Source: https://www.animallaw.info/statute/wi-endangered-species-29604-endangered-and-threatened-species-protected
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 08:09:48+00:00

Document:
This Wisconsin statute embodies the legislative view that certain wild animals and wild plants are endangered or threatened and are entitled to preservation and protection as a matter of general state concern. Violation of the Act with regard to protected animal species may result in a $500-2,000 for a taking, and a $2,000-5,000 fine with 9 months imprisonment for an intentional taking. Both incur the suspension of hunting license privileges. Incidental takings may be allowed through permit if steps are taken to establish and file a "conservation plan."
(1) Purpose. The legislature finds that certain wild animals and wild plants are endangered or threatened and are entitled to preservation and protection as a matter of general state concern. The federal endangered species act of 1973 [FN1] and the Lacey act together provide for the protection of wild animals and wild plants threatened with worldwide extinction by prohibiting the importation of endangered or threatened wild animals and wild plants and by restricting and regulating interstate and foreign commerce in wild animals and wild plants taken in violation of state, federal and foreign laws. The states, however, must also assume their responsibility for conserving these wild animals and wild plants and for restricting the taking, possession, transportation, processing or sale of endangered or threatened wild animals and wild plants within their respective jurisdictions to assure their continued survival and propagation for the aesthetic, recreational and scientific purposes of future generations. The legislature finds that by restricting the taking, possession or marketing of endangered species in this state and by establishing a program for conservation and restoration of these endangered or threatened species, their potential for continued existence will be strengthened. The legislature further finds that the activities of both individual persons and governmental agencies are tending to destroy the few remaining whole plant-animal communities in this state. Since these communities represent the only standard against which the effects of change can be measured, their preservation is of highest importance, and the legislature urges all persons and agencies to fully consider all decisions in this light.
(a) “Endangered species” means any species whose continued existence as a viable component of this state's wild animals or wild plants is determined by the department to be in jeopardy on the basis of scientific evidence.
(am) “State agency” means a board, commission, committee, department or office in the state government or the Fox River Navigational System Authority. “State agency” does not include the department of natural resources or the office of the governor.
(b) “Threatened species” means any species of wild animals or wild plants which appears likely, within the foreseeable future, on the basis of scientific evidence to become endangered.
(bn) “Whole plant-animal community” means a group of species living together in a particular area, time and habitat.
(c) Notwithstanding s. 29.001 (90), “wild animal” means any mammal, fish, wild bird, amphibian, reptile, mollusk, crustacean, or arthropod, or any part, products, egg or offspring thereof, or the dead body or parts thereof.
(d) “Wild plant” means any undomesticated species of the plant kingdom occurring in a natural ecosystem.
(3) Endangered and threatened species list.
(c) The department may upon the petition of 3 persons review any listed or unlisted wild animal or wild plant if the persons present scientific evidence to warrant such a review, after which the department may by hearing and rule amend the statewide list.
2. Cut, root up, sever, injure or destroy the wild plant.
(a)1. Whoever violates sub. (4) (a) shall forfeit not less than $500 nor more than $2,000. In addition, the court shall order the revocation of all hunting approvals issued to the person under this chapter and shall prohibit the issuance of any new hunting approvals under this chapter for one year. Whoever intentionally violates sub. (4) (a) shall be fined not less than $2,000 nor more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both. In addition, the court shall order the revocation of all hunting approvals issued to the person under this chapter and shall prohibit the issuance of any new hunting approvals under this chapter for 3 years.
2. Whoever violates sub. (4) (b) or (c) shall forfeit not more than $1,000. Whoever intentionally violates sub. (4) (b) or (c) shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.
(b) Any officer employed and authorized by the department, or any police officer of this state or of any municipality or county within this state, shall have the authority to execute a warrant to search for and seize any goods, business records, merchandise or wild animal or wild plant taken, employed, used or possessed in violation of this section. Any such officer or agent may, without a warrant arrest any person whom the officer or agent has probable cause to believe is violating this section in his or her presence or view. An officer or agent who has made an arrest of a person in connection with any violation under this section may search the person or business records at the time of arrest and seize any wild animals and wild plants, records, or property taken, used or employed in connection with any violation.
