Protecting livestock from wolf predation.

 S-0996.1

SENATE BILL 5590

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Senator Wagoner

AN ACT Relating to protecting livestock from wolf predation; amending RCW 77.15.120 ; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1)(a) The department of fish and wildlife must establish a three-year pilot program in order to evaluate the effectiveness of authorizing the taking of the first wolf that returns to a livestock predation site.

(b) Under the pilot program, an owner, the owner's immediate family member, the agent of an owner, or the owner's documented employee may monitor the site of a wolf predation of livestock and take the first wolf that returns to the site of the predation. Any wolf killed under the authority of this section must be reported to the department of fish and wildlife within 24 hours and the wolf carcass must be surrendered to the department of fish and wildlife.

(2) The department of fish and wildlife must report back to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2028, regarding the pilot program created in this section.