Importing Wild Animals from Outside Wisconsin
Animals classified as "wild" include all members of non-domesticated species, including animals born and raised in captivity. See below for a list of animals prohibited from entry into Wisconsin and considerations for legal ownership.
Note: DATCP does not determine if it is legal to own a particular wild animal species.
- Contact officials at all levels of your local government in the destination jurisdiction (county, township, and municipality) to determine their regulations on animal ownership.
- Contact the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for additional regulations on possessing and moving native, harmful, or endangered and threatened wildlife species.
- Contact US Fish and Wildlife Service to determine if there are additional federal regulations for certain types of wildlife. Midwest Region Headquarters: (612) 713-5360.
When importing a wild animal species, you must provide a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI). Review below for accepted CVIs and CVI requirements. A CVI is required for animals entering Wisconsin by any mode of transportation, such as automobile, airplane, or rail.
Accepted CVIs
DATCP no longer accepts the computer-generated APHIS 7001 form which has no preprinted CVI number—older, multicopy forms with printed numbers are still accepted.
Alternative CVI forms are listed below; payment may be required. Some options may not be available in your state. Call your State Veterinarian's office to verify. If your State Veterinarian's office has another option not listed here, or if you are unsure if the CVI is accepted, contact the Import Coordinator.
- Electronic forms from any of the following: Global Vet Link, Vet-Sentry CVI, or your State Veterinarian's office.
- Paper copies available from your State Veterinarian's office. DATCP accepts large animal forms for pets, exotic species, and wild animals if allowed by the state of origin (where the animal is coming from).
- In addition to the above, for imports from Texas, the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) CVI.
CVIs must include the following:
- Complete physical origin and destination addresses.
- Age of animal, species, breed if applicable, and sex.
- Number of animals.
- Purpose of movement.
- Some exotic species require testing
- Import permit
- If you have a menagerie that includes native wild animals, non-native waterfowl, or harmful wild animals as defined by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, you must obtain a temporary nonresident exhibit permit before you can apply for an import permit. Call 1-888-WDNRINFO (936-7463) or visit the DNR website for more information.
- Imports of harmful wild animals as defined in NR 16.11, additionally require Department of Natural Resources (DNR) authorization under s. 169.11 (1) (c), Stats., DATCP will not issue an import permit until the DNR has given that authorization. Contact DNR if you are importing any of these species.
Not required for wild animals:
- Vaccinations
- Official individual ID (although this can be added to the CVI if the animal is identified).
How to submit a CVI:
CVIs written for animal imports into Wisconsin must be sent to DATCP's Division of Animal Health. This can be done in the following ways:
- Electronic CVIs are automatically and electronically submitted, and no additional action is required after CVI submission.
- If paper CVIs are submitted to a State Veterinarian's office in the state of origin and that office is forwarding them to Wisconsin, no further action is required.
- If submitting paper CVIs directly to Wisconsin, email to datcpwicvi@wisconsin.gov or mail to DATCP-DAH, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708-8911.
Additional Import Requirements for Wild Animals from Another Country
For wild animals being brought into Wisconsin from outside the U.S., check with the following agencies for additional requirements:
In addition to any requirements from other agencies, wild pets being brought into Wisconsin from outside the U.S. need to meet the regular import requirements for Wisconsin. Any health documentation used by the country of origin will be accepted for international movement.
Prohibited Animals
These animals may not be brought into Wisconsin:
- Prairie dogs
- Any of the following African-origin rodent species:
- Tree squirrels
- Rope squirrels
- Dormice
- Gambian giant pouched rats
- Brush-tailed porcupine
- Striped mice
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources regulations further prohibit the import of wild swine species or feral swine.
Moving Wild Animals within Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection does not have specific requirements for moving wild animals within the state of Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and US Fish & Wildlife Service. (Midwest Region Headquarters: (612) 713-5360) may have requirements.
Exporting Wild Animals Out of Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection does not have specific export requirements for
wild animals. The Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources and US Fish
& Wildlife Service. Midwest Region Headquarters: (612) 713-5360) may have
requirements. Also contact the state or nation
of destination to learn their import requirements.