BILL REQ. #: S-4485.1

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SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6118
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State of Washington

58th Legislature

2004 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Parks, Fish & Wildlife (originally sponsored by Senators Morton, Stevens, Deccio, Mulliken, Roach and Swecker)

READ FIRST TIME 02/05/04.

AN ACT Relating to a pilot program for cougar control; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 The fish and wildlife commission, in cooperation and collaboration with the county legislative authorities of Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Chelan, and Okanogan counties, shall adopt rules to establish a three-year pilot program, beginning September 2004, within select game management units of these counties, to pursue or kill cougars with the aid of dogs. A pursuit season and a kill season with the aid of dogs must be established through the fish and wildlife commission's rule-making process, utilizing local dangerous wildlife task teams comprised of the two collaborating authorities. The two collaborating authorities shall also develop a more effective and accurate dangerous wildlife reporting system to ensure a timely response. The pilot program's primary goals are to provide for public safety, to protect property, and to assess cougar populations.

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