SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 1282

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Natural Resources, March 31, 1995

Title:  An act relating to certain animals posing a danger to livestock or crops.

Brief Description:  Authorizing landowners to kill coyotes and Columbian ground squirrels.

Sponsors:  Representatives Fuhrman, Mastin, Buck, Goldsmith, Koster, Padden, Mulliken, Lambert, Crouse, Thompson, Basich, Hargrove, Sheldon, McMahan, Pelesky, Sheahan, Boldt and Elliot.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources:  3/24/95, 3/31/95 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Drew, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; A. Anderson, Hargrove, Haugen, Morton, Oke, Owen, Snyder, Strannigan and Swecker.

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786-7413)

Background:  In Washington, a person must have a hunting license in order to hunt for wild animals.

Under current law, the owner or tenant of real property may trap or kill on that property wild animals or wild birds, other than endangered species, that are damaging crops, domestic animals, fowl, or other property.  Wildlife trapped or killed under this provision remains the property of the state, and the person trapping or killing the wildlife is required to notify the Department of Fish and Wildlife immediately.  The department must dispose of the wildlife within three working days of the notification.

Summary of Amended Bill:  A landowner, and landowner's immediate family member, the owner's documented employee, and tenants of real property may kill coyotes and Columbian ground squirrels on the landowner's property without obtaining a hunting license and without going through the usual procedure for killing wild animals that are damaging crops, domestic animals, fowl, or other property.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The amended bill adds authority to kill coyotes and ground squirrels into the wildlife damage section of the wildlife code.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Coyotes and ground squirrels cause damage to crops and livestock and landowners should be allowed to trap or kill them without a hunting license.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Kent Lebsack, Washington Cattlemen's Assn. (pro); Cyreis Schmitt, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife; Lorna Johnson, orchardist/farmer (pro); LeRoy Millard, Renton Fish and Game Club (pro).