Section NR 19.73 - Licenses(1) GENERAL RESTRICTIONS. (a)Requirements. No person may rehabilitate wildlife unless he or she possesses a valid license pursuant to s. 169.24, Stats.(b)Transferability. A rehabilitation license is not transferable.(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.(d)Species. The department shall list on the license the species authorized for rehabilitation by a basic or an advanced licensee.(e)Species additions. No person may have a species added to their license unless all of the following have occurred: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.2. The department has reviewed and approved the addition.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.4. For a basic licensee modification, the licensee possesses a sponsorship agreement with an advanced licensee. Note: The department is advised by the wildlife rehabilitation advisory council established under s. NR 19.82(1) which develops recommendations for appropriate minimum requirements for experience and knowledge when adding new species to a license and the list of species sensitive or difficult to rehabilitate.
(2) BASIC LICENSE. (a)Requirements. An applicant for a basic license shall meet all of the following requirements: 1. Possess a signed sponsorship agreement stating an advanced licensee is willing to mentor the applicant's wildlife rehabilitation activities.1m. Submit a completed license application that describes prior wildlife rehabilitation and animal care experience to the department.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.3. Pass an examination meeting the requirements of s. NR 19.75.4. Allow an inspection of facilities to assure that the applicant's facilities meet the requirements of s. NR 19.77.(b)Restrictions. Basic licensees may not possess any of the following: 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.2. Mammals belonging to the family cervidae (deer, elk, and moose) or other harmful wild animals designated under s. 169.11, Stats.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).(c)Euthanasia. Euthanasia may only be performed under direct supervision of the sponsoring advanced licensee or consulting veterinarian.(d)Volunteers. Volunteers may assist basic licensees with the rehabilitation of wildlife if all of the following requirements are met: 1. Basic licensees have completed one full year of licensed wildlife rehabilitation before volunteers may be authorized to assist with wildlife rehabilitation activities.2. All volunteer information including name, address, and telephone number has been provided to the department by the licensee.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.4. Volunteers only provide basic care to species identified on the basic license.5. Volunteers only operate at the facility of the licensee and under the direct supervision of the basic licensee.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.(e)Subpermittees. A basic license holder shall not list subpermittees on the license holder's license.(3) ADVANCED LICENSE. (a)Requirements. Applicants shall meet all of the following requirements: 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.1m. Submit a completed license application form that describes prior wildlife rehabilitation experience to the department.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.2m. Pass an examination meeting the requirements of s. NR 19.75.3. Allow an inspection of facilities to assure that the applicant's facilities meet the requirements of s. NR 19.77.(b)Restrictions. Advanced licensees may not possess any of the following: 1. Species of wildlife not authorized by their license.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.(c)Euthanasia. Euthanasia may be performed by the advanced licensee or consulting veterinarian. Note: Injectable euthanasia requires a controlled substances special use authorization (SUA). Reference the State of Wisconsin Controlled Substances Board information.
(d)Volunteers. Volunteers may assist advanced licensees with the rehabilitation of wildlife if all of the following requirements are met:1. All volunteer information including name, address, and telephone number has been provided to the department by the licensee.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.3. Volunteers only provide basic care to species identified on the advanced license.4. Volunteers only operate at the facility of the licensee and under the direct or indirect supervision of the advanced licensee.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.(e)Subpermittees. Subpermittees may be authorized to assist with the rehabilitation of wildlife in a limited capacity under the authority of an advanced licensee's license and subject to the restrictions of basic licensees under sub. (2) if all of the following requirements are met: 1. Subpermittees may only admit animals directly from the advanced licensee.2. No subpermittee may perform euthanasia or advanced medical treatments or procedures.3. All subpermittee information including name, address, and telephone number has been provided to the department.4. Advanced licensees notify the department quarterly of any changes to their lists of subpermittees and any changes in contact information of their subpermittees.5. Subpermittees are listed on all of the advanced licensee's permits and licenses by the species for which the subpermittees provide rehabilitation care.6. Subpermittees operating at a location other than the advanced licensee's facility retain a copy of the advanced licensee's license, which shall be provided to a department agent upon request.7. Advanced licensees accept responsibility for the actions and activities of their subpermittees and shall be responsible for any violations incurred of this subchapter or ch. 169, Stats.8. Advanced licensees that utilize subpermittees who operate at a location other than the advanced licensee's facility shall be responsible for establishing that subpermittees' facilities meet the standards established in s. NR 19.77.9. Subpermittees operating at locations other than the advanced licensee's facility submit, to both the advanced licensee and the department, caging reports and pictures of every rehabilitation pen and enclosure at their locations.10. Subpermittees who operate at a location other than the advanced licensee's facility are located no more than 60 miles from the main facility of the advanced licensee.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 19.73
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.Amended by, CR 15-054: cr. (1) (d), (e), (2) (a) 1m., r. and recr. (2) (d), cr. (2) (e), cr. (3) (a) 1m., 2m., r. and recr. (3) (d), cr. (3) (e) Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8-1-18; correction in (3) (e) 6. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8/1/2018Amended by, CR 19-146: am. (1) (e) 1., (2) (b) 1., (3) (b) 2. Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7/1/2020 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.