BILL REQ. #:  S-5040.1 

Read first time 02/05/08.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to designating the cougar the official state mammal; adding a new section to chapter 1.20 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds:
     (1) The cougar is a beautiful and majestic animal that lives throughout Washington;
     (2) Many schools in Washington use the cougar as their mascot;
     (3) About two thousand five hundred cougars live in Washington;
     (4) The cougar is the largest cat in Washington; and
     (5) Cougars are important to humans because they control the pest populations, such as crickets and rodents, and overpopulated animals such as deer.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 1.20 RCW to read as follows:
     The cougar, Felis concolor, is hereby designated as the official mammal of the state of Washington.