Latest news with #KyleGarrison
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Washington expands species of roadkill that drivers can take home to eat
PORTLAND, Ore. () — It is now legal for Washingtonians in three counties to take additional species of roadkill home with them. As of May 17, the is permitting people to salvage certain deer that were accidentally killed in vehicle crashes in Clark, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties. 'Chaotic tariff policy': USDA buys $16M of Oregon shrimp to help fishermen State wildlife officials previously banned this practice to help save the Columbian white-tailed deer. The species is found in the three named Washington counties – along with Oregon's Clatsop, Columbia and Douglas counties – and is federally protected due to its status as a threatened animal. Although it remains illegal to salvage white-tailed deer, WDFW is now allowing drivers to salvage other species as long as they have a . 'We carefully reviewed available data and determined the risk of mistakenly salvaging Columbian white-tailed deer is low,' WDFW Ungulate Section Manager Kyle Garrison explained in a release. 'This rule change expands salvage opportunities for black-tailed deer, in addition to elk, while continuing to support protections for Columbian white-tailed deer.' The department first legalized the salvaging of elk in 2016, when white-tailed deer were still endangered. They were reclassified as 'threatened' animals later in 2023, after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that the population grew from 545 deer in 2002 to 1,296 deer about 20 years later. Samaritan CEO responds to backlash amid possible rural birthing center closures In Oregon, salvaging certain roadkill . The state's fish and wildlife department noted that white-tailed deer could be salvaged from Douglas County and east of the crest of the Cascade Mountains, but they should be left alone in other areas. It is still illegal to retrieve other game mammals, like bears and cougars. In both Oregon and Washington, drivers must acquire a permit within 24 hours of possessing a deer or elk carcass. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Yum! You can now take some roadkill home to eat in southwest WA
(Photo by) Good news for people who enjoy deer, elk and saving money: The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife will allow people to take home and eat deer killed in motor vehicle crashes in Clark, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties. The rule change went into effect May 17 and was announced Monday. The move does not apply to federally protected Columbian white-tailed deer. Instead, it allows salvage of elk and black-tailed deer in the three counties with a Fish & Wildlife-issued roadkill salvage permit. 'We carefully reviewed available data and determined the risk of mistakenly salvaging Columbian white-tailed deer is low,' Kyle Garrison, the department's ungulate section manager, said in the announcement. It's still illegal to salvage, handle or possess Columbian white-tailed deer in Washington. Fish & Wildlife asks salvagers to report when the remains of that species are found. While eating roadkill can be dangerous, salvagers west of the Cascades have not had to worry about chronic wasting disease in dead animals. 'We have not had any cases of chronic wasting disease in southwest Washington,' said Britton Ransford, Fish & Wildlife's spokesman for the region. The department stressed that salvaging deer and elk is allowed only for animals killed in motor vehicle crashes. It also said anyone who takes possession of a carcass is required to obtain a free roadkill salvage permit within 24 hours. Printable permits are available online or at the department's regional offices.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New wildlife feeding ban takes effect in WA amid concerns of CWD
May 20—OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has adopted new regulations prohibiting the feeding of deer, elk and moose statewide, effective last Friday. This decision comes as a precautionary measure to mitigate the risk of transmitting Chronic Wasting Disease, an always-fatal neurological disease that affects cervids, among Washington's wildlife populations. The rule was formed in response to the discovery of CWD in Eastern Washington for the first time in 2024. With no known cure for this disease, state officials identified the need to reduce concentrations of cervids at feeding sites, which could accelerate the spread of this and other wildlife diseases. Kyle Garrison, an ungulate specialist from the WDFW, emphasized the dangers of wildlife congregations due to feeding practices during a hearing on March 18. "Artificially increasing cervid concentrations raises the potential for disease transmission. When CWD is present, feeding can facilitate frequent exposure to prions through animal contact and contaminated sites," he explained. The regulations apply not only to direct feeding, but another rule change March 24 also restricts baiting animals during hunting, both because of CWD. Public feedback during the hearing revealed a mix of support and skepticism surrounding the new regulations. Out of 453 comments received, many attendees expressed agreement with the ban, understanding its necessity in limiting the potentially devastating impacts of CWD. However, some voiced concerns about whether the science behind the regulations was robust enough, noting that deer, elk, and moose are social animals that naturally aggregate. Others had concerns around potential economic impacts related to hunting and wildlife tourism in regions where these practices were previously common. Despite the mixed reactions, WDFW officials reiterated that feeding wildlife is neither biologically necessary for survival nor beneficial for their health. The ban, according to WDFW, is a step in promoting the overall wellness of Washington's wildlife populations, particularly in light of the threats posed by diseases like CWD. The health risks associated with wildlife feeding extend beyond disease transmission. Animals accustomed to human-provided food may venture onto roads or become more exposed to predators, according to WDFW. The digestive systems of these animals are not equipped to handle non-natural foods, with diets involving fruit and grains leading to health complications like rumen acidosis, a metabolic disorder caused by a sudden dietary shift, according to WDFW. WDFW encourages the public to support wildlife through habitat preservation rather than feeding. To this end, the agency is promoting its Habitat at Home program, which offers tips for creating natural environments that support wildlife year-round. Residents are also urged to report sightings of sick or injured animals to help monitor health-related issues within wildlife populations. "I realize this change may be difficult for those who enjoy feeding local wildlife, but the practice is not biologically necessary for these animals to survive," Garrison said. "Ceasing feeding is a significant way for the public to help minimize the impacts of CWD in our state." What is Chronic Wasting Disease? Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurologic illness of cervids, which include deer, elk, moose and caribou. CWD is caused by an infectious prion protein and transmitted from animal to animal through feces, saliva, urine or through contaminated environments. Most animals with CWD appear normal until the end stages of the disease when they show signs of weight loss, lethargy, drooping ears, excessive salivation and urination and loss of fear of people. There is no cure for CWD, and testing tissue collected from the head of carcasses is the only way to determine if an animal is infected with it. SOURCE/WDFW
