Cougar Attack Highlights Shortage of WDFW Officers

[Dick in the Dirt]

Might be nice if WDFW didn't have their officers doing things pertaining to fish & wildlife issues and not writing parking or other no related WDFW issues.

No truer words spoken.Stick to the job their hired to do. Here in the valley they spend more time with other law enforcement than their job. With their power of no search warrants and probable cause they can stop anybody. Works well for other agencies.

[Southpole]

Maybe the state can do some cross training with state troopers   or are they short handed too?

[konradcountry]

How do you propose that WDFW increase cougar harvest when the governor has vetoed a proposed increase from current levels?

In some areas the limits aren't reached but my guess is that they are far from urban areas.

Inslee basically vetoed on a rule violation that the environmentalist groups came up with. Everyone note that HSUS and Wolf Haven were involved. So there is a chance it could still be increased, especially after this attack. But I think most the areas targeted for the increase were on the east side.

[James]

I have been saying this for years, there are WAY too few wardens, and the poachers know this.

I have been hunting in WA for 22 years, and have encountered a warden once while hunting.

The only time I see them fishing is derby style fisheries like halibut openers.

We need to do a lot more than just fill those empty positions if we truly care about our wildlife resources.

[Humptulips]

Might be nice if WDFW didn't have their officers doing things pertaining to fish & wildlife issues and not writing parking or other no related WDFW issues.

No truer words spoken.Stick to the job their hired to do. Here in the valley they spend more time with other law enforcement than their job. With their power of no search warrants and probable cause they can stop anybody. Works well for other agencies.

Good point here.
Agents are getting called to help local and State agencies. It should work in the other direction. I ponder what if nobody from WDFW had showed up. Sheriff could have went out with a hound man and accomplished the same thing. Hound guys, now there is something short on supply. Wonder why?

[jasnt]

Might be nice if WDFW didn't have their officers doing things pertaining to fish & wildlife issues and not writing parking or other no related WDFW issues.

No truer words spoken.Stick to the job their hired to do. Here in the valley they spend more time with other law enforcement than their job. With their power of no search warrants and probable cause they can stop anybody. Works well for other agencies.

Good point here.
Agents are getting called to help local and State agencies. It should work in the other direction. I ponder what if nobody from WDFW had showed up. Sheriff could have went out with a hound man and accomplished the same thing. Hound guys, now there is something short on supply. Wonder why?

[bigtex]

Might be nice if WDFW didn't have their officers doing things pertaining to fish & wildlife issues and not writing parking or other no related WDFW issues.

No truer words spoken.Stick to the job their hired to do. Here in the valley they spend more time with other law enforcement than their job. With their power of no search warrants and probable cause they can stop anybody. Works well for other agencies.

There extended search/stop authority only pertains to wildlife violations.

[bigtex]

Might be nice if WDFW didn't have their officers doing things pertaining to fish & wildlife issues and not writing parking or other no related WDFW issues.

No truer words spoken.Stick to the job their hired to do. Here in the valley they spend more time with other law enforcement than their job. With their power of no search warrants and probable cause they can stop anybody. Works well for other agencies.

Good point here.
Agents are getting called to help local and State agencies. It should work in the other direction. I ponder what if nobody from WDFW had showed up. Sheriff could have went out with a hound man and accomplished the same thing. Hound guys, now there is something short on supply. Wonder why?

It does work in the other direction. As an example, most WDFW search warrants for example involve the SO or WSP.

It also doesn't help that most other LE agencies in WA are also short staffed. As an example, most agencies no longer respond to "cold crimes" anymore.

FYI, the "agent" title went away 30 years ago.

[Southpole]

Might be nice if WDFW didn't have their officers doing things pertaining to fish & wildlife issues and not writing parking or other no related WDFW issues.

About 3 or 4 months ago a friend and I were having lunch at the Tokyo House in Arlington. About half way into our lunch a wdfw officer came in to look through the Tokyo House's fish receipts. Couldn't the state find someone else to do that, why does it have to be a guy that should be out in the woods or on the water.

[bigtex]

Might be nice if WDFW didn't have their officers doing things pertaining to fish & wildlife issues and not writing parking or other no related WDFW issues.

About 3 or 4 months ago a friend and I were having lunch at the Tokyo House in Arlington. About half way into our lunch a wdfw agent came in to look through the Tokyo House's fish receipts. Couldn't the state find someone else to do that, why does it have to be a guy that should be out in the woods or on the water.

So a Fish & Wildlife Officer is investigating a restaurant by looking at their fish receipts. You do realize that's a vital part of their job right?

[olyguy79]

Might be nice if WDFW didn't have their officers doing things pertaining to fish & wildlife issues and not writing parking or other no related WDFW issues.

About 3 or 4 months ago a friend and I were having lunch at the Tokyo House in Arlington. About half way into our lunch a wdfw officer came in to look through the Tokyo House's fish receipts. Couldn't the state find someone else to do that, why does it have to be a guy that should be out in the woods or on the water.

So I guess you're saying it's okay if the restaurant got the fish from illegal areas it's okay because it's in the restaurant now?

What the WDFW Officer did is what game wardens do in every state. Game wardens protect fish/wildlife from essentially the birth of the animal (and really even before then with habitat laws) to the total destruction of the animal (eaten by us).

[Southpole]

Might be nice if WDFW didn't have their officers doing things pertaining to fish & wildlife issues and not writing parking or other no related WDFW issues.

About 3 or 4 months ago a friend and I were having lunch at the Tokyo House in Arlington. About half way into our lunch a wdfw officer came in to look through the Tokyo House's fish receipts. Couldn't the state find someone else to do that, why does it have to be a guy that should be out in the woods or on the water.

So I guess you're saying it's okay if the restaurant got the fish from illegal areas it's okay because it's in the restaurant now?

What the WDFW Officer did is what game wardens do in every state. Game wardens protect fish/wildlife from essentially the birth of the animal (and really even before then with habitat laws) to the total destruction of the animal (eaten by us).

Uuhh, did I say it was okay, no, you're a real wizard for reading into thinking I support illegal activity . I just said couldn't they find different personnel to solely perform that task and keep those officers outside.

[olyguy79]

Might be nice if WDFW didn't have their officers doing things pertaining to fish & wildlife issues and not writing parking or other no related WDFW issues.

About 3 or 4 months ago a friend and I were having lunch at the Tokyo House in Arlington. About half way into our lunch a wdfw officer came in to look through the Tokyo House's fish receipts. Couldn't the state find someone else to do that, why does it have to be a guy that should be out in the woods or on the water.

So I guess you're saying it's okay if the restaurant got the fish from illegal areas it's okay because it's in the restaurant now?

What the WDFW Officer did is what game wardens do in every state. Game wardens protect fish/wildlife from essentially the birth of the animal (and really even before then with habitat laws) to the total destruction of the animal (eaten by us).

Uuhh, did I say it was okay, no, you're a real wizard for reading into thinking I support illegal activity . I just said couldn't they find different personnel to solely perform that task and keep those officers outside.

That's part of a game wardens job! It's not like they're doing health inspector jobs making sure people got their food workers card. I suppose you'd also say wardens shouldn't be checking in on taxidermists either?

[bigtex]

One of the largest complaints about WDFW Enforcement is the expanded duties they've taken on over the years. Some have been forced upon them by the legislature, others WDFW have often taken in order to get more money (such as boating enforcement). However, this isn't only a WDFW thing. You can look at every state's wildlife enforcement program and see activities/disciplines they work in and think to yourself "why is that under the purview of the game warden?" A couple examples:

-In the New England states Search & Rescue is the responsibility of the game wardens. Doesn't matter if it's a hunter who is lost or little Tommy. Once SAR is activated it's the game warden's show
-In Florida game wardens are responsible for enforcing speed laws in Florida panther zones during night hours. Basically there is a daytime speed limit and a night time speed limit in panther areas. It's the wardens enforcing it.
-In California wardens are responsible for enforcing oil spills. A new task is that wardens are now the ones issuing permits for marijuana grows.
-In the Midwest many states have their game wardens also take on the state park ranger role. Essentially their first task is the park, when they can they are able to go throughout the state and work off-park fish/wildlife work

One common thing nationwide though is unfunded mandates. The legislature of the state comes up with new laws, wants the game wardens to enforce it, but doesn't give them any new money to do it. Essentially its the old "do more with less" concept.

[Southpole]

Might be nice if WDFW didn't have their officers doing things pertaining to fish & wildlife issues and not writing parking or other no related WDFW issues.

About 3 or 4 months ago a friend and I were having lunch at the Tokyo House in Arlington. About half way into our lunch a wdfw officer came in to look through the Tokyo House's fish receipts. Couldn't the state find someone else to do that, why does it have to be a guy that should be out in the woods or on the water.

So I guess you're saying it's okay if the restaurant got the fish from illegal areas it's okay because it's in the restaurant now?

What the WDFW Officer did is what game wardens do in every state. Game wardens protect fish/wildlife from essentially the birth of the animal (and really even before then with habitat laws) to the total destruction of the animal (eaten by us).

Uuhh, did I say it was okay, no, you're a real wizard for reading into thinking I support illegal activity . I just said couldn't they find different personnel to solely perform that task and keep those officers outside.

That's part of a game wardens job! It's not like they're doing health inspector jobs making sure people got their food workers card. I suppose you'd also say wardens shouldn't be checking in on taxidermists either?

Nope, not saying that either...