Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

HB 1353

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background:

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission (Commission) is composed of nine individuals appointed by the Governor. The Commission is charged with the duty of preserving, protecting, perpetuating, and managing the state's wildlife. Specifically, the Commission is charged with setting basic goals for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to implement, and reviewing the performance of the WDFW in implementing the policies established by the Commission.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.The WDFW manages and protects the state's fish and wildlife resources under the direction of the Commission. The WDFW also monitors wildlife that threaten human safety or cause property damage.

The WDFW Game Management Plan.

The WDFW maintains, and regularly updates, a game management plan for the various game species in Washington. The purpose of the plan, according to the WDFW, is to guide the WDFW in the management of hunted wildlife in six-year time frames. The declared focus of the plan is the scientific management of game populations, harvest management, and other significant factors affecting game populations. The overall goals are: protecting, sustaining, and managing hunted wildlife; providing stable, regulated recreational hunting opportunities; protecting and enhancing wildlife habitat; and minimizing adverse impacts to residents, other wildlife, and the environment.

The WDFW Colockum Herd Plan.

One component of the game management plan is a herd plan for each of the state's 10 elk herds. The Colockum elk herd is currently being managed under a 2006 herd management plan. The plan's three primary goals are: (1) to manage the elk and their habitat to ensure healthy, productive populations; (2) to manage the elk for a variety of recreational, educational, and cultural uses; and (3) to manage the elk herd for a sustainable yield.

Deer and Elk Collision Impacts.

According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), more than 1100 deer and elk collisions with motor vehicles are reported to the Washington State Patrol (WSP) annually. The WSDOT removes an average of nearly 3500 deer and elk carcasses each year. Collisions between wildlife and motor vehicles result in an average of 1190 human injuries and two fatalities per year in Washington.

Summary of Bill:

The WDFW must conduct an elk management pilot project to evaluate wildlife management actions to reduce elk highway collisions. The pilot project must focus initially on the Colockum herd, but may be expanded as appropriate.

The WDFW must work with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to evaluate wildlife management actions to reduce elk highway collisions.

The pilot project must include direct wildlife management efforts, including:

increased use of special depredation hunts and general hunting opportunities of the Colockum herd;
establishment of a permitting mechanism that would allow a person to feed elk by permit only; and
use of managed livestock grazing to attract elk away from roads and private property.

The WDFW and WSDOT must report the results of the pilot project to the Legislature by October 31, 2020. The report must address how the information gained from the pilot project will be used to manage the Colockum herd and other similarly situated elk herds.