SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5963
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As of February 17, 2015
Title: An act relating to requiring the department of fish and wildlife to manage wolf-related wildlife interactions using lethal means when certain conditions are satisfied.
Brief Description: Requiring the department of fish and wildlife to manage wolf-related wildlife interactions using lethal means when certain conditions are satisfied.
Sponsors: Senators Dansel and Warnick.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Natural Resources & Parks: 2/18/15.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS |
Staff: Curt Gavigan (786-7437)
Background: Role of the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). DFW serves as manager of the state's fish and wildlife resources. Among other duties, DFW must protect, perpetuate, and establish the basic rules and regulations governing the harvest of fish and wildlife.
State Endangered Species Management Authority Generally. The Fish and Wildlife Commission (Commission) has the statutory authority to identify species that are seriously threatened with extinction and designate those species as endangered.
Under this statutory authority, the Commission adopted rules providing that it may only designate a species as endangered, threatened, or sensitive on the basis of the biological status of the species being considered. This decision must be based on the preponderance of available scientific data. DFW must write a recovery plan for endangered and threatened species, and a management plan for sensitive species. These plans must identify target population objectives, reclassification criteria, an implementation plan, public education, and a species monitoring plan.
The rules also provide that a species may be delisted from endangered, threatened, or sensitive status only when populations are no longer in danger of failing, declining, or vulnerable. The Commission must rely on the preponderance of available scientific data when making delisting or reclassification decisions.
Wolf Management in Washington State. Gray wolves are currently endangered under federal law in approximately the western two-thirds of the state, with the species having been federally delisted in the eastern one-third in 2011. Wolves are classified under state law as an endangered species throughout the state.
The wolf conservation and management plan (wolf plan) was adopted in December 2011. Its stated goals are to:
restore the wolf population to a self-sustaining size and geographic distribution;
manage wolf-livestock conflicts to minimize livestock losses while not negatively impacting recovery;
maintain healthy ungulate populations; and
develop public understanding of the conservation and management needs of wolves.
The wolf plan identifies three wolf recovery regions: the Eastern Washington region; the North Cascades region; and the Southern Cascades and Northwest Coast region. The recovery objectives to allow the wolf to be removed from the state's endangered species list are based on target numbers and species distribution. Specifically the gray wolf will be considered to be recovered if DFW documents the following:
15 successful breeding pairs for three consecutive years, distributed so that each recovery zone is host to at least four breeding pairs; or
18 successful breeding pairs, distributed so that each recovery zone is host to at least four breeding pairs.
The wolf plan provides that lethal control to manage wolf-livestock conflicts may be used, on a case-by-case basis, in the following circumstances:
there is repeated depredation clearly caused by wolves;
non-lethal methods have been tried but failed to resolve the conflict;
depredations are likely to continue; and
there is no evidence of intentional feeding or unnatural attraction by the livestock owner.
Summary of Bill: DFW must manage wolf-related wildlife interactions using lethal means when each of the following are satisfied:
DFW confirms that wolves from the same pack were involved in at least two wolf-livestock interactions in the past six months;
DFW determines that the interactions were not associated with intentional feeding or activities by the owner that created an unnatural attraction;
DFW confirms that at least one of the interactions resulted in the death of livestock;
the livestock owner employed at least one nonlethal prevention method; and
in DFW's opinion, future wolf-livestock interactions involving the same pack are likely to continue.
DFW may also use lethal management in other circumstances where those actions are deemed appropriate and available by the agency. This directive applies in recovery areas where lethal management is allowed under federal law and at least four wolf packs have been documented.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.