SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5039

BYSenators Conner and Garrett

Providing for the care of injured wildlife.

Senate Committee on Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 26, 1987; March 3, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5039 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Owen, Chairman; DeJarnatt, Vice Chairman; Conner, Metcalf, Patterson, Stratton.

Senate Staff:Kaleen Cottingham (786-7415)

                  March 4, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, MARCH 3, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Wildlife is declared by statute to be property of the state.  Current policies and regulations declare it to be unlawful to possess or hold in captivity live wild animals, wild birds or game fish, unless lawfully acquired.  The Game Department has come under criticism in the past for its policy of telling people who find abandoned or injured wildlife to leave it alone or leave it in the wild.

SUMMARY:

The Game Commission is instructed to establish a toll-free hotline for persons to notify the Department about injured wildlife.  Veterinarians shall be on contract to respond to these calls.  Once recuperated, the wildlife shall be returned to the wild if able to survive, or permanently housed at a publicly owned wildlife park or zoo.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The Commission shall create a network of veterinarians and wildlife rehabilitators for providing aid to injured or abandoned wildlife.  The list of veterinarians and wildlife rehabilitators shall be liberally distributed.  The use of the hotline is deleted.

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Rich Poelker