Wisconsin

Last updated July 2020

Link to state website

Contacts

NHC SCP/SRL Permit Coordinator
Program specialist
Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation
608-261-6449

 Is a state permit needed for banding?

Yes. The regulation provides “(b) Bird banding. Scientific collectors permits will be required for trapping and banding protected nonmigratory upland game birds.”

A Scientific Collector Permit is required to collect or possess non-threatened or endangered bird carcasses, nests or eggs for scientific purposes and to band protected (wild, not farm raised) nonmigratory upland game birds (Ring-necked Pheasant, Gray Partridge, Northern Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, Ruffed Grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse and American Crow). If a federal migratory bird permit is required, it must be obtained before a Scientific Collector Permit can be issued. A Scientific Collector Permit is not required for banding under a Federal Bird Banding Lab permit, with the above exception for protected nonmigratory upland game birds.

A Scientific Research License is required to conduct research or monitoring of live non-threatened or endangered birds that includes capture and handling, except for banding under a Federal Bird Banding Lab permit. If a federal migratory bird permit is required, it must be obtained before a Scientific Research License can be issued.

Permit application forms

Note a regulatory exemption for endangered species permits: 

NR 27.06 Exceptions to permit requirements.
(1)  Federal permits.
NR 27.06(1)(a)(a) Any person taking, transporting, possessing or selling any wild animal or wild plant included in the U.S. foreign and native endangered and threatened species list, but not included in the Wisconsin endangered or threatened species lists, does not need a state permit if such person has a federal permit authorizing such possession. Any person who was previously exempted from needing a permit and is required to have a permit under this section shall apply for and be issued a permit no later than October 1, 1990.

State lands

A separate permit is required for research and scientific collection
involving state natural areas. An application can be obtained by writing to or calling:

Department of Natural Resources
Bureau of Endangered Resources
Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707
Phone: (608) 266-7012

Additionally, property manager permission is required to conduct research or monitoring that includes capture and handling of birds on all other Wisconsin DNR property types (State Parks, State Wildlife Areas, State Fisheries Areas, State Forests, State Recreation Areas, Scenic Riverways, State Trails, etc.)

Prior notice

Check permit conditions. Even if not expressly required to do so, you should always contact the manager of that particular state land unit or with the owner of private land before your arrival. You want to be aware of the hunting seasons, and, of course want to be sure that your activities will not interfere with the activities of that park, wildlife management area, or other state land unit, and that your activities will not adversely affect public use of the land or with the activities of private landowners.

Policies

Wisconsin Administrative Code
Natural Resources Title

NR 19.11 Scientific collectors permits and scientific research licenses.

NR 19.11(1)
(1) DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of implementing ss. 29.614 and 169.25, Stats., and within this section, the following definitions apply:

NR 19.11(1)(a)
(a) “Qualified natural person” or “person” means any individual complying with s. 29.614, Stats., and this section, not including a corporation, partnership, cooperative, society, association or other organization.

NR 19.11(1)(b)
(b) “Bonafide research program” means planned study and investigation undertaken to discover or establish facts or principles leading to increased, useful scientific knowledge.

NR 19.11(1)(c)
(c) “Useful scientific knowledge” means new information contributing to the long-term well-being of wild animals and their habitats, or providing educational opportunities in the natural sciences.

NR 19.11(2)
(2) APPLICABILITY.

NR 19.11(2)(a)
(a) Permits not required. Scientific collectors permits are not required for the collection of wild plants, unprotected wild animals taken legally, or wild animals obtained from licensed game farms or fish hatcheries.

NR 19.11(2)(b)
(b) Bird banding. Scientific collectors permits will be required for trapping and banding protected nonmigratory upland game birds.

NR 19.11(2)(c)
(c) Licenses. A person is not required to possess a separate hunting, fishing or trapping license while collecting under a scientific collector permit.

