Section 951.015. Construction and application.

 

(1)  This chapter may not be interpreted as controverting any law regulating wild animals that are subject to regulation under ch. 169 , the taking of wild animals, as defined in s. 29.001 (90) , or the slaughter of animals by persons acting under state or federal law.

(2)  For purposes of enforcing this chapter as to wild animals subject to regulation under ch. 169 , a conservation warden has the same powers and duties that a law enforcement officer has under this chapter.

(3)  This chapter does not apply to:

(a) Teaching, research, or experimentation conducted pursuant to a protocol or procedure approved by an educational or research institution, and related incidental animal care activities, at facilities that are regulated under 7 USC 2131 to 2159 or 42 USC 289d .

(b) Bona fide scientific research involving species unregulated by federal law.

1973 c. 314 ; 1983 a. 27 s. 2202 (38) ; 1987 a. 332 s. 54 ; Stats. 1987 s. 951.015; 1997 a. 248 ; 2001 a. 56 ; 2011 a. 32 . Rather than exclude all non-captive wild animals from coverage of ch. 951, the legislature instead prohibits enforcement that controverts ch. 29 and regulations governing "the taking of wild animals." By prohibiting a subset of takings — those that controvert ch. 29 — the legislature necessarily conveys its belief that there are takings that do not controvert ch. 29. State v. Kuenzi, 2011 WI App 30 , 332 Wis. 2d 297 , 796 N.W.2d 222 , 09-1827 . Enhancing Animal Welfare Laws. Goode & Aizenberg. Wis. Law. Dec. 2011.