Gray wolf management

AN ACT Relating to providing flexibility for the department of 1
fish and wildlife to collaborate with local governments to manage 2
gray wolves; amending RCW 77.12.020; adding a new section to chapter 3
36.01 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 77.36 RCW; and creating a 4
new section. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:6
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that 7
Washington's gray wolf population has steadily increased for 15 8
consecutive years, with the most recent annual wolf report indicating 9
a 20 percent population growth in 2023. As of the end of 2023, there 10
was a minimum of 260 wolves in 42 packs across the state, 11
demonstrating a sustained recovery of the species.12
(2) The legislature finds that the United States fish and 13
wildlife service, after an extensive peer-reviewed assessment using 14
the best available science, announced in February 2024, a "not 15
warranted" finding for petitions to list gray wolves under the 16
endangered species act in the eastern third of Washington. This 17
determination highlights the species' strong recovery and resilience 18
in the region. 19
(3) The legislature finds that as gray wolves continue to 20
disperse across Washington, there is a need for an incremental, 21
H-0590.1
HOUSE BILL 1442
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Abell, Springer, Dent, Schmidt, Eslick, and Engell
Read first time 01/21/25. Referred to Committee on Agriculture &
Natural Resources.
p. 1 HB 1442
localized approach to management. Regional differences in wolf 1
populations require tailored management strategies that address 2
specific ecological and community needs. An incremental, localized 3
policy aligns with the state's recovery goals while balancing the 4
ecological benefits of a thriving wolf population with the priorities 5
of rural communities. Rural communities seek to balance environmental 6
stewardship with other priorities, such as assuring a diversified 7
economy that includes ranching and the protection of the public, 8
livestock, and domestic household pets. 9
(4) Therefore, the legislature intends to provide localized 10
management of gray wolves in Washington, reflecting their sustained 11
population growth and the findings of federal and state wildlife 12
agencies. This policy will maintain protections for the species while 13
providing the necessary tools for effective and science-based 14
management, ensuring the continued recovery of gray wolves and 15
coexistence with human communities. 16
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 36.01 17
RCW to read as follows: 18
(1) The department of fish and wildlife shall manage the gray 19
wolf as if it has been removed from state designation as endangered 20
under RCW 77.12.020 within any county where the gray wolf is not 21
designated under the federal endangered species act as threatened or 22
endangered in the county or portion of the county and the following 23
criteria are met: 24
(a) The state meets the recovery objective of 15 breeding pairs 25
in the state for at least three years; and 26
(b) There are at least three documented breeding pairs in the 27
county or portion of the county where the gray wolf is not designated 28
under the federal endangered species act as threatened or endangered.29
(2) When the criteria identified in subsection (1) of this 30
section are met, the legislative body of the county must provide 31
notice to the fish and wildlife commission and to the director of the 32
department of fish and wildlife that the gray wolf no longer meets 33
the criteria for state designation as endangered under RCW 77.12.020 34
in that county. 35
(3) After a county acts under subsection (2) of this section, the 36
county must enter into an interlocal agreement with the department of 37
fish and wildlife and any tribes within the jurisdiction to 38
collaboratively comanage the gray wolf in accordance with a regional 39
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plan developed pursuant to section 3 of this act, including 1
collaborating with local law enforcement to receive and investigate 2
reports of problem animals. 3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 77.36 4
RCW to read as follows: 5
(1) Once a county acts under section 2 (2) of this act, the 6
department shall form a work group to develop a regional plan for 7
gray wolf management in the county or portion of the county that 8
meets the criteria in section 2(2) of this act. 9
(2) Members of the work group must include representatives of 10
county cattlepersons organizations, representatives of county 11
governments, a representative from a regional nonprofit organization 12
that operates range riding and other year-round wolf and livestock 13
conflict avoidance tactics in northeast Washington, and a 14
representative from a conservation nonprofit. The department shall 15
invite affected Indian tribes to participate and shall give affected 16
Indian tribes the opportunity to review drafts of the plan before it 17
is completed. The department is encouraged to invite representatives 18
of the United States forest service. The department shall hire an 19
outside third-party neutral facilitator to ensure effective 20
functioning of the work group. 21
(3) At a minimum, the plan must address the following objectives:22
(a) Increased cooperation with input from county governments, 23
cattlepersons associations, and local organizations providing range 24
riding and other conflict deterrence efforts with respect to the 25
methods and approaches to minimizing impacts to livestock production;26
(b) Minimization of livestock loss and economically costly stress 27
on livestock and minimizing the need for lethal control of wolves;28
(c) Improved responsiveness from the department on planning 29
proactive deterrence for ranchers; 30
(d) Faster response time from the department when lethal control 31
is required; 32
(e) Habitat improvement for ungulate populations;33
(f) An improved livestock loss and damage compensation program; 34
and 35
(g) Maintaining recovery objectives and an overall stable wolf 36
population in the region. 37
(4) The department shall complete and implement the regional plan 38
within six months and may revise the plan periodically as conditions 39
p. 3 HB 1442
change. If the work group does not reach agreement on the regional 1
plan within six months, a minority report must be included.2
Sec. 4. RCW 77.12.020 and 2014 c 202 s 302 are each amended to 3
read as follows: 4
(1) The director shall investigate the habits and distribution of 5
the various species of wildlife native to or adaptable to the 6
habitats of the state. The commission shall determine whether a 7
species should be managed by the department and, if so, classify it 8
under this section. 9
(2) The commission may classify by rule wild animals as game 10
animals and game animals as fur-bearing animals. 11
(3) The commission may classify by rule wild birds as game birds 12
or predatory birds. All wild birds not otherwise classified are 13
protected wildlife. 14
(4) In addition to those species listed in RCW 77.08.020, the 15
commission may classify by rule as game fish other species of the 16
class that are commonly found in fresh water except those classified 17
as food fish by the director. 18
(5) The director may recommend to the commission that a species 19
of wildlife should not be hunted or fished. The commission may 20
designate species of wildlife as protected. 21
(6) If the director determines that a species of wildlife is 22
seriously threatened with extinction in the state of Washington, the 23
director may request its designation as an endangered species. The 24
commission may designate an endangered species. 25
(7) If the director determines that a species of the animal 26
kingdom, not native to Washington, is dangerous to the environment or 27
wildlife of the state, the director may request its designation as 28
deleterious exotic wildlife. The commission may designate deleterious 29
exotic wildlife. 30
(8) Upon recommendation by the director, the commission may 31
develop a work plan to eradicate native aquatic species that threaten 32
human health. Priority shall be given to water bodies that the 33
department of health has classified as representing a threat to human 34
health based on the presence of a native aquatic species.35
(9) When the commission and director receive notice as described 36
in section 2 of this act, the director must: Evaluate and determine 37
whether the county has attained the criteria; and initiate 38
development of a management plan pursuant to section 3 of this act 39
p. 4 HB 1442
for gray wolves within that county or portion of county where the 1
criteria have been met pursuant to section 3 of this act. Within six 2
months of the receipt of notice, the director must notify the 3
commission that a management plan developed consistent with section 3 4
of this act has been completed and will be implemented.5
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