Village of Greenville, WI Article IV Possession of Exotic or Wild Animals

[Adopted 11-23-2020 by Ord. No. 10-20]

§ 76-23 Intent and purpose.

The Village Board of the Village of Greenville hereby finds that wild animals are inherently dangerous and do not adjust well to captive environment. It is the intent of the Village Board to protect the public against health and safety risks that wild animals pose and hereby prohibit the possession of wild animals with the limits of the Village of Greenville.

§ 76-24 Definitions.

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

CIRCUS

A scheduled event staged by a traveling company with mobile facilities in which entertainment consisting of a variety of performance by acrobats, clowns or trained animals is the primary attraction or principal business.

EXOTIC ANIMAL

Any animal that is not normally domesticated in the United States or is wild by nature.

PERSON

An individual, partnership, firm, joint-stock company, corporation, association, trust, estate or other legal entity.

POSSESS

To own, control, restrain, transport or keep.

PUBLIC ZOO OR AQUARIUM

A zoo or aquarium that is operated by the state or municipality or that is an accredited member of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.

VETERINARIAN

A person who is licensed in this state to practice veterinary medicine under § 89.02 et seq., Wis. Stats., and who is certified under rules promulgated by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

WILD ANIMAL

Any of the following animals, whether bred in the wild or in captivity, and also any of their hybrids with domestic species. The animals listed in parentheses are intended to act as examples and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list or limit the generality of each group of animals, unless otherwise specified.

A. Nonhuman primates and prosimians (chimpanzees, monkeys);

B. Felids, except domesticated cats;

C. Canids (wolves, coyotes, foxes) except domesticated dogs;

D. Prairie dogs;

E. Elephants;

F. Crocodilians (alligators, crocodiles);

G. Marsupials (kangaroos, opossums) except sugar gliders;

H. Ungulates (hippopotamus, rhinoceros);

I. Hyenas;

J. Mustelids (skunks, otters, badgers) except ferrets;

K. Procyonids (raccoons, coatis);

L. Dasypodidae (anteaters, sloth, armadillos);

M. Viverrids (mongooses, civets, genets);

N. Reptilia over six feet in length (boa constrictor, pythons);

O. Venomous reptilia.

§ 76-25 Possession of exotic or wild animals.

It shall be unlawful for any person to possess, sell or purchase an exotic or wild animal.

§ 76-26 Exceptions.

The following persons or entities may possess exotic or wild animals:

A. A person licensed by the state under Wis. Stats. Ch. 169.

B. A veterinarian, for the purpose of providing medical treatment to wild animals.

C. A public zoo or aquarium.

D. A circus.

E. A person authorized by the Department of Natural Resources.

§ 76-27 Violations and penalties.

A. Any person convicted of a violation of this article shall be subject to a forfeiture of not more than $500 for each animal listed in this article for the first offense.

B. Any person convicted of a violation of this article shall be subject to a forfeiture of not more than $1,000 for each animal listed in this article for any subsequent offense(s).