NR 19.11(2)(d)
(d) Endangered species. Endangered or threatened wild animals may be collected only under authority of endangered species permits issued by the department pursuant to s. 29.604, Stats., and ch. NR 27.

NR 19.11(2)(e)
(e) Tagging of fish. Scientific collectors permits are required to capture a wild fish, attach a tag to any part of it, and then to release it back into waters of the state.

NR 19.11(3)
(3) PERMIT APPLICATIONS.

NR 19.11(3)(a)
(a) Forms. Applications for scientific collectors permits shall be made on application forms provided by the department and include:

NR 19.11(3)(a)1.
1. Name and address of the applicant;

NR 19.11(3)(a)2.
2. Applicant’s personal description;

NR 19.11(3)(a)3.
3. Purpose of the request;

NR 19.11(3)(a)4.
4. Species and number of specimens to be collected;

NR 19.11(3)(a)5.
5. Places and times when specimens are to be collected;

NR 19.11(3)(a)6.
6. Method of collecting;

NR 19.11(3)(a)7.
7. Place where collections will be kept; and

NR 19.11(3)(a)8.
8. Such additional information as may be requested by the department.

NR 19.11(3)(a)9.
9. The period of the permit.

NR 19.11(3)(b)
(b) Narrative proposal. All permit applications shall be accompanied by a written proposal stating the objectives, justifications, procedures, times and places of collection, application of results and sponsor, if any, of the project described in the application.

NR 19.11(4)
(4) PERMIT ISSUANCE.

NR 19.11(4)(a)
(a) Issuance. Permits shall be issued in the name of the applicant. All agents of the permittee assisting in the permitted collections will be listed on the permit. Separate copies of permits shall be signed and carried by each person named in the permit when that person is acting under it in the absence of the permittee.

NR 19.11(4)(b)
(b) Specimen materials. A permit will be issued for collections yielding preserved specimen materials only when such materials are to be kept in a place and manner where students and the public have access to them. Private collections to be kept in a manner not open to the public will not be approved.

NR 19.11(4)(c)
(c) Conditions.

NR 19.11(4)(c)1.
1. `Contents.’ Permits will contain conditions deemed necessary by the department to protect the resources of the state and assure use of specimens taken are in compliance with s. 29.614, Stats.

NR 19.11(4)(c)2.
2. `Nonresidents.’ Permits issued to nonresidents will set forth conditions of removal of specimens from the state.

NR 19.11(4)(c)3.
3. `Federal permits.’

NR 19.11(4)(c)3.a.
a. Permits involving the capture, marking, collection, possession or salvage of migratory birds or parts, nests or eggs of migratory birds will not be issued under this section until the applicant possesses a permit issued by the U.S. fish and wildlife service for that activity.

NR 19.11(4)(c)3.b.
b. Permits under this section are not required for banding or marking capture-and-release activities authorized under a permit issued by the U.S. fish and wildlife service. [sic]

NR 19.11(4)(c)4.
4. `Size of collections.’ Permits will not be issued which authorize collections endangering the population of animals the collection would draw from, or exceeding the number of animals required to meet the permittee’s objectives.

NR 19.11(4)(c)5.
5. `Unprotected species.’ Permits will not be issued for the collection of protected species if unprotected species can be used to accomplish the same purposes.

NR 19.11(5)
(5) PERMIT USAGE.

NR 19.11(5)(a)
(a) Disposition of specimens.

NR 19.11(5)(a)1.
1. Living unharmed specimens collected during the course of permitted activities shall be returned to the wild at the point of capture, unless otherwise provided in the permit.

NR 19.11(5)(a)2.
2. Any endangered or threatened species taken unintentionally during the course of permitted activities shall be immediately released if unharmed.

NR 19.11(5)(a)3.
3. Injured or dead wild animal specimens shall be immediately turned over to the department employee named in the permit unless otherwise provided in the permit.

