Section 16.38. Pen specifications for transportation.

 

(1)   Transportation enclosures . Any person subject to ch. 169 , Stats. , may not transport a live captive wild animal unless the following requirements are met:

(a) Construction of transportation enclosures. The captive wild animal shall be contained in a transportation enclosure such as a compartment, transport cage, carton or crate. Transportation enclosures used to transport captive wild animals shall be constructed to meet all of the following requirements:

1. The transportation enclosure is strong enough to contain the captive wild animals securely and comfortably and to withstand the normal rigors of transportation.

2. Transportation enclosures used to transport live captive wild animals shall be large enough to ensure that each animal contained in the transportation enclosure has enough space to turn about normally while standing, to stand and sit erect, and to lie in a natural position.

3. The interior of the transportation enclosure shall have no sharp points or edges and no protrusions that could injure the captive wild animal contained within it.

4. The captive wild animal is at all times securely contained within the enclosure and may not put any part of its body outside the enclosure in a way that could result in injury to itself, to handlers, or to persons or animals nearby.

5. The captive wild animal may be easily and quickly removed from the enclosure in an emergency.

6. Unless the enclosure is permanently affixed to the conveyance, adequate devices such as handles or handholds are provided on its exterior which ensure that anyone handling the enclosure will not come into physical contact with the captive wild animal contained inside.

7. The transportation enclosure shall have ventilation openings located on at least 2 opposing walls of the transportation enclosure and the openings shall be at least 16% of the surface area of each wall, and the total combined surface area of the ventilation openings shall be at least 14% of the total combined surface area of all the walls of the transportation enclosure.

8. The transportation enclosure has a solid bottom or a slatted or wire mesh floor designed and constructed so that the captive wild animals' feet and legs are not allowed to pass between the slats or through the holes in the mesh.

9. Transportation enclosures used to transport captive wild animals shall be positioned in the transportation conveyance so as to provide protection from the elements.

(b) Cleaning of transportation enclosures. A transportation enclosure used to hold or transport captive wild animals in commerce shall be cleaned and sanitized before each use. If the captive wild animals are in transit for more than 24 hours, the enclosures shall be cleaned to prevent the soiling of the animals by body wastes. If it becomes necessary to remove the captive wild animal from the enclosure in order to clean, or to move the animal to another enclosure, this procedure shall be completed in a way that safeguards the animal from injury and prevents escape.

(c) Compatibility.

1. Live captive wild animals transported in the same transportation enclosure shall be of the same species and be maintained in compatible groups.

2. Captive wild animals that are overly aggressive or exhibit a vicious disposition shall be transported individually in a transportation enclosure.

History: CR 03-030 : cr. Register October 2003 No. 574 , eff. 11-1-03.