Endangered Species - Definitions - Wisconsin

...(2) Definitions. For purposes of this section:

(a) “Endangered species” means any species whose continued existence as a viable component of this state's wild animals or wild plants is determined by the department to be in jeopardy on the basis of scientific evidence. (am) “State agency” means a board, commission, committee, department or office in the state government or the Fox River Navigational System Authority. “State agency” does not include the department of natural resources or the office of the governor.

(b) “Threatened species” means any species of wild animals or wild plants which appears likely, within the foreseeable future, on the basis of scientific evidence to become endangered.

(bn) “Whole plant-animal community” means a group of species living together in a particular area, time and habitat.

(c) Notwithstanding s. 29.001 (90), “wild animal” means any mammal, fish, wild bird, amphibian, reptile, mollusk, crustacean, or arthropod, or any part, products, egg or offspring thereof, or the dead body or parts thereof.

(d) “Wild plant” means any undomesticated species of the plant kingdom occurring in a natural ecosystem.

Citation: W.S.A. 29.604.

In this chapter:

(6) “Department” means the department of natural resources...

(9) “Endangered or threatened species” means those species of wild animals that are indigenous to the United States or Canada and are identified on the federal list of endangered and threatened species or on the Wisconsin list of endangered and threatened species...

(25) “Person” means any individual, partnership, firm, joint stock company, corporation, association, trust, estate, or other legal entity...

(36) “Wild amphibian” means a wild animal that is an amphibian.

(37) “Wild animal” means any animal of a wild nature that is normally found in the wild and that is not a domestic animal.

(38) “Wild bird” means a wild animal that is a bird.

(39) “Wild reptile” means a wild animal that is a reptile.

Citation: W.S.A. 169.01.

...(e) “Natural area” means an area of land or water which has educational or scientific value or is important as a reservoir of the state's genetic or biologic diversity and includes any buffer area necessary to protect the area's natural values. Frequently, “natural areas” are important as a reserve for native biotic communities. Frequently, “natural areas” provide habitat for endangered, threatened or critical species or for species of special concern to scientists. In some cases, “natural areas” include areas with highly significant geological or archaeological features. Generally, “natural areas” are areas which largely escaped unnatural environmental disturbance or which exhibit little evidence of recent environmental disturbance so that recovery of natural conditions has occurred...

Citation: W.S.A. 23.27.