Signed by Governor Chris Gregoire

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that allows the Department of Fish and Wildlife to authorize three additional seasons in which dogs may be used in the hunting of cougars as part of the "cougar control" pilot project, which intends to gather information to determine if a permanent program is warranted.

Highlights:

- Allows a county legislative authority to request inclusion in the additional three years of the pilot project by taking the following steps (Sec. 2):

- Adopting a resolution requesting inclusion; - Documenting the need to participate in the pilot project by identifying the number of cougar-human encounters and livestock and pet depredation; - Developing and implementing an education program about predator exclusion techniques and nonlethal cougar management; and - Demonstrating that existing legal methods and tools have not been sufficient to deal with cougar incidents in the county.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that allows the Department of Fish and Wildlife to authorize three additional seasons in which dogs may be used in the hunting of cougars as part of the "cougar control" pilot project, which intends to gather information to determine if a permanent program is warranted.

Highlights:

- Allows a county legislative authority to request inclusion in the additional three years of the pilot project by taking the following steps (Sec. 2):

- Adopting a resolution requesting inclusion; - Documenting the need to participate in the pilot project by identifying the number of cougar-human encounters and livestock and pet depredation; - Developing and implementing an education program about predator exclusion techniques and nonlethal cougar management; and - Demonstrating that existing legal methods and tools have not been sufficient to deal with cougar incidents in the county.

Full Bill Text