NR 19.70
NR 19.70 Purpose. This subchapter is adopted to establish consistent standards for the rehabilitation of wildlife in Wisconsin. The intent is to ensure all persons engaged in wildlife rehabilitation are qualified and provide humane care and housing for wildlife being rehabilitated.
NR 19.70 History
History: CR 03-029: cr.
Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04.
NR 19.71
NR 19.71 Definitions. In this subchapter:
NR 19.71(1)
(1) “Advanced license" means a wildlife rehabilitation license issued by the department to a person qualifying under s.
NR 19.73 (1) and
(3).
NR 19.71(1m)
(1m) “Basic care” means feeding, watering, and cleaning to provide for an animal's basic needs, and does not include tasks such as performing admittance exams and triage, or euthanasia.
NR 19.71(2)
(2) “Basic license" means a wildlife rehabilitation license issued by the department to a person qualifying under s.
NR 19.73 (1) and
(2).
NR 19.71(2m)
(2m) “Cage” means any structure in which animals are confined for rehabilitation purposes.
NR 19.71(3)
(3) “Department" means the department of natural resources.
NR 19.71(3m)
(3m) “Direct supervision” means the actual presence of the licensee or consulting veterinarian.
NR 19.71(4)
(4) “Euthanasia" means the humane killing of a wild animal in accordance with the current American veterinary medical association standards contained in the most recent report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia.
NR 19.71 Note
Note: Reports of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia are available for inspection at the offices of the Secretary of State, 30 W. Mifflin Street, Madison, WI, the Legislative Reference Bureau, One E. Main Street, Madison, WI, or the department.
NR 19.71(5)
(5) “Facilities" means any equipment, housing or shelter used for wildlife rehabilitation.
NR 19.71(6)
(6) “Federal permit" means a special purpose permit issued under
50 CFR Part 13 and
50 CFR 21.27 by the United States fish and wildlife service for the rehabilitation of migratory birds and federally endangered or threatened species.
NR 19.71(6m)
(6m) “Indirect supervision” means written or verbal instructions for treatment of an animal provided by a licensee or consulting veterinarian that need not be present.
NR 19.71(7)
(7) “Protective device" means a device that is designed to prevent the escape of an animal at the entrance of a primary enclosure.
NR 19.71(8)
(8) “Sponsor" means an advanced licensee who has volunteered to mentor a basic licensee.
NR 19.71(9)
(9) “Sponsorship agreement" means a document that establishes an advanced licensee as a sponsor for a basic licensee.
NR 19.71(9m)
(9m) “Subpermittee” means any person subject to the conditions and limits established in s.
NR 19.73 (3)(e) and who is working in a limited capacity under the supervision of an advanced licensee on wildlife rehabilitation activities.
NR 19.71(10)
(10) “Volunteer” means any person at a licensee's facility who is contributing to the activities of the facility or who is under the direction of and is known to the licensee.
NR 19.71(13)
(13) “Wildlife rehabilitation advisory council" means a group of volunteers appointed by the secretary or secretary's designee to advise and provide recommendations about wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife health, and captive wildlife 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 19.71 History
History: CR 03-029: cr.
Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04;
CR 09-024: am. (10)
Register May 2010 No. 653, eff. 6-1-10;
CR 15-054: cr. (1m), (2m), (3m), am. (4), cr. (6m), (9m), r. and recr. (10), am. (13)
Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8-1-18; correction in numbering in (9m) made under s.
13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register July 2018 No. 751.
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 Note
Note: Deer rehabilitation information can be found at
http://dnr.wi.gov/ or 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. The rehabilitation of skunks is prohibited under s.
NR 1.18 (3) (c). The possession and rehabilitation of species which are listed as threatened or endangered as established in s.
NR 27.03 requires authorization from the Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation. Pursuant to ss.
169.085 and
169.11 (1) (b), Stats., the department does not allow rehabilitation of wolves or wolf-dog hybrids.
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 Note
Note: Birds held under falconry licensing are private property, do not meet the definition of “wild animal” per s.
169.01 (30m), Stats., and thus care and treatment is not authorized per wildlife rehabilitation licensing authority.
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.
89.02 (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 19.73(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(1)(d)
(d)
Species. The department shall list on the license the species authorized for rehabilitation by a basic or an advanced licensee.
NR 19.73(1)(e)
(e)
Species additions. No person may have a species added to their license unless all of the following have occurred:
NR 19.73(1)(e)1.
1. The licensee has submitted to the department a caging report as required under s.
NR 19.76 (2m), pictures of pens and enclosures, and documentation indicating the licensee-s rehabilitation experience and knowledge with the new species. For migratory birds, experience and knowledge with the new species shall include at least 100 hours of hands-on experience gained within at least one whole year and 20 of those hours may be fulfilled by participation in seminars or courses relating to the new species. For species which are not migratory birds, the department may establish that less experience and knowledge is needed. The department may require that licensees demonstrate specific experience and knowledge of species that it determines to be sensitive or difficult to rehabilitate.
NR 19.73(1)(e)3.
3. An additional facility inspection to determine compliance with standards established under s.
NR 19.77 has been conducted if the department has determined such an inspection is necessary.
NR 19.73(1)(e)4.
4. For a basic licensee modification, the licensee possesses a sponsorship agreement with an advanced licensee.
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)1m.
1m. Submit a completed license application that describes prior wildlife rehabilitation and animal care experience to the department.
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 permit and state approval added to the licensee's rehabilitation license.
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. Volunteers may assist basic licensees with the rehabilitation of wildlife if all of the following requirements are met:
NR 19.73(2)(d)1.
1. Basic licensees have completed one full year of licensed wildlife rehabilitation before volunteers may be authorized to assist with wildlife rehabilitation activities.
NR 19.73(2)(d)2.
2. All volunteer information including name, address, and telephone number has been provided to the department by the licensee.
NR 19.73(2)(d)3.
3. The department is notified quarterly, by the licensee, of any changes to their list of volunteers and any changes in contact information of the licensee's volunteers.
NR 19.73(2)(d)4.
4. Volunteers only provide basic care to species identified on the basic license.
NR 19.73(2)(d)5.
5. Volunteers only operate at the facility of the licensee and under the direct supervision of the basic licensee.
NR 19.73(2)(d)6.
6. 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(2)(e)
(e)
Subpermittees. A basic license holder shall not list subpermittees on the license holder's 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)1m.
1m. Submit a completed license application form that describes prior wildlife rehabilitation experience to the department.
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 permit and state approval added to the licensee's rehabilitation license.
NR 19.73(3)(c)
(c)
Euthanasia. Euthanasia may be performed by the advanced licensee or consulting veterinarian.
NR 19.73 Note
Note: Injectable euthanasia requires a controlled substances special use authorization (SUA). Reference the State of Wisconsin Controlled Substances Board information.
NR 19.73(3)(d)
(d)
Volunteers. Volunteers may assist advanced licensees with the rehabilitation of wildlife if all of the following requirements are met:
NR 19.73(3)(d)1.
1. All volunteer information including name, address, and telephone number has been provided to the department by the licensee.
NR 19.73(3)(d)2.
2. The department is notified quarterly, by the licensee, of any changes to the licensee's list of volunteers and any changes in contact information of their volunteers.
NR 19.73(3)(d)3.
3. Volunteers only provide basic care to species identified on the advanced license.
NR 19.73(3)(d)4.
4. Volunteers only operate at the facility of the licensee and under the direct or indirect supervision of the advanced licensee.
NR 19.73(3)(d)5.
5. 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.
