Wisconsin restricts dangerous exotic and wild animals at the state level. Under Wis. Stat. 169.11, no one may possess a designated 'harmful wild animal', including cougars, bears, and wild swine, without department authorization. Waukesha County municipalities may add their own bans on other exotics, so check local code too.
Exotic pets are regulated mostly by Wisconsin state law rather than by Waukesha County. Wis. Stat. 169.11(1)(b) prohibits possessing, propagating, or transferring a live 'harmful wild animal' unless authorized by the Department of Natural Resources; cougars, bears (family Ursidae), and wild/feral swine are designated harmful, with limited exemptions for zoos and veterinarians. Chapter 169 also governs captive wild animal licensing generally. On top of the state framework, individual Waukesha County cities and villages often ban keeping other exotic or wild animals (large reptiles, venomous species, primates) within their limits, so review your municipality's animal ordinance. The county itself does not run a general exotic-pet permit program for residents.
Unauthorized possession of a harmful wild animal violates Wis. Stat. 169.11 and is enforced by the DNR; local exotic-animal bans are enforced by municipal citation.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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