NR 19.11(5)(b)
(b) Notification of department. Each permittee shall notify the department employee named in the permit at least 48 hours prior to collecting of the time and place where specimens will be collected.

NR 19.11(5)(c)
(c) Marked gear. All traps, nets and any other gear used for capturing wild animals under terms of a permit shall be marked with the permit number, name and address of the permittee.

NR 19.11(5)(d)
(d) Trap and net tending. All traps, nets and other capture emptied by the permittee at least once each 24-hour period.

NR 19.11(5)(e)
(e) Fishing gear restrictions.

NR 19.11(5)(e)1.
1. `Gill nets.’ Gill nets may not be used in inland waters unless specifically authorized by a permit.

NR 19.11(5)(e)2.
2. `Buoys.’ All buoys and buoy staffs shall be marked and maintained as required by the department. The permit number, name and address of the permittee shall be maintained in plain figures on the bowl of the buoy.

NR 19.11(5)(e)3.
3. `Sport fishing equipment.’ Hook and line fishing equipment and spearing equipment may not be possessed on a boat operating under a permit without prior approval of the department.

NR 19.11(6)
(6) RECORDKEEPING AND ANNUAL REPORTS.

NR 19.11(6)(a)
(a) Records. Each permittee shall keep current records, in the English language, of all collections under the permit. Records of collections shall be made available to the department during normal business hours, or upon 8 hours notice at other times.

NR 19.11(6)(b)
(b) Required reports. Permittees shall supply information requested by the department and annually file a complete and accurate report on forms covering activities conducted under authority of the permit. Unless otherwise provided in the permit, such reports shall be filed using a report form provided by the department not later than January 10 of the year following expiration of the permit.

NR 19.11(6)(c)
(c) Content. Annual reports by permittees shall include:

NR 19.11(6)(c)1.
1. The common name, scientific name and number of each species and type of specimen material collected;

NR 19.11(6)(c)2.
2. The date and geographic location of each collection;

NR 19.11(6)(c)3.
3. Disposition of collected specimens; and

NR 19.11(6)(c)4.
4. Any other information requested by the department.

NR 19.11(7)
(7) DISPOSITION. Specimens collected under the authority of the scientific collector permit may be transferred to and possessed by an educational institution for exhibition or education purposes upon completion of the project or expiration of the permit. Environmental consulting organizations may retain specimens following permit expiration provided the specimens are marked in a manner prescribed by the department. An educational institution or environmental consulting organization possessing specimens shall possess written proof of source, including the scientific collector permit number of the source and present that proof upon request by the department.

NR 19.11 – ANNOT.
Note: Application forms for scientific collectors permits under this section may be obtained from any department regional office. Federal permits for migratory birds may be obtained from the Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Building, Fort Snelling, Twin Cities, MN 55111.

Wisconsin Statutes

29.614 Scientific collector permit.

29.614(1)
(1) Application for a scientific collector permit shall be submitted to the department. The department may issue a scientific collector permit if the department determines that the applicant is a natural person and is engaged in a bona fide program leading to increased, useful scientific knowledge.

29.614(2)
(2) A scientific collector permit shall state the name and address of the permittee, the date of issuance, the purposes for which it is issued, the type, species and number of specimens authorized to be collected or salvaged, the area and period of time in which the specimens may be collected or salvaged, the place where the specimens may be kept and other conditions and limitations that the department requires. A scientific collector permit is not transferable.

29.614(3)
(3) A scientific collector permit authorizes the permittee to collect or salvage from the wild, for scientific purposes only, live fish and the nests and carcasses of any wild animals specified in the permit subject to the conditions and limitations specified in the permit and the rules of the department. The permittee may use the specimens for the scientific purposes for which collected or salvaged and may transport them or cause them to be transported by common carrier. Possession of these specimens may not be transferred to any other person, except that these specimens may be exchanged for other specimens for scientific purposes. A scientific collector permit may authorize the use of net guns and tranquilizer guns for activities related to the purposes for which the permit is issued. Any person who is convicted of violating this chapter shall forfeit the person’s permit and the permit is thereby revoked, in addition to all other penalties. Any person so convicted is not eligible for a permit under this section for one year following the conviction.

