TAKE THE 1-MINUTE SURVEY AND SEND EMAILS! The deadline is April 21.
Reminder: Legislative hearing on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 10:00 AM Central. (scroll down)
Take the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/usark26wi.
Sample Message (Remember to be civil and professional. Please edit and customize.)
Email list: Sen.Stafsholt@legis.wisconsin.gov, Sen.Jagler@legis.wisconsin.gov, Sen.Testin@legis.wisconsin.gov, Sen.Dassler-Alfheim@legis.wisconsin.gov, Sen.HabushSinykin@legis.wisconsin.gov, Rep.Goeben@legis.wisconsin.gov, Rep.Tucker@legis.wisconsin.gov, Rep.Kitchens@legis.wisconsin.gov, Rep.Behnke@legis.wisconsin.gov, Rep.Palmeri@legis.wisconsin.gov, Rep.Miresse@legis.wisconsin.gov, Sharlene.Konkel@legis.wisconsin.gov, Patrick.Kanarowski@legis.wisconsin.gov, Kyle.Mackey@legis.wisconsin.gov, Trevor.Woyda@legis.wisconsin.gov, David.Fladeboe@legis.wisconsin.gov, Charlie.Bellin@legis.wisconsin.gov, Sarah.Gibbs@legis.wisconsin.gov, Matthew.VanRemortel@legis.wisconsin.gov, Connie.Lewis@legis.wisconsin.gov, Meagan.Matthews@legis.wisconsin.gov, Craig.Arrowood@legis.wisconsin.gov, Charles.Walker@legis.wisconsin.gov
Subject line: NO to DNR reptile bans
Committee on Environment Members,
I am a Wisconsin resident, reptile keeper, and field herper (someone who enjoys finding and observing reptiles and amphibians in the wild). I oppose the new DNR bans on keeping any state-native herp species (reptiles and amphibians collectively) and on the use of common field herping equipment. Both herpetoculture (keeping and/or breeding reptiles and amphibians under human care) and field herping are carried out responsibly by most people who engage in them. These bans are overreaching, unjust, and arbitrary. There are many alternatives, but staff pushed for bans rather than practical, reasonable regulations. The ban even includes animals born and bred under human care, and herpetoculturists have bred herps for many decades.
Please use your oversight authority to demand amendments to these unreasonable rules found in Clearinghouse Rule 25-092. Thank you for your time, and have a good day.
UPDATE 4/8/26: The Assembly Committee on Environment will hold a public hearing on the WI DNR’s new herp regulation on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 10:00 AM Central. Read the announcement at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/26-WI-herp-rule-leg.-hearing.pdf. See the calendar posting at https://committeeschedule.legis.wisconsin.gov/?StartDate=2026-04-14&CommitteeID=2919&CommItemVisibleName=-1&TopicID=-1&ViewType=listMonth&ReloadCache=True.
Location: State Capitol, 2 E Main St, room 300 Northeast, Madison, WI 53703
UPDATE 2/25/26: The Natural Resources Board hearing was today. USARK, National Animal Interest Alliance, and Pet Advocacy Network testified in opposition to the ban on possession of all native herps (except those currently kept that can be grandfathered and a few “color variants”), even those born under human care. USARK requested an allowance for the breeding and sale of captive-born herps. The Board passed the rule with some limited changes to the “color variant” section. We will post the final rule when it is available.
UPDATE 2/11/26: The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) will meet at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25. The deadline to register for public testimony and submit written comments is 11 a.m. Central on Feb. 18, 2026. Remote and in-person public testimony are allowed. Aside from allowing some additional color variants of native snakes (see pages 21-22), the proposal has not changed substantively, and you may read changes in our earlier updates below.
Location: State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 South Webster Street, public meeting room G09, Madison, Wisconsin: Parking at Capitol Square North Garage, 218 E. Mifflin St. Madison, WI 53703
Email comments to DNRNRBLiaison@wisconsin.gov
Read the herp draft rule and materials at https://widnr.widen.net/s/dt92vkqzf8/2026-02-25-item-4.c.-nh-04-25-adoption.
Read the agenda at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/nrb/2026/february
To testify or submit written comments
To testify or submit a written comment, provide the following information to the Board Liaison at DNRNRBLiaison@wisconsin.gov.
- Your name.
- Name of organization(s) you represent (if none, state that you are “representing self”).
- Agenda item number and whether you support or oppose it. (This is agenda item 4C.)
- City of residence.
- Phone number.
- Email or mailing address, so the Board Liaison can confirm your registration to testify or reply to your written comment.
- Whether testimony be given in person or via Zoom.
Sample message (Remember to be civil and professional. Please edit and customize.)
Email address: DNRNRBLiaison@wisconsin.gov
Subject line: NO to reptile ban
Wisconsin Natural Resources Board,
I am a responsible Wisconsin reptile keeper who opposes some of the proposed changes to the state’s herp regulations. Other Wisconsin herpetoculturists and I care about the conservation of our native herps and fully support some of the herp rule amendments, but aspects of this proposal will do more harm than good by incentivizing poaching and illegal activities.
