Livestock wolf predation

AN ACT Relating to protecting livestock from wolf predation; 1
amending RCW 77.15.120; creating a new section; and providing an 2
expiration date. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1)(a) The department of fish and wildlife 5
must establish a three-year pilot program in order to evaluate the 6
effectiveness of authorizing the taking of the first wolf that 7
returns to a livestock predation site.8
(b) Under the pilot program, an owner, the owner's immediate 9
family member, the agent of an owner, or the owner's documented 10
employee may monitor the site of a wolf predation of livestock and 11
take the first wolf that returns to the site of the predation. Any 12
wolf killed under the authority of this section must be reported to 13
the department of fish and wildlife within 24 hours and the wolf 14
carcass must be surrendered to the department of fish and wildlife.15
(2) The department of fish and wildlife must report back to the 16
appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2028, 17
regarding the pilot program created in this section.18
Sec. 2. RCW 77.15.120 and 2014 c 48 s 5 are each amended to read 19
as follows: 20
S-0996.1
SENATE BILL 5590
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senator Wagoner
p. 1 SB 5590
(1) A person is guilty of unlawful taking of endangered fish or 1
wildlife in the second degree if: 2
(a) The person hunts for, fishes for, possesses, maliciously 3
harasses, or kills fish or wildlife, or possesses or intentionally 4
destroys the nests or eggs of fish or wildlife; 5
(b) The fish or wildlife is designated by the commission as 6
endangered; and 7
(c) The taking of the fish or wildlife or the destruction of the 8
nests or eggs is not consistent with section 1 of this act or has not 9
been authorized by rule of the commission, a permit issued by the 10
department, or a permit issued pursuant to the federal endangered 11
species act. 12
(2) A person is guilty of unlawful taking of endangered fish or 13
wildlife in the first degree if ((the person has been)):14
(a) ((Convicted)) The person has been convicted under subsection 15
(1) of this section or convicted of any crime under this title 16
involving the taking, possessing, or malicious harassment of 17
endangered fish or wildlife; and 18
(b) Within five years of the date of the prior conviction , the 19
person commits the act described by subsection (1) of this section.20
(3)(a) Unlawful taking of endangered fish or wildlife in the 21
second degree is a gross misdemeanor. 22
(b) Unlawful taking of endangered fish or wildlife in the first 23
degree is a class C felony. The department shall revoke any licenses 24
or tags used in connection with the crime and order the person's 25
privileges to hunt, fish, trap, or obtain licenses under this title 26
to be suspended for two years. 27
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act expires July 1, 2029.28
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p. 2 SB 5590