Bill > SB5960

This bill establishes new provisions for managing ungulate populations, which include animals like deer, elk, and moose, recognizing their ecological, cultural, and economic importance, especially to rural communities and sportsmen. It mandates that if any ungulate population in areas where gray wolves are no longer federally protected falls 25% below its 10-year average, the state's wildlife department must declare it an "at-risk population" and begin "predator mitigation" within 60 days. Predator mitigation can include actions like relocating wolves, targeted removal, or non-lethal methods, and will continue until deer populations recover to specific benchmarks. The bill also requires annual, transparent population surveys of white-tailed deer conducted in partnership with sportsmen, and mandates that the department report annually to the legislature on ungulate population trends, at-risk designations, and mitigation efforts.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5960&Year=2025&Initiative=false