Under current law, with some exceptions, a person must have a license issued
by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to possess or exhibit a native captive
wild animal. As for captive wild animals that are not found in North America, no
license is required for species except for certain wild birds and nonnative bears.
However, under federal law, a license is required to possess and house certain wild
animals used for research or exhibition purposes or as pets.

This substitute amendment requires that any nonnative "large cat" must be
registered with DNR by the person who owns or otherwise possesses the cat (owner)
unless the person is in possession of the cat for not more than 24 hours. The large
cats that are covered by the substitute amendment are lions, tigers, leopards,
jaguars, pumas, and cheetahs. The substitute amendment also authorizes DNR to
promulgate rules requiring that other nonnative wild animals be subject to
registration. Wild animals that are eligible for such designation are limited to those

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that are capable of causing injury to humans. The substitute amendment also
prohibits an owner of such a wild animal from charging a fee for photographing or
filming the animal. The substitute amendment excludes from the requirements
those wild animals that are subject to possession and housing requirements under
federal law.

The substitute amendment specifies the information that must be provided at
the time of registration and includes such items as the name and address of the
person from whom the wild animal was acquired and whether, to the best of the
owner's knowledge, the wild animal has caused any physical injury to any
individual. The owner must also provide DNR information when the owner no longer
possesses the wild animal, including the conditions under which the owner ceased
to have possession, such as sale of the animal, or the fact that the animal has died
or escaped. The substitute amendment requires DNR to maintain an electronic
database that includes the information provided by the owner and to provide the
information concerning each wild animal to the county in which the wild animal is
located. Also, the substitute amendment requires the Department of Commerce to
promulgate rules establishing minimum standards for enclosures in which these
wild animals are kept. An owner of nonnative wild animals that are possessed under
a federal animal welfare license or that are kept in facilities subject to federal
inspection is exempt from the registration requirement but must send copies of all
federal inspection reports concerning the wild animals to the county in which the
animals are kept.

The substitute amendment prohibits DNR conservation wardens from
enforcing these registration requirements. Instead, humane officers and certain
other law enforcement officers have enforcement authority.