Washington HB 1311: Concerning the implementation of the recommendations of the department of fish and wildlife regarding the gray wolf.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to the implementation of the recommendations of 1
the department of fish and wildlife regarding the gray wolf; amending 2
RCW 77.12.020; and creating new sections.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the wolf 5
population has grown steadily for 14 consecutive years since the 6
first pack was confirmed in 2008. The northeast and southeast 7
Washington habitat has mostly been occupied by wolves and as such, 8
they are increasing their presence in the north and central Cascades 9
and making an appearance in the south Cascades. State law currently 10
requires a species to be likely to become an endangered species 11
within the foreseeable future in order for the regulatory status of 12
"threatened" to apply. The legislature finds that this definition 13
does not fit the situation of the wolves at the effective date of 14
this section. The legislature finds that "sensitive" species 15
designation is the more appropriate regulatory status for wolves. The 16
legislature finds that the "sensitive" status will protect wolves 17
from unlawful take and harassment as well as preclude hunting because 18
regulatory classification as a "sensitive" species requires 19
cooperative management and removal of threats. The legislature also 20
H-0263.3
HOUSE BILL 1311
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Engell, Dye, Rude, Waters, Abell, Schmick, and
Springer
Read first time 01/15/25. Referred to Committee on Agriculture &
Natural Resources.
p. 1 HB 1311

finds that this status must be reviewed in two years from the 1
effective date of this section.2
Sec. 2. RCW 77.12.020 and 2014 c 202 s 302 are each amended to 3
read as follows:4
(1) The director shall investigate the habits and distribution of 5
the various species of wildlife native to or adaptable to the 6
habitats of the state. The commission shall determine whether a 7
species should be managed by the department and, if so, classify it 8
under this section.9
(2) The commission may classify by rule wild animals as game 10
animals and game animals as fur-bearing animals.11
(3) The commission may classify by rule wild birds as game birds 12
or predatory birds. All wild birds not otherwise classified are 13
protected wildlife.14
(4) In addition to those species listed in RCW 77.08.020, the 15
commission may classify by rule as game fish other species of the 16
class Osteichthyes that are commonly found in fresh water except 17
those classified as food fish by the director.18
(5) The director may recommend to the commission that a species 19
of wildlife should not be hunted or fished. The commission may 20
designate species of wildlife as protected.21
(6) If the director determines that a species of wildlife is 22
seriously threatened with extinction in the state of Washington, the 23
director may request its designation as an endangered species. 24
((The)) Except as provided in section 3 of this act, the commission 25
may designate an endangered species.26
(7) If the director determines that a species of the animal 27
kingdom, not native to Washington, is dangerous to the environment or 28
wildlife of the state, the director may request its designation as 29
deleterious exotic wildlife. The commission may designate deleterious 30
exotic wildlife.31
(8) Upon recommendation by the director, the commission may 32
develop a work plan to eradicate native aquatic species that threaten 33
human health. Priority shall be given to water bodies that the 34
department of health has classified as representing a threat to human 35
health based on the presence of a native aquatic species.36
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The department of fish and wildlife must 37
implement the recommendation from the department's periodic status 38
p. 2 HB 1311

review published in February 2024, and presented to the fish and 1
wildlife commission on June 22, 2024, to change the status of the 2
gray wolf from endangered status to sensitive status. In accordance 3
with the department of fish and wildlife's recommendation, the 4
purpose of the change of classification to sensitive status is to 5
continue to protect the wolves from unlawful take under chapter 77.15 6
RCW, from malicious and intentional harassment, and from unlawful 7
hunting, take, or harassment. While under the sensitive status 8
designation, the department shall administer chapter 77.12 RCW to 9
prohibit the hunting of wolves and make conservation of the species 10
and their habitat a priority. Wolves would not be hunted and would 11
remain on the list of priority habitats and species. The sensitive 12
species designation must remain until the department of fish and 13
wildlife's next proposed review. The species must not revert to 14
endangered unless the population is shown to be vulnerable or 15
declining below the population count as of the effective date of this 16
section. 17
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The director of th