(c) Goods, merchandise, wild animals, wild plants or records seized under par. (b) shall be held by an officer or agent of the department pending disposition of court proceedings and shall be forfeited to the state for destruction or disposition as the department determines to be appropriate. Prior to forfeiture, the department may direct the transfer of wild animals or wild plants so seized to a qualified zoological, educational or scientific institution or qualified private propagator for safekeeping with costs assessable to the defendant.
3. Just cause exists based upon a written finding of necessity by the secretary.
(hr) A finding of necessity under par. (hm)3. by the secretary shall be a final decision not subject to review under subch. III of ch. 227.
(bn) The department may allow an activity by the department itself that results in the taking of an endangered species or threatened species if the activity is accomplished with procedures established by the department for the purpose of minimizing any adverse effect on the endangered species or threatened species and if pars. (a)2. and 3. and (b) apply.
(c) The department shall notify the state agency if the department determines that there is reasonable cause for the department to determine that an activity by the state agency is not being carried out in compliance with this subsection or with any environmental protection requirements developed through interagency consultation procedures. If the secretary of natural resources and the head, as defined in s. 15.01(8), of the state agency are unable to agree upon methods or time schedules to be used to correct the alleged noncompliance, the department may bring any action or initiate any other proceedings to enforce compliance with this subsection.
(e)1. Except as provided in subd. 2., cooperation between the department and the state agency under par. (d) shall include conducting reasonable surveys and reasonable biological assessments as determined by the department.
(em)1. Before allowing the taking of an endangered species or threatened species under this subsection, the department shall give notice of the proposed activity to the news media throughout the state and to any person who wants to receive notification of proposed takings under this subsection and who has so informed the department in writing. The department shall transmit the notice at least 30 days before allowing the taking except as provided in subd. 2.
(f) In addition to any requirements under s. 1.11, the department may give public notice of and hold public hearings on the activities of state agencies or the department under this subsection.
(7m) Bulk sampling activities. A person may take, transport, or possess a wild animal on the department's endangered and threatened species list without a permit under this section if the person avoids and minimizes adverse impacts to the wild animal to the extent practicable, if the taking, transporting, or possession does not result in wounding or killing the wild animal, and if the person takes, transports, or possesses the wild animal for the purpose of bulk sampling activities under s. 295.45.
(8) Exemptions. This section does not apply to zoological societies or municipal zoos, or to their officers or employees.
[FN1] 16 U.S.C.A. § 1530 et seq.
L.1977, c. 370, §§ 6 to 11, eff. May 20, 1978.
L.1979, c. 110, § 9, eff. March 1, 1980.
L.1979, c. 355, § 53, eff. July 1, 1980.
1985 Act 182, § 7, eff. April 22, 1986.
1987 Act 183, §§ 1, 2, eff. April 8, 1988.
1989 Act 296, §§ 2 to 5, eff. May 8, 1990.
1995 Act 296, §§ 6 to 12, eff. May 14, 1996.
1997 Act 248, § 508, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.
2001 Act 16, § 1200, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
2013 Act 1, §§ 9 to 11, eff. March 26, 2013.
(a) Any endangered species protected under s. 29.604, $875.
(b) Any moose, fisher, prairie chicken, or sand hill crane, $262.50.
(c) Any deer, bear, wild turkey or wild swan, $175.
(d) Any bobcat, fox, wolf, beaver, or otter, $87.50.
(e) Any coyote, raccoon or mink, $43.75.
(f) Any sharp-tailed grouse, ruffed grouse, spruce hen, wild duck, coot, wild goose or brant, $26.25.
(g) Any pheasant, gray partridge, quail, rail, Wilson's snipe, woodcock or shore bird, or protected song bird or harmless bird, $17.50.
(h) Any muskrat, rabbit or squirrel, $8.75.
(i) Any muskellunge or lake sturgeon, $43.75.
(j) Any largemouth or smallmouth bass, $26.25.
(k) Any brook, rainbow, brown, or steel head trout, $26.25.
(L) Any walleye pike, northern pike, or any other game fish not mentioned in pars. (i) to (k), $8.75.
(m) Any game or fur-bearing animal or bird not mentioned in pars. (am) to (h), $17.50.
(2) Any damages recovered in a civil action under this section shall be paid into the conservation fund. The costs of the action, if the judgment is in favor of the defendant, shall be paid out of the conservation fund.