Breeding and selling state-native herps should be allowed. Some state native species, especially bullsnakes, have been bred by herpetoculturists for decades and are common pets. People seeking pets want captive-bred animals and not wild-caught. Across the country, we are seeing bans cause the black market price to skyrocket, and our wild-caught animals are being smuggled. Yes, our wild animals need protection, but blanket bans are counterproductive. There are alternatives that protect the wild animals and allow good herpetoculturists to work their species of choice.
Also, contrary to what has been reported by staff, some neighboring states, including Illinois, absolutely do allow the propagation of state-native herps and the sale of those animals bred under human care. This breeding and selling applies to pet animals, not just those used for research or recovery.
Please seek practical and reasonable rules rather than overreaching bans. Responsible Wisconsin herpetoculturists will gladly collaborate on this matter. Thank you for your time.
UPDATE 1/12/26: The public hearing was today. USARK’s Phil Goss testified along with the National Animal Interest Alliance, Pet Advocacy Network, and a few Wisconsin herpetoculturists. This issue may be presented at the February 25 Natural Resources Board meeting.
UPDATE 12/9/25: A public hearing has been scheduled for January 12 at 5:00 PM CST. You can read the draft rule and highlighted changes below.
The written comment deadline is January 13, 2026. The email address is DNRAdministrativeRulesComments@wisconsin.gov. Or you may submit comments via the comment portal at https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/feedback/agencyform?cite=cr/2025/92. The mailing address for comments is: Department of Natural Resources, Attn: Scott Karel, P.O. Box 7921, 101 S. Webster Street, Madison, WI 53707-7921
LINK to draft rule: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Rules/NH0425DraftRule.pdf
This link has registration for the public hearing, and more: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Rules/NH0425HearingNotice.pdf
Sample message (Remember to be civil and professional. Please edit and customize.)
Email address: DNRAdministrativeRulesComments@wisconsin.gov
Subject line: NO to new herp rule
Wisconsin Natural Resources Board and DNR Staff,
I am a responsible Wisconsin reptile keeper who opposes the proposed changes to the state’s herp regulations. Other Wisconsin herpetoculturists and I care about the conservation of our native herps, but this proposal will do more harm than good by incentivizing poaching and illegal activities.
Some state native species, especially bullsnakes, have been bred by herpetoculturists for decades and are common pets. Breeding and selling state-native herps should be allowed. People seeking pets want captive-bred animals and not wild-caught. Across the country, we are seeing bans cause the black market price to skyrocket, and our wild-caught animals are being smuggled. Yes, our wild animals need protection, but blanket bans are counterproductive. There are alternatives that protect the wild animals and allow good herpetoculturists to work their species of choice.
Please seek practical and reasonable rules rather than overreaching bans. Responsible Wisconsin herpetoculturists will gladly collaborate on this matter. Thank you for your time.
UPDATE 11/28/25: The Department has released a draft. Some will impact herpetoculture. Some of the biggest impacts are:
- Ban on possession of native species, whether captive-bred or wild-caught (“color variants” are allowed but defined to include only albinos and completely melanistic morphs). Specifically: Beginning on January 1, 2027, no person may take from the wild or possess any live or dead native amphibians or reptiles or their eggs, except as provided… Read the exceptions in the draft rule linked below.
- Permit required for exhibition (clarification and broader reach);
- New registration is required for currently held native animals. Animals must be registered by June 30, 2027.
There are some allowances, mainly for a few amphibian species. Read all changes at the first link below.
LINK to draft rule: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Rules/NH0425DraftRule.pdf
LINK to Economic Impact comment survey: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Rules/NH0425EIANotice.pdf
Email economic impact comments to scottr.karel@wisconsin.gov by December 5.
Other comments may be emailed to Rori.Paloski@wisconsin.gov and DNRAdministrativeRulesComments@wisconsin.gov. No deadline set yet.
UPDATE 10/2/25: Today’s hearing was just to state that DNR will be reviewing and possibly amending the state’s herp rules. There remains no public or formal proposal for changes. The scope will focus on Wisconsin native herps and possibly invasive species. We will keep you updated as this moves through the rulemaking process.
UPDATE 9/10/25: The Department will hold a preliminary public hearing on Statement of Scope SS 041-25, which concerns amphibian and reptile regulations.
Hearing Information Date: October 2, 2025, Time: 10:00 a.m. CST Virtual Location Link: Online through Teams. (The link is located in the PDF below.)
Written comments and any questions on the proposed scope statement should be submitted to: Department of Natural Resources Attn: Scott Karel P.O. Box 7921 101 S. Webster Street, Madison, WI 53707-7921, Scottr.karel@wisconsin.gov, DNRAdministrativeRulesComments@wisconsin.gov
Read more and find the virtual meeting link on page 2 at https://widnr.widen.net/s/jxxjjpvcbv/item-2.j.-nh-04-25-preliminary-hearing-reqeust. (Click “Teams” after Virtual Location Link.”)
7/16/25: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is initiating a comprehensive review of all herp regulations in an “effort to clarify and update existing regulations to better inform the public, law enforcement, and department staff regarding allowable activities, improve enforceability, and implement current management goals.” There may be additional rule changes reasonably related to what was mentioned prior.
The Department anticipates a public hearing (virtual) in October 2025.
Comments may be provided by mail, phone, and email as well as in-person: Rori Paloski, Herpetologist, 608-516-3742, Rori.Paloski@wisconsin.gov
Read the full document at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/25-WI-herp-rule.pdf.
