Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB874

Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/2/24
• Refer: 1/2/24
• Failed: 4/15/24

Caption

Prohibiting disposal of deer carcasses within 10 miles of a deer farm.

Impact

If enacted, AB874 will create a new statute under section 29.063 (7) of the Wisconsin regulations, which will address the disposal of cervid carcasses. This law expands the existing regulations where individuals already cannot dispose of infected animal carcasses in ways that could endanger human or animal health. By establishing this specific geographical disposal restriction, the bill seeks to enhance existing measures put in place to ensure biosecurity for livestock operations, particularly in the context of potential outbreaks of diseases like Chronic Wasting Disease.

Summary

Assembly Bill 874 aims to establish specific regulations around the disposal of deer carcasses, particularly focusing on protecting farm-raised deer from potential disease threats. The bill prohibits any disposal of deer carcasses within a 10-mile radius of registered locations where farm-raised deer are kept. This legislative move is designed to mitigate the risk of disease transmission between wild and farmed deer populations, which is critical for maintaining the health of both sectors and combating animal diseases that can affect public health and local wildlife.

Contention

There may be points of contention surrounding AB874 related to its implications for local waste management practices and the feasibility of enforcing a 10-mile disposal buffer. Some industry stakeholders could argue that such a restriction may impose undue burdens on hunters and local residents, particularly in rural areas where deer disposal is a common practice. Concerns may also center on how this bill interacts with existing agricultural practices and wildlife management strategies, as well as the enforcement mechanisms necessary to uphold the new regulations.