Can You Have a Pet Raccoon in Wisconsin: License and Penalties

You generally cannot have a pet raccoon in Wisconsin. State law bars possessing a live wild animal unless you hold the license Chapter 169 requires for that species, and for raccoons the only license available is the Captive Wild Animal Farm License — a permit built for regulated wildlife operations, not household pets.¹

Why the State Restricts Raccoon Possession

Wisconsin classifies raccoons as both fur-bearing and game animals, which places them under the state’s captive wildlife framework.² The bigger driver is public health. Raccoons are a major rabies vector, and there is no USDA-approved rabies vaccine for captive raccoons. If your raccoon bites someone, animal control will likely require it be euthanized and tested rather than quarantined the way a vaccinated dog would be.

Welfare matters too. Raccoons are strong, smart, and increasingly destructive as they mature, and they don’t adapt well to indoor confinement.

The Only Legal Route: The Captive Wild Animal Farm License

The Department of Natural Resources issues the Captive Wild Animal Farm License under Chapter 169. It authorizes the holder to possess, breed, buy, sell, exhibit, and kill captive wild animals of the species listed on the license.³ It is not a pet permit. If you obtain one, the state regulates you as a small wildlife operation.

There are two classes. Class B covers operations with less than $10,000 in annual sales, which is where most individuals land. Class A covers operations grossing $10,000 or more. First-time applicants receive a Class B license unless they specifically apply for Class A.³

Class B: $50 initial, $25 annual renewal.
Class A: $200 initial, $100 annual renewal.
Applicants under 14 who belong to a 4-H or sporting club: fee waived.
Renewal filed after the license expires: an extra $20.

Every license runs from its issue date through December 31 of the same year, so applying in October gets you only a couple of months before renewal.⁴

How to Qualify and Apply

The application is DNR Form 9400-577. You’ll list the location of your enclosures and provide a Social Security number or federal employer identification number, which the state requires for all captive wildlife licenses. If you’re leasing the property, include a copy of the lease.⁴

The raccoon itself must be legally obtained. Wisconsin prohibits purchasing live native wild animals without the proper license, and taking a raccoon from the wild to keep as 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 that species.

Bringing a raccoon in from out of state adds a step. You’ll need an import permit from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, submitted with a certificate of veterinary inspection, in addition to your DNR license.⁵

Mail the completed application and supporting documents to the Department of Natural Resources, Captive Wildlife Program LE/8, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921. The DNR may inspect your facility before approving the application.⁴

Enclosure Requirements You Have to Meet

Wisconsin’s Administrative Code sets specific pen minimums for raccoons. The baseline is 80 square feet for up to two raccoons, with at least 16 additional square feet for each animal beyond two. The pen must be at least eight feet high and include a climbing apparatus. The animals must have continuous access to fresh water whenever outdoor temperatures are above freezing.⁶

These are floors, not targets. DNR staff can inspect the setup, and inadequate enclosures can lead to denial or revocation.

What If You Found a Baby or Injured Raccoon?

The Captive Wild Animal Farm License does not cover this. Taking a raccoon from the wild without authorization is illegal regardless of your intent. The DNR lists only a limited set of licenses that permit taking a live wild animal from the wild, and the wildlife rehabilitation license — a separate authorization from the captive wildlife farm license — is meant for trained people who treat and release, not for anyone raising a raccoon to keep.⁷

If you find a sick, injured, or orphaned raccoon, the DNR directs residents to its “Keep Wildlife Wild” resources rather than attempting to care for the animal. Raising a wild-born raccoon without a rehabilitation license carries the same penalties as any other unlawful possession.

Local Ordinances Can Still Block You

A state license does not override your city, village, or town. Wisconsin authorizes local governments to regulate the possession, sale, and exhibition of wild or exotic animals, and the DNR application requires written assurance that you’re complying with local ordinances and zoning.⁴ Check with your municipal clerk or zoning office before you apply. If the local ordinance bans wild animal possession, the DNR license cannot approve you around it.

Penalties for Possessing a Raccoon Without a License

Two things happen if you’re caught. DNR wardens have authority to seize and confiscate any wild animal held in violation of state law, and the animal will not be returned.⁸

You also face a forfeiture of between $100 and $500 for illegal possession of a live wild animal.⁹ A violation can suspend your eligibility for future captive wildlife licenses, which means one unlawful possession can permanently close the only legal door.⁴ Local ordinances may add fines on top of the state penalty.

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. Wisconsin Statutes 29.931 – Seizure and Confiscation
9
Wisconsin State Legislature. Wisconsin Code 169.45 – Penalties and Revocations