FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 2349

C 167 L 12

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning the management of beavers.

Sponsors: House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Kretz, Blake, Billig, Short, Hinkle, Upthegrove, Fitzgibbon and McCune).

House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources

House Committee on General Government Appropriations & Oversight

Senate Committee on Energy, Natural Resources & Marine Waters

Background:

The Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) has the authority to authorize the removal or killing of wildlife that is destroying or injuring property. The ultimate disposition of the removed wildlife is determined by the Director of the Department (Director). The Director may also enter into written agreements with landowners designed to protect the subject property from further wildlife damage.

Private individuals may trap beavers if they hold a state trapping license. All trapping must be conducted in accordance with the trapping seasons established by the Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Summary:

The Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) is specifically authorized to permit the release of captured beavers on public or private property if the landowner of the property consents to the release. Beaver relocations may be limited by the Department to areas of the state where there is a low probability of released beavers becoming a problem, where there is evidence of a historic endemic beaver population, and where conditions exist for the released beavers to improve the riparian area into which they are introduced.

The Department may condition beaver relocations to maximize the success and minimize the risk of the relocation. Release site conditions that the Department may consider include the gradient of the stream, the adequacy of food sources, the elevation, and the stream geomorphology. In addition, the Department may also condition how the capture and release occurs. This includes establishing the timing of the capture and release, the age of the beavers involved, the number of beavers involved, and the requirements for providing supplemental food and lodging materials.

The Department is also directed to inform a person who expresses a desire for beavers of any known location that has a surplus of beavers available. The website maintained by the Department must display a quarterly updated report of nuisance beaver activity, beaver trapping events, and all beaver relocation reported to the Department. A beaver management stakeholder's forum must be convened by the Department by January 1, 2013.

Votes on Final Passage: