Post by: ron9909 on February 04, 2010, 04:59:47 PM
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.
Post by: bearpaw on February 04, 2010, 05:30:39 PM
Post by: Elkslayer on February 04, 2010, 10:52:41 PM
Post by: sako223 on February 04, 2010, 11:53:27 PM
Quote
(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 (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1885-S.pdf)
Post by: rasbo on February 05, 2010, 04:00:41 AM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on February 05, 2010, 05:31:48 AM
Post by: Hangfire on February 05, 2010, 06:29:03 AM
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.
Post by: Hangfire on February 05, 2010, 08:12:28 AM
Legislative hot line number- 1-800-562-6000
Post by: Kain on February 05, 2010, 12:37:12 PM
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.
Post by: ron9909 on February 14, 2010, 01:57:55 PM
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.
Post by: TONTO on February 14, 2010, 02:09:09 PM
Quote
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.
Post by: GHETTO GUIDE on February 15, 2010, 03:30:05 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on February 15, 2010, 03:46:04 PM
Post by: haus on February 23, 2010, 02:55:56 PM
Post by: bearpaw on February 23, 2010, 04:13:59 PM
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.
Post by: GoldTip on February 23, 2010, 04:22:56 PM
Post by: ron9909 on March 20, 2010, 08:44:25 AM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on March 20, 2010, 09:34:49 AM
This bill did not pass. :IBCOOL:
Have anything to back that up?? I am not questioning you, just want something that I can read myself.
Thanks
Joe
Post by: Kain on March 20, 2010, 12:16:51 PM
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1885&year=2009#history (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1885&year=2009#history)
Post by: bow4elk on March 20, 2010, 03:55:31 PM
Post by: Ray on March 20, 2010, 04:01:24 PM
Post by: ron9909 on March 21, 2010, 12:01:01 PM
Post by: mkcj on March 25, 2010, 12:38:59 AM
Post by: Roger on March 25, 2010, 01:01:48 PM
Post by: KimberRich on March 30, 2010, 10:32:11 AM
This is illegal in Montana I know. And I don't just mean baiting the animals. It is illegal to purposely feed them in Montana as well. Not exactly sure what they do about food plots. But I do know that placing hay bales or some other food out for deer and elk that are wintering around your property is not legal.
No need to place them around your property.. They are to busy knocking down, jumping, and climbing under fences and other barriers put around all the feed to get at it all winter. Good point about the food plots.. I guess you could put them in for turkeys and if a deer or elk wandered in.. :dunno: