Are Quakers legal in WI?

[karen256]

I'm bird-sitting a quaker parrot and her owner mentioned that quakers are illegal to sell in Wisconsin now, as of around 2 years ago (but existing pets are allowed). I'm just curious if this is true - I never heard anything about that and in fact had heard that some states were considering lifting quaker bans since they haven't proven to be crop pests.

 

[Macawnutz]

I've not heard that. Illegal and Restricted States

We are far to cold to worry about them taking over.

 

[SandraK]

My first Quaker was a gift bought at the 7 Mile Fair in Wisconsin but that was several years ago. I also found this - Where Can You Own A Quaker Parrot? Infographic

@Macawnutz I know that there is a flock of Quakers living in Hyde Park, in the city of Chicago and I'd heard that there are some living out west of the city. Since they build a co-op type of nest, they probably have a better chance of survival than most parrots if turned loose or escaped.

And yet when I searched further, I found this - http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/invasives/documents/nr40lists.pdf. You have to scroll down to the last page so maybe this hasn't been publicized very much.

 

[SandraK]

This is what I found when I dug a little more - http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/invasives/documents/nr40guidepets.pdf

@karen256 @Macawnutz

 

[Kellie728]

In the last link it says no pet store can sell a Quaker with a carapace less than 4 inches. Isn't a carapace a shell, like on a turtle?

It does say since 2009 they are restricted

 

[SandraK]

It covers Quakers and red eared sliders - Red-eared slider - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - a type of turtle.

 

[MommyBird]

quoted:
Pet stores may not sell monk parakeets or red-eared sliders with a carapace length less than 4 inches in Wisconsin.

they are referring to the red-eared sliders, a turtle, about the carapace.
Perhaps not well-written.

 

[Kellie728]

Ok, I get it. (My English minor makes me cringe at that wording)

 

[SandraK]

I found it confusing because they mention the Monk parakeet (so we all know it's a bird) and in the same breath a red eared slider. My first thought was what is that when it's at home? It helped when a carapace was mentioned but I guess, technically speaking, no Quaker would be prohibited because you'd never find one with any kind of carapace.

 

[Macaw Lover]

So basically you won't have a Quaker in a pet shop, it doesn't say anything about owning one, and just don't release or allow it to escape. Now if you want to buy one, go to Illinois, Minnesota or Iowa

 

[SandraK]

On technicalities only, I suppose you could have a Quaker in a shop as long as it had a "not for sale" sign on the cage.

And add the sign: "Please do not feed the bird fingers".

 

[karen256]

It's a shame they can't be sold then.. that Quaker made me want to get one. Of course I know she was in a new place and probably on her best behavior. But she's the sort of bird that pretty much anyone can pick up and do anything with. I ended up spending most evenings cuddling her and preening her head... and she was nice with my birds too (no I didn't quarantine since she's an only bird with no contact with other birds and came from the same breeder one of mine came from).
I've bird sat her before but the last time was five or six years ago, and I was happy to find she was still every bit as sweet and gentle as she was then.

 

[Mizzely]

Weird! I bought Jingo in 2011 from a breeder in Wisconsin

 

[Kellie728]

I doubt that the law is strongly enforced.

 

[SandraK]

It's a shame they can't be sold then.. that Quaker made me want to get one. Of course I know she was in a new place and probably on her best behavior. But she's the sort of bird that pretty much anyone can pick up and do anything with. I ended up spending most evenings cuddling her and preening her head... and she was nice with my birds too (no I didn't quarantine since she's an only bird with no contact with other birds and came from the same breeder one of mine came from).
I've bird sat her before but the last time was five or six years ago, and I was happy to find she was still every bit as sweet and gentle as she was then.

I agree with @Kellie728 It doesn't sound like it's being enforced very much. I'm wondering if it wasn't a "knee jerk" reaction following Quaker bans in other states only to realize that Quakers aren't exactly raiding Wisconsin's farmers' crops. There is nothing written about owning one, only that it's illegal to release them in the wild (which should be illegal to do with any exotic bird, let alone creature). Then again, breeders, from my experience don't provide open access/store front situation to the birds they breed. A purchase is done through appointments or phone calls, etc.

@karen256 You're also sitting a very well socialized Quaker and that's a key to having one.