Bear, Cougar Season Decisions On WA Fish And Wildlife Commission Agenda

THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will hold a hybrid meeting in Olympia from April 3 to 5 to discuss the annual wolf report and decide on cougar and black bear