Don Jenkins
Capital Press
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is rewriting the rules that guide the agency as it addresses conflicts between landowners and wildlife.
OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife would issue more permits to hunt crop-damaging elk and turkeys and give ranchers more time to file claims for livestock killed by wolves under rules being developed by the department’s staff.
WDFW is rewriting the regulations that guide how it responds to farmers, ranchers and timberland owners who suffer financial losses from wildlife, including wolves, elk, deer, turkeys and bears.
The revisions are partly driven by a reshuffling of assignments within WDFW. Two years ago, state wildlife managers started addressing conflicts between landowners and wildlife, taking over from the agency’s law enforcement division.
Also, wildlife conflicts are increasing, and WDFW wants to clarify what residents can expect from the department, Wildlife Section Manager Stephanie Simek said.
Wildlife managers have yet to propose rule changes to the Fish and Wildlife Commission. Simek outlined for the commission Friday changes under consideration.
One proposal is increasing from 200 to 300 the statewide cap on damage-prevention hunting permits for anterless elk. The additional permits would be issued in game units with elk populations that meet state goals, mostly in southeast and south-central Washington.
Some 200 permits would be reserved for Eastern Washington. The permits would be issued earlier in the growing season, July 1 rather than Aug. 1.
The limit for turkeys also would be upped from 200 to 300.
Wildland managers are seeking a large enough increase in permits to curb damage and to reset the limit for at least five years, Simek said.
The way the state calculates or reviews losses to wolves would not change.
Ranchers, however, would have 30 days, instead of 10 days, after suffering a loss to notify wildlife officials that they intend to file a claim. Ranchers would have another 60 days to file the claim.
Currently, ranchers must apply for compensation with 60 days of the loss.
Besides dead livestock, ranchers can be compensated for wolf-harassed herds that suffer an unusually high number of lost animals, or reduced weight gain or fewer pregnancies.
WDFW will accept written comments on the rules through June 30 online at wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations/wildlife_interaction or by mail: Wildlife Conflict Rules, Wildlife Program, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501.