Instructs the State Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify certain areas as wildlife management units or herd ranges and undertake predator control in the wildlife management units or herd ranges until certain criteria are met.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Senate Bill 776
Sponsored by Senator NASH, Representative LEVY B (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: The Act tells an agency to identify areas with drought impacts. The Act tells the agency
to reduce predators in the areas. The Act gives money for purposes related to the areas. (Flesch
Readability Score: 61.1).
Instructs the State Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify certain areas as wildlife man-
agement units or herd ranges and undertake predator control in the wildlife management units or
herd ranges until certain criteria are met.
Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the department for predator control.
Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to predator management in drought-stricken regions; and declaring an emergency.
Whereas wildlife management plans established by the State Fish and Wildlife Commission con-
firm that prolonged drought contributes to habitat degradation and has negative impacts on wildlife,
contributing to increased predation and mortality; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
Section 2 of this 2025 Act is added to and made a part of the wildlife laws.
SECTION 2. Consistent with climate and ocean change key principles for species and
habitat management identified by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, the department
shall:
(1) Use established metrics and indices, such as drought mapping, invasive grass inven-
tories, rangeland vegetation maps and similar information available from federal and state
agencies and other entities, including the Institute for Natural Resources, the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States Forest Service and the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service, to identify wildlife management units or herd ranges con-
sisting of lands that exhibit evidence of drought, habitat degradation and reduced nutritional
availability for wildlife populations and in which:
(a) Populations of elk or mule deer are at or below 50 percent of the most recent popu-
lation goals set forth in individual species management plans established by the department
or the State Fish and Wildlife Commission.
(b) Populations of pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep or mountain goats are below 75
percent of the rolling three-year average of the populations.
(2) Review and update the designations of wildlife management units or herd ranges at
least every two years.
(3) Collaborate with federal partners and local agencies to undertake predator control in
the wildlife management units or herd ranges until:
(a) Populations of elk or mule deer within the wildlife management units or herd ranges
NOTE: Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 1666
SB 776
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
are at or above 80 percent of the most current population goals set forth in individual species
management plans established by the department or the commission.
(b) Populations of pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep or mountain goats within the
wildlife management units or herd ranges are at least 90 percent of the rolling three-year
average of the populations.
(4) Prioritize conservation efforts on land managed by the department, to the extent of
the department’s authority, within wildlife management units and herd ranges identified
pursuant to subsection (1) of this section.
(5) Cooperate with federal agencies, local agencies, nongovernmental organizations and
private landowners in coordinating conservation projects to benefit wildlife management
units and herd ranges identified pursuant to subsection (1) of this section.
SECTION 3.
In addition to and not in lieu of any other appropriation, there is appropri-
ated to the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025,
out of the General Fund, the amount of $_____, for carrying out the provisions of section 2
of this 2025 Act.
SECTION 4. This 2025 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2025 Act takes effect
on its passage.
[2]