HB 2641 - DIGEST

Declares that the commission has the authority to manage the trapping of wild animals in Washington. This authority includes the ability to establish trapping seasons, prohibit the use of any trap type, establish prerequisites for the receipt of a trapping license, establish requirements for commerce in raw fur, establish required timelines for checking set traps, establish requirements for the handling, holding, transport, dispatch, and release of captured wildlife, and adopt any other rules deemed necessary by the commission for the management of wild animal trapping consistent with this act.

Requires a person to possess a department-issued Washington trapping license in order to lawfully trap wild animals throughout the state. Prior to being issued a trapping license, the person must satisfy the requirements of this act.

Declares that it is unlawful to knowingly buy, sell, barter, or otherwise exchange, or offer to buy, sell, barter, or otherwise exchange a wild animal, or the raw fur of a wild animal, that has been trapped in this state with a prohibited trap, unless the wild animal was trapped lawfully under this act. Raw fur from other sources may be bought, sold, or bartered consistent with any rules adopted by the commission.

Provides that the carcass of any animal captured in a prohibited trap may be donated to a public health or research institution.

Declares that a violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor.