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.
History: 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.