(3) A civil action brought under this section shall be a bar to a criminal prosecution for the same offense and any criminal prosecution for any offense chargeable under this section shall be a bar to a civil action brought under this section.
L.1953, c. 319, § 23.
L.1965, c. 249, § 19.
L.1967, c. 26, § 94, eff. May 14, 1967.
L.1967, c. 29, § 2, Eff. May 18, 1967.
L.1969, c. 276, §§ 218, 588, eff. Dec. 28, 1969.
L.1975, c. 365, § 48, eff. May 29, 1976.
L.1977, c. 386, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 23, 1978.
L.1979, c. 34, § 756v, eff. Jan. 1, 1980.
1985 Act 332, § 251(1), eff. June 12, 1986.
1995 Act 376, § 4, eff. June 14, 1996.
1997 Act 27, § 1139vv, eff. Jan. 1, 1998.
1997 Act 248, §§ 691 to 698, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.
2001 Act 56, § 105, eff. Jan. 1, 2003.
2001 Act 109, §§ 88b, 88e, 88g, eff. July 30, 2002.
2001 Act 109, § 88f, eff. March 10, 2003.
2011 Act 169, § 17, eff. April 17, 2012.
2011 Act 169 amended subsec. (1)(d).
1. For any wild animal that is an endangered species protected under s. 29.604, $875.
2. For any moose, fisher, prairie chicken, or sand hill crane, $262.50.
3. For any bear, wild turkey or wild swan, $175.
4. For any bobcat, fox, wolf, beaver, or otter, $87.50.
5. For any deer, coyote, raccoon or mink, $43.75.
6. For any sharp-tailed grouse, ruffed grouse, spruce hen, wild duck, coot, wild goose or brant, $26.25.
7. For any pheasant, gray partridge, quail, rail, Wilson's snipe, woodcock or shore bird, or protected song bird or harmless bird, $17.50.
8. For any muskrat, rabbit or squirrel, $8.75.
9. For any muskellunge or lake sturgeon, $43.75.
10. For any largemouth or smallmouth bass, $26.25.
11. For any brook, rainbow, brown, or steel head trout, $26.25.
12. For any walleye pike, northern pike, or any other game fish not mentioned in subds. 9 to 11, $8.75.
13. For any game or fur-bearing animal or bird not mentioned in subds. 1m. to 8., $17.50.
(d) If a fine or forfeiture is suspended in whole or in part, the wild animal protection surcharge shall be reduced in proportion to the suspension.
(e) If any deposit is made for an offense to which this section applies, the person making the deposit shall also deposit a sufficient amount to include the wild animal protection surcharge under this section. If the deposit is forfeited, the amount of the wild animal protection surcharge shall be transmitted to the secretary of administration under par. (f). If the deposit is returned, the wild animal protection surcharge shall also be returned.
(f) The clerk of the court shall collect and transmit to the county treasurer the wild animal protection surcharge and other amounts required under s. 59.40(2)(m). The county treasurer shall then make payment to the secretary of administration as provided in s. 59.25(3)(f)2.
1991 Act 39, § 965, eff. Aug. 15, 1991.
1995 Act 201, § 33, eff. Sept. 1, 1996.
1995 Act 376, § 5, eff. June 14, 1996.
1997 Act 248, § 725, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.
2001 Act 56, § 106, eff. Jan. 1, 2003.
2001 Act 109, §§ 88m, 88n, 88p, eff. July 30, 2002.
2001 Act 109, § 88o, eff. March 10, 2003.
2003 Act 33, §§ 906 to 908, eff. July 1, 2004.
2003 Act 139, §§ 53 to 59, eff. March 25, 2004.
2003 Act 326, §§ 15, 16, eff. June 12, 2004.
2011 Act 169, § 18, eff. April 17, 2012.
2011 Act 169 amended subsec. (1)(b)4.

References: § 1530
 § 9
 § 53
 § 7
 § 508
 § 1200
 § 23
 § 19
 § 94
 § 2
 § 48
 § 756
 § 251
 § 4
 § 1139
 § 105
 § 88
 § 17
 § 965
 § 33
 § 5
 § 725
 § 106
 § 88
 § 18