Threatened and Endangered Species

An Endangered and Threatened Species Permit is required to take, export, transport or possess any threatened or endangered (not special concern) bird species, live or dead, on the Wisconsin Endangered and Threatened Species List for zoological, educational or scientific purposes, or for propagation in captivity for preservation purposes.

State listed Species as of June 2015:

Endangered 
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
Worm-Eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorum)
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)
Yellow-Throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica)
Kirtland’s Warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii)
Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri)
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

Threatened

Henslow’s Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii)
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis)
Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens)
Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis canadensis)
Kentucky Warbler (Geothlypis formosa)
Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)
Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea)
Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina)
Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido)
Bell’s Vireo (Vireo bellii)

Wisconsin state endangered species law

(6) Permits.
(a) The department shall issue a permit, under such terms and conditions as it may prescribe by rule, authorizing the taking, exportation, transportation or possession of any wild animal or wild plant on the list of endangered and threatened species for zoological, educational or scientific purposes, for propagation of such wild animals and wild plants in captivity for preservation purposes, unless such exportation, possession, transportation or taking is prohibited by any federal law or regulation, or any other law of this state.
NR 27.05 Permits for endangered and threatened species.
(1)  Issuance. The department shall issue endangered and threatened species permits in accordance with the provisions of and for the purposes authorized in s. 29.604, Stats. Conditions designed to protect and preserve species on the department list shall be imposed on permittees.
(2) Procedures.
(a) Applications. Applications for endangered and threatened species permits shall be made on forms furnished by the department and shall include:
1. Name and address of the applicant;
2. Personal description;
3. Purpose of the request;
4. Class, species, and number of specimens to be taken;
5. Area and period of time in which the specimens are to be taken;
6. Method of taking;
7. The place where specimens will be kept;
8. Duration of specimen possession;
9. Final disposition of specimens;
10. Applicant’s signature; and
11. Such additional information as may be requested by the department.
(b) Inspection. A permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall be carried upon the person of the permittee when exercising the permit privileges. The permit and any authorized species obtained must be shown to the department or its agents upon request. Furs shall be marked or stamped with a stamp or tag furnished by the department to show such furs are legally held and possessed.
(c) Annual report. An annual progress report on activities authorized by the permit may be required by the department. The department shall notify the permittee if this report is required.
(d) Permit conditions. The permittee may only take, transport, possess, process or sell species on the department list subject to and in accordance with the conditions imposed by the department. Conditions shall include but are not limited to the minimum standards for feeding, treatment, sanitation, pens and housing prescribed in ss. NR 16.30 to 16.38.
(e) Permit authority. A permit issued pursuant to this chapter does not authorize the exchange, purchase or sale of specimens on the department list with persons who do not hold an appropriate state or federal endangered or threatened species permit. This paragraph does not apply to the exchange or purchase of permitted state endangered or threatened plants from purchase of permitted state endangered or threatened plants from persons possessing a valid endangered and threatened species permit which allows the sale of specific species. All persons, including those persons or businesses which are based outside of Wisconsin, selling Wisconsin endangered or threatened plants shall possess a Wisconsin endangered or threatened species permit for those species being sold.
(f) Care of injured animals. A permit issued under the authority of this chapter does not authorize the routine care of injured animals.
NR 27.06 Exceptions to permit requirements.
(1)  Federal permits.
(a) Any person taking, transporting, possessing or selling any wild animal or wild plant included in the U.S. foreign and native endangered and threatened species list, but not included in the Wisconsin endangered or threatened species lists, does not need a state permit if such person has a federal permit authorizing such possession. Any person who was previously exempted from needing a permit and is required to have a permit under this section shall apply for and be issued a permit no later than October 1, 1990.