Can You Have a Pet Raccoon in Wisconsin: License and Enclosure Rules

You cannot have a pet raccoon in Wisconsin in the ordinary sense. State law bars anyone from possessing a live wild animal without the specific license Chapter 169 requires for that species, and for raccoons the only option is the Department of Natural Resources’ Captive Wild Animal Farm License, which is built for regulated wildlife operations rather than household pets.¹

Why Wisconsin Treats Raccoons This Way

Wisconsin classifies raccoons as both fur-bearing and game animals, which places them under the state’s captive wildlife framework.² Possession is lawful only when the animal was legally obtained and the holder has the license the statute requires.¹

Rabies drives much of the rule. Raccoons are a major rabies vector, and there is no USDA-approved rabies vaccine for captive raccoons. If a pet raccoon bites someone, animal control will likely require the animal be euthanized and tested rather than quarantined the way a vaccinated dog would be. The state also treats welfare as part of the picture: raccoons are strong, intelligent, and poorly suited to household confinement as they mature.

The Only License That Covers Raccoons

The Captive Wild Animal Farm License authorizes the holder to possess, breed, buy, sell, exhibit, and kill captive wild animals of the species named on the license.³ It comes in two classes, and most individuals would apply at the lower tier.

Class B, for operations with less than $10,000 in annual sales: $50 initial, $25 annual renewal.
Class A, for operations grossing $10,000 or more: $200 initial, $100 annual renewal.
The fee is waived for applicants under 14 who belong to a 4-H club or sporting club.
Late renewal adds $20.

First-time applicants receive a Class B license unless they ask for Class A.³ The license runs from the date of issue through December 31 of the same year, so late-year applications burn most of the term immediately.⁴

How to Apply and Where the Animal Can Come From

The application is DNR Form 9400-577. You’ll identify the location of your enclosures, provide a Social Security or federal employer identification number, and include a copy of your lease if you don’t own the property.⁴ The DNR may inspect the facility before approving the license.

Where the raccoon comes from matters as much as the license itself. Buying a native wild animal without the proper license is prohibited, and taking a raccoon from the wild for a pet is flatly illegal.¹ In practice, that means acquiring the animal from another licensed captive wildlife operation whose license authorizes the sale of raccoons.

If the animal is coming from outside Wisconsin, you’ll also need an import permit from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, along with a certificate of veterinary inspection.⁵

Enclosure Minimums the DNR Will Check

Administrative Code sets specific pen requirements for raccoons. The floor is 80 square feet for up to two animals, plus at least 16 square feet for each additional raccoon. The pen must stand at least eight feet tall and include a climbing apparatus. Fresh water has to be continuously available whenever outdoor temperatures are above freezing.⁶

These are minimums. Falling short can lead to license denial or revocation when the DNR inspects.

Found a Baby Raccoon? The License Doesn’t Cover That

A common reason people search for this topic is a baby or injured raccoon they want to raise. The Captive Wild Animal Farm License does not authorize taking a raccoon from the wild. Only a short list of licenses allows that, and the relevant one is the wildlife rehabilitation license, which is separate from the captive farm license and intended for trained rehabbers who treat and release wild animals rather than keep them.⁷ The DNR directs residents who find sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife to its Keep Wildlife Wild resources rather than attempting care on their own.

Your City or Town Can Still Say No

A valid DNR license does not override local rules. Wisconsin lets municipalities regulate or prohibit the possession, sale, and exhibition of wild and exotic animals, and the state publishes a model ordinance that towns can adopt.⁸ The DNR application itself asks you to confirm that you’re in compliance with local ordinances and zoning.⁴ Call your municipal clerk or zoning office before you spend money on the state application. A local ban stops the project regardless of what the DNR would otherwise approve.

What Happens If You Keep One Without the License

DNR wardens can seize and confiscate any wild animal held in violation of state law, and the animal will not be returned.⁹ Unlawful possession of a live wild animal carries a monetary forfeiture of $100 to $500.¹⁰ A violation can also suspend your eligibility for future captive wildlife licenses, which can permanently close the one legal pathway that existed.⁴ Local ordinances can add their own fines on top.

1
Wisconsin State Legislature. Wisconsin Code 169.04 – Possession of Live Wild Animals
2
Wisconsin State Legislature. Wisconsin Statutes 29.001 – Definitions
3
Wisconsin State Legislature. Wisconsin Statutes 169.15 – Captive Wild Animal Farm Licenses
4
Wisconsin DNR. Captive Wild Animal Farm License Application, Form 9400-577
5
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Animal Movement Permits
6
Wisconsin State Legislature. Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 16.30(4) – Pen Specifications
7
Wisconsin DNR. Captive Wildlife Regulations and Licenses
8
Wisconsin State Legislature. Harmful and Exotic Wild Animal Ordinance Form
9
Wisconsin State Legislature. Wisconsin Statutes 29.931 – Seizure and Confiscation
10
Wisconsin State Legislature. Wisconsin Code 169.45 – Penalties and Revocations