Latest news with #WDFW
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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
WDFW: Stop feeding wildlife to prevent ‘zombie deer disease'
This story was originally published on You've been warned, Washingtonians: Feeding deer, elk, moose, and other cervids is no longer permitted in the state. According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), a law took effect on May 17 that prohibits certain wildlife feeding in order to help keep Washington's wildlife healthy. 'People often think they are helping wildlife by feeding them, or simply hoping that providing food will give them a better opportunity to observe their wild neighbors,' WDFW stated. 'Unfortunately, feeding wildlife can cause more harm than good, especially with new wildlife diseases being found in Washington.' These new wildlife diseases include chronic wasting, colloquially known as zombie deer disease. Caused by misfolded proteins, called prions, in the brain and central nervous system, this disease affects deer, elk, bison, antelope, caribou, and moose. Similar to mad cow disease or Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, symptoms include drastic weight loss, stumbling or lack of coordination, drooling, listlessness, excessive thirst or peeing, drooping ears, and lack of fear of people. Chronic wasting disease was first detected in Washington in 2024, and has been a significant concern for WDFW ever since. 'Of particular concern is chronic wasting disease, an always-fatal disease of deer, elk, moose, and related species (cervids) that was detected in Washington for the first time in 2024,' WDFW said. 'There is no cure for CWD, and it has the potential to greatly impact Washington's cervid populations.' Feeding stations can spread the disease quickly, as it is easier for the animals to transmit it when surrounded by many other animals gathered in an area to be fed. Even salt licks and fruit piles can be risky. The new law also makes it illegal to feed any Washington wildlife if it leads to cervids congregating and swarming an area—even if someone wasn't intentionally trying to feed them. If bird feeders or other items attract deer, elk, or moose, they must be removed. WDFW encourages people to build natural habitats instead. 'The best way is by promoting year-round native habitat at your home or in your communities,' WDFW stated. 'WDFW's Habitat at Home program provides tips for supporting wildlife where you live, work, and play.' You can report sick animals online through the WDFW's website.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New feeding law in place to protect WA wildlife
The Brief It is now illegal to feed deer, elk and moose in Washington. The law was put into effect to prevent the transmission of diseases like chronic wasting disease at human-created feeding spots. Exceptions apply to certain agricultural practices or direct authorization from the WDFW director. SEATTLE - New feeding laws have made feeding certain wildlife illegal in Washington as of Saturday, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). A new law preventing the feeding of deer, elk and moose was put into effect by the WDFW in order to protect wildlife health and the spread of diseases including chronic wasting disease (CWD). What we know Under the new rule, it is now illegal to place, distribute, deposit, or scatter feed including, but not limited to, grain, hay, fruits, salt blocks and more to deer, elk and moose species in Washington. It is also illegal to feed any other wildlife if doing so causes deer, elk or moose to congregate in the same feeding area, even if unintentional. Due to this, WDFW encourages residents to remove any items on their property – like bird feeders – that are attracting deer, elk or moose to limit congregation and diseases like CWD. Additionally, baiting deer, elk or moose is now unlawful. Dig deeper CWD is an always-fatal disease in deer, elk, moose and related species, with no cure. It was originally detected in-state in 2024, and has not currently spread outside Eastern Washington, but experts intend for the new feeding ban to prevent the spread of the disease between other populations. CWD can be spread through close contact between animals. When many gather in a feeding area alongside a sick animal, the disease is easier to be transmitted among them. The disease can also be spread through CWD-infected protein particles left behind at feeding sites, leading to the transmission to a different animal visiting the site later. Removing human-created feeding sites aims to prevent the spread of the disease within the species. Big picture view The law does not apply to agricultural practices such as: The cultivation, production and harvest of crops, including but not limited to, fruit, vegetables, hay, and grains. Animal husbandry towards the feeding and care of domestic livestock. Existing but abandoned orchards or similar food sources. Specific WDFW director authorization of the feeding of deer, elk or moose under the following circumstances: Prevention of private property damage Mitigation of population loss is anticipated by predicted upcoming winter mortality. Support a WDFW research or management program. What you can do The WDFW encourages residents to support wildlife in ways other than feeding them, such as participating in their Habitat at Home program, learning about local biodiversity, and by connecting with nature around and outside their homes. Additionally, the WDFW expresses the importance of always observing wildlife from a distance to protect the viewer and the animal, and to better see how it would act naturally without a human present. For more information on the new law, visit the WDFW website. The Source Information in this article came from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Is Tacoma's Teekah Lewis cold case finally coming to a close? Here's what we know Over 100 Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs stores to close, including 8 in WA Marymoor Park announces 2025 summer concert series lineup in Redmond, WA Olympia, WA man dies at Grand Canyon after lengthy hike Washington raising price of Discover Pass To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
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
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Don't feed wildlife.' Why WA made it illegal to feed specific animals
If you're an avid wildlife enthusiast who loves to leave treats for wild animals who visit your yard, the state of Washington has a request: Please stop. As of May 17, 2025, it is illegal in Washington state to feed specific wild animals — deer, elk and moose in particular. Prior to the new law, Bellingham was the only local government in the state that already had a similar ban in place. In 2017, Bellingham made it illegal to feed deer. Part of the problem is that new illnesses are popping up among the state's wild residents and officials want to curb them from spreading and worsening. 'People often think they are helping wildlife by feeding them, or simply hoping that providing food will give them a better opportunity to observe their wild neighbors,' states a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Medium post published over the weekend. 'Unfortunately, feeding wildlife can cause more harm than good, especially with new wildlife diseases being found in Washington.' Groups of animals gathering in concentrated areas has led to the appearance of chronic wasting disease, which is typically lethal to deer, elk and moose. The disease first appeared in the state in 2024, according to WDFW. Food like corn, grains and fruit can be difficult for these animals to digest. In response, WDFW now has a new rule that it is illegal to feed deer, moose and elk. It is now also illegal for hunters to bait them. That's because sick animals at a feeding site — like a salt lick or a bird feeder — can contaminate the food, spreading the illness to other animals. State residents are encouraged, however, to create and support native habitat. The WDFW Habitat at Home program provides guidelines and helpful hints for making sure the habitat is beneficial to wild animals. Sick, injured or diseased animals can be reported with WDFW's online reporting tool. If you want more information on how to view wildlife safely, without endangering them, you can find some guidelines here.
