S-104                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5039

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Senators Conner and Garrett

Read first time 1/13/87 and referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to injured wildlife; amending RCW 77.16.020; and adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 77.16.020, chapter 36, Laws of 1955 as last amended by section 196, chapter 3, Laws of 1983 and RCW 77.16.020 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) It is unlawful to hunt, fish, possess, or control a species of game bird, game animal, or game fish during the closed season for that species except as provided in RCW 77.12.105 and section 2 of this 1987 act.

          (2) It is unlawful to kill, take, catch, possess, or control these species in excess of the number fixed as the bag limit for each species.

          (3) It is unlawful to hunt within a game reserve or to fish for game fish within closed waters.

          (4) It is unlawful to hunt wild birds or wild animals within  a closed area except as authorized by rule of the commission.

          (5) It is unlawful to hunt or fish for wildlife, practice taxidermy for profit, deal in raw furs for profit, act as a fishing guide, or operate a game farm, stock game fish, or collect wildlife for research or display, without having in possession the license, permit, tag, stamp, or punchcard required by chapter 77.32 RCW or rule of the commission.  The activities described in this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with rules of the commission.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:

          The commission shall contract with one or more veterinarians in each region for the purposes of aiding injured wildlife.  The commission shall establish a toll-free hotline for citizens of the state to notify the department about wildlife in need of a veterinarian's care.  Once notified, the department shall instruct the caller on the location of the closest veterinarian on contract for such services.  Once recuperated, wildlife shall be returned to the wild unless the treating veterinarian determines that the animal would not survive.  If unable to survive in the wild, arrangements shall be made with publicly owned wildlife parks or zoos for the temporary or permanent housing of the animal.