feeding wildlife bill

[ron9909]

I thought I would put this on the trail camera topic because alot of us place feed down to get good pictures. What a joke!!!! 



Feeding seven types of wildlife would be illegal under a bill sponsored by Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, that passed the state House of Representatives on Friday, Jan. 29, by a 55-41 vote.

House Bill 1885 now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Deliberate feeding of bears, cougars, wolves, coyotes, deer, elk and raccoons would result in a warning the first time. The second time would result in a "natural resources civil infraction," an alternative to a criminal citation, issued by a Fish and Wildlife Department officer.

Exempt are zoos, wildlife refuges and wildlife rescuers. The bill also has protections for farmers who may inadvertently feed wildlife on farms.

"In my district, which is mostly rural communities, certain types of wildlife are becoming extremely aggressive toward humans because they are being regularly fed," Van De Wege said.

"This bill is about keeping people and communities safe from potentially dangerous animals and it's about keeping the wildlife safe, too."

Besides the risks of wildlife attacking people, feeding presents a public health risk because of increased manure on the property where animals are coming to feed, Van De Wege said.

Some species can carry deadly diseases such as rabies and the wildlife attracted to the food also can attract predators, he said.

Van De Wege said infractions wouldn't be issued simply because deer were feeding on apple trees in a person's yard, the feeding must be intentional.

[bearpaw]

Well here goes another law controlling what we all can do....

[Elkslayer]

If this passes I guess I'm just gonna have to start feeding moose!

[sako223]

It's ok if your helping cover their poor management though.

(4) Due to the documented, chronic malnutrition of the Mt. St.
 Helens elk herd, no individual shall be issued a warning or a natural
 resources infraction under this section for feeding elk in the Mt. St.
 Helens elk herd management area, as identified in the Washington state
 elk herd plan prepared by the department in May 2006, until July 31,
 2019.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1885-S.pdf

[rasbo]

didn't say anything about humming bird feeders,talk about a bear attractant..My moms gets destroyed by bears..

[Skyvalhunter]

Guess people will be writing there house of Reps.

[Hangfire]

This type of law is already in place in at least one other western state- Colorado.where any feeding of big game including fox and coyote is illegal.  This was the law in 2006, when I had contact with the agency about there baiting law.

To me, this means this bill has potential to pass, as it has already been done, in a western state.

There are negatives to some feeding of wildlife, but a lot of positives.  You need to contact your legislator and express your feelings. This is the type of law that should be left to the individual comunities to controll.  If Seattle doesn't want feed put out for raccoons or some other critter let them control it. I want the ability to feed quail in a harsh winter, or some apples in front of my trail camera, with out breaking the law.

[Hangfire]

A legislative hot line number to express your opinion about specific bills.  They will want your address and phone number, e-mail also if you want to give it. Be specific and polite.  They will ask if you want contact or reply from your legislator.

Legislative hot line number- 1-800-562-6000

[Kain]

Does this mean baiting for hunting and trapping would still be legal?

7.84 RCW.
9 (3) This section does not apply to:
10 (a) A person who is hunting or trapping potentially habituated
11 wildlife in accordance with all other applicable provisions of this
12 title or rules of the commission or the director;
13 (b) A person who is engaged in a farming or ranching operation that
14 is using best management practices or other generally accepted farming
15 practices;
16 (c) A person who is feeding potentially habituated wildlife, with
17 the director's authorization, to prevent damage to private property;
18 (d) A person who is feeding potentially habituated wildlife, with
19 the director's authorization, to mitigate the population loss
20 anticipated by a predicted winter mortality;
21 (e) A person who is feeding potentially habituated wildlife, with
22 the director's authorization, as a part of a research or management
23 program;
24 (f) Waste disposal facilities operating in accordance with
25 applicable federal, state, and municipal laws; and
26 (g) Zoos and lawfully operated wildlife refuges, or wildlife
27 rehabilitators operating under RCW 77.12.467.
28 (4) Due to the documented, chronic malnutrition of the Mt. St.
29 Helens elk herd, no individual shall be issued a warning or a natural
30 resources infraction under this section for feeding elk in the Mt. St.
31 Helens elk herd management area, as identified in the Washington state
32 elk herd plan prepared by the department in May 2006, until July 31,
33 2019.

[ron9909]

Here is a letter to the editor in the local newspaper. I thought it was well written.
To State Rep. Kevin Van De Wege

It's wonderful that you take time out from your busy schedule of trying to figure out where you're going to get all the money that you have already spent and balance the budget.

The House Bill 1885 that you have sponsored to ban wildlife feeding is badly needed.

I, for one, agree that the feeding of bears, wolves, cougars and coyotes is a bad idea. And I, for one, will stop feeding them myself, immediately. Especially the cougars as they are so difficult to hand feed. Lord knows I have tried.

As for the diseases and rabies that you are so graciously protecting us from, I did a little checking and found there were only two cases of rabies in humans in the state of Washington in the past 71 years; that's right, 71 years, and both those cases were traced to bat bites.

So, sir, please, please, place bats on that list because they are 100 percent of the rabies problem in the state of Washington.

There is another creature that strikes fear into my heart each summer - every time I go to collect my daily mail - those vicious hummingbirds that have attacked me from time to time should also be on your list. Last, but not least, the dreaded mosquito.

To help eradicate this big problem with wildlife in our rural area, I suggest every household should be required to keep a 30-30 rifle and have a 365-day hunting season to eradicate any chance of these pests passing on their diseases to us humans. Oh, yes, this will also stop the deer from eating flowers and such in some old duffer's yard, which I'm sure is the real reason you are pushing Bill 1885 into law.

[TONTO]

Due to the documented, chronic malnutrition of the Mt. St.
29 Helens elk herd, no individual shall be issued a warning or a natural
30 resources infraction under this section for feeding elk in the Mt. St.
31 Helens elk herd management area, as identified in the Washington state
32 elk herd plan prepared by the department in May 2006, until July 31,
33 2019.

Wouldn't want the folks at Echo Park to not be able to feed elk, how would they promote their elk viewing atractions at the park otherwise. So would this law prohibit a mineral block put out for the hoof rot elk in my area, I read thet mineral blocks containing zinc may help with the hoof rot problems and have planned on putting one under my apple tree this summer.

[GHETTO GUIDE]

There is at least one member who feeds the elk from home up there ( I remember seeing the picts) when they are in need . I would not like to see them suffer , or Echo Park suffer from tourists, but I guess this would become survival of the fittest . 

[carpsniperg2]

 

[haus]

Really....they don't have anything better to do? 

[bearpaw]

What happens during a bad winter? 

Lots of folks I know help out the turkey and deer. Sounds like a local problem that should be dealt with in the county.

I smell a hidden agenda.