H-1526.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1805

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Representatives Fuhrman, Thompson, Stevens, Beeksma and Cairnes

Read first time 02/09/95.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

Designating wildlife as threatened or endangered.

    AN ACT Relating to endangered or threatened species designations by the state fish and wildlife commission; amending RCW 77.12.020; and adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:

    The state fish and wildlife commission may act to protect the western gray squirrel, Sciurus griseus, and the North American lynx, Lynx canadensis, from being hunted.  However, the commission may not designate either of these species as endangered or threatened.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 77.12.020 and 1994 c 264 s 53 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The director shall investigate the habits and distribution of the various species of wildlife native to or adaptable to the habitats of the state.  The commission shall determine whether a species should be managed by the department and, if so, classify it under this section.

    (2) The commission may classify by rule wild animals as game animals and game animals as fur-bearing animals.

    (3) The commission may classify by rule wild birds as game birds or predatory birds.  All wild birds not otherwise classified are protected wildlife.

    (4) In addition to those species listed in RCW 77.08.020, the commission may classify by rule as game fish other species of the class Osteichthyes that are commonly found in fresh water except those classified as food fish by the director.

    (5) The director may recommend to the commission that a species of wildlife should not be hunted or fished.  The commission may designate species of wildlife as protected.  Any designation made under this subsection must be consistent with section 1 of this act.

    (6) If the director determines that a species of wildlife is seriously threatened with extinction in the state of Washington, the director may request its designation as an endangered species.  The commission may designate an endangered species.  Any designation made under this subsection must be consistent with section 1 of this act.

    (7) If the director determines that a species of the animal kingdom, not native to Washington, is dangerous to the environment or wildlife of the state, the director may request its designation as deleterious exotic wildlife.  The commission may designate deleterious exotic wildlife.

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