for wildlife rehabilitation activities shall be the responsibility of the licensee.
NR 19.72(9)
(9) Unless specifically authorized by the department for educational purposes, no person may place wildlife being rehabilitated on public exhibit, in ways that may lead to inappropriate imprinting, socialization, habituation or stress.
NR 19.72(10)
(10) Wildlife being rehabilitated may not be transported outside Wisconsin for release or any other purpose unless the licensee has verbal, or written, permission from the department and possesses a wildlife rehabilitation license pursuant to this subchapter.
NR 19.72(11)
(11) No person may import or accept wildlife for rehabilitation from outside Wisconsin unless he or she has verbal, or written, permission from the department and possesses a wildlife rehabilitation license pursuant to this subchapter.
NR 19.72 History
History: CR 03-029: cr.
Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04.
NR 19.73(1)(a)(a) Requirements. No person may rehabilitate wildlife unless he or she possesses a valid license pursuant to s.
169.24, Stats.
NR 19.73(1)(b)
(b)
Transferability. A rehabilitation license is not transferable.
NR 19.73(1)(c)
(c)
Reporting. The licensee shall notify the department within 7 days of any change of name, address, telephone number, associated federal permit status, substantial changes to facility, a decision to discontinue as a sponsor or wildlife rehabilitation activities before license expiration.
NR 19.73(2)(a)(a)
Requirements. An applicant for a basic license shall meet all of the following requirements:
NR 19.73(2)(a)1.
1. Possess a signed sponsorship agreement stating an advanced licensee is willing to mentor the applicant's wildlife rehabilitation activities.
NR 19.73(2)(a)2.
2. Possess a signed consulting veterinarian agreement stating a veterinarian, licensed to practice in Wisconsin or state of residence, is willing to consult and assist with care and treatment of wildlife being rehabilitated.
NR 19.73(2)(a)4.
4. Allow an inspection of facilities to assure that the applicant's facilities meet the requirements of
s. NR 19.77.
NR 19.73(2)(b)
(b)
Restrictions. Basic licensees may not possess any of the following:
NR 19.73(2)(b)1.
1. Federal migratory birds or federal or state endangered or threatened species unless authorized by appropriate federal and state permit.
NR 19.73(2)(b)2.
2. Mammals belonging to the family cervidae (deer, elk, and moose) or other harmful wild animals designated under s.
169.11, Stats.
NR 19.73(2)(b)3.
3. Species of bird belonging to the order ciconiformes (vultures, bitterns and herons), falconiformes (hawks, eagles, harriers, osprey, kites and falcons) with the exception of American kestrel, the order Strigiformes (all owls), with the exception of saw-whet and screech owls or the families gruidae (cranes) or gavidae (loons).
NR 19.73(2)(c)
(c)
Euthanasia. Euthanasia may only be performed under direct supervision of the sponsoring advanced licensee or consulting veterinarian.
NR 19.73(2)(d)
(d)
Volunteers. Basic licensees may not list volunteers on their license.
NR 19.73(3)(a)(a)
Requirements. Applicants shall meet all of the following requirements:
NR 19.73(3)(a)1.
1. Possess a basic evaluation form signed by the applicant's advanced licensee sponsor stating that the applicant has been a licensed basic rehabilitator for a minimum of 2 years and has satisfactorily engaged in the practice of wildlife rehabilitation.
NR 19.73(3)(a)2.
2. Possess a signed consulting veterinarian form stating a veterinarian, licensed to practice in Wisconsin or licensee's state of residence, is willing to consult and assist with care and treatment of wildlife being rehabilitated.
NR 19.73(3)(a)3.
3. Allow an inspection of facilities to assure that the applicant's facilities meet the requirements of
s. NR 19.77.
NR 19.73(3)(b)
(b)
Restrictions. Advanced licensees may not possess any of the following:
NR 19.73(3)(b)2.
2. Federal migratory birds or federal or state endangered or threatened species unless authorized by the appropriate federal and state permit.
NR 19.73(3)(c)
(c)
Euthanasia. Euthanasia may be performed by the advanced licensee or consulting veterinarian.
NR 19.73(3)(d)
(d)
Volunteers. Volunteers may be authorized to assist with the rehabilitation of wildlife under the authority of an advanced licensee's license provided that all of the following conditions apply:
NR 19.73(3)(d)1.
1. An updated list of volunteers assisting the advanced licensee is retained by the advanced licensee, and shall be provided to a department agent upon request.
NR 19.73(3)(d)2.
2. Volunteers operating at a location other than the advance licensee's facility shall retain a copy of the advanced licensee's license which shall be provided to a department agent upon request.
NR 19.73(3)(d)3.
3. Advanced licensees accept responsibility for the actions and activities of volunteers and shall be responsible for any violations by volunteers in violation of this chapter or
ch. 169, Stats.
NR 19.73(3)(d)4.
4. Advanced licensees that utilize volunteers that are not assisting with wildlife rehabilitation activities under the direct supervision of the advanced licensee shall be responsible for the volunteers' facilities meeting the standards defined in
s. NR 19.77.
NR 19.73 Note
Note: Wildlife rehabilitation sponsorship and veterinary agreements will be available upon request at DNR Service Centers, by writing the Bureau of Wildlife Management, PO Box 7921, 101 S. Webster St., Madison, WI 53707-7921 or by calling (608) 266-8204.
NR 19.73 History
History: CR 03-029: cr.
Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04;
CR 08-021: am. (3) (a) (intro.), r. (3) (e)
Register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08;
CR 09-024: renum. (3) (a) 4. to be (3) (a) 3.
Register May 2010 No. 653, eff. 6-1-10.
NR 19.74(1)(1) A person desiring to rehabilitate wildlife in Wisconsin shall submit all of the following information required by the department on an application form supplied by the department:
NR 19.74(1)(a)
(a) A signed consulting veterinarian agreement from a veterinarian who is willing to consult and assist applicant with care and treatment of wildlife being rehabilitated.
NR 19.74(1)(b)
(b) A signed sponsorship agreement from an advanced licensee who has agreed to sponsor the basic applicant.
NR 19.74(1)(c)
(c) For an advanced license applicant, a signed evaluation form from the advanced sponsor and consulting veterinarian which indicates compliance with
s. NR 19.73 (3).
NR 19.74(1)(d)
(d) Certification that the applicant has read and understands this subchapter and that the applicant agrees to comply with all provisions of this subchapter.
NR 19.74(2)
(2) The department may issue the appropriate rehabilitation license to an individual possessing a valid rehabilitators license or permit from another state or province, provided that the minimum requirements of the basic or advanced rehabilitators licenses described in this subchapter are met.
NR 19.74 Note
Note: Wildlife rehabilitation application, evaluation form, sponsorship agreement, and veterinary agreements will be available upon request at DNR Service Centers, by writing the Bureau of Wildlife Management, PO Box 7921, 101 S. Webster St., Madison, WI 53707-7921 or by calling (608) 266-8204.
NR 19.74 History
History: CR 03-029: cr.
Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04.
NR 19.75(1)(1) A person desiring a basic license to rehabilitate wildlife in Wisconsin shall take a written examination, provided and administered by the department, and score 80 percent or greater.
NR 19.75(2)
(2) The examination shall be prepared by the wildlife rehabilitation advisory committee and administered by a representative of the department.
NR 19.75(3)
(3) An applicant failing to correctly answer at least 80 percent of the questions on the examination described in this section may not be issued a license but may repeat the exam 30 days after the examination was completed.
NR 19.75(4)
(4) The department shall provide an examination study guide and other information regarding wildlife rehabilitation to each applicant upon request.
NR 19.75 Note
Note: The wildlife rehabilitation study guide will be available upon request at DNR Service Centers, by writing the Bureau of Wildlife Management, PO Box 7921, 101 S. Webster St., Madison, WI 53707-7921 or by calling (608) 266-8204.
NR 19.75 History
History: CR 03-029: cr.
Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04.
NR 19.76(1)(1) By accepting a license under this section a licensee consents to the facility inspection requirements established in s.
169.37, Stats., by the department and its agents.
NR 19.76(2)
(2) An applicant for a license under this section shall allow inspection of the applicant's facilities.
NR 19.76(3)
(3) Following an inspection, the department may do any of the following:
NR 19.76(3)(a)
(a) Remove any wildlife if it is in the best interest of the animals until the facility complies with the standards established in
s. NR 19.77.
NR 19.76(3)(b)
(b) Deny the licensee or applicant the privilege to rehabilitate certain species until licensee or applicant can prove that the rehabilitation facilities are in compliance with this subchapter.
NR 19.76(3)(c)
(c) Suspend a rehabilitation license for 30 days to allow a licensee's facilities to be brought into compliance.
NR 19.76(3)(d)
(d) Allow a licensee under this subchapter a specified period of time to comply with
s. NR 19.77 without revocation or suspension of license privileges designated in this subchapter.
NR 19.76 History
History: CR 03-029: cr.
Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04.
NR 19.77(1)(1)
General operating standards. Prior to engaging in wildlife rehabilitation activities, protocols for disease prevention and transmission, euthanasia, pharmaceutical use, pest control, carcass and biological waste disposal and adequate veterinary care shall be established by the licensee and reviewed and signed by licensee's consulting veterinarian. Wildlife being rehabilitated shall be subject to all of the following conditions:
NR 19.77(1)(a)
(a) If suspected of having an infectious disease, be quarantined in areas designated for that purpose.
NR 19.77(1)(b)
(b) Be kept separated from human living quarters and activities.
NR 19.77(1)(c)
(c) Have no contact with captive wildlife licensed under
ch. 169, Stats., with the exception of other wildlife held under a rehabilitation license.
NR 19.77(1)(d)
(d) Have no contact with the general public unless specifically authorized by the department for educational purposes.
NR 19.77(1)(e)
(e) Be kept in enclosures at all times, and have contact with the licensee or designated volunteers only to the extent necessary to provide adequate care and treatment.
NR 19.77(1)(f)
(f) Not be tamed, used as pets, held with domestic animals or habituated to humans.
NR 19.77(1)(g)
(g) Be of compatible species when housed together, and not pose a threat to health or well-being of other wildlife in the same enclosure.
NR 19.77(1)(h)
(h) Be raised with other wild animals of the same species held under the authority of a rehabilitation license whenever appropriate and possible, to ensure proper species orientation.
NR 19.77(2)(a)(a) Enclosures shall be structurally sound, of sufficient strength for species involved, and maintained in good repair to prevent escape or injury to wildlife being rehabilitated.
NR 19.77(2)(b)
(b) Enclosures shall be constructed to allow sufficient space for individual posture and social movements, unless medical treatment necessitates restricted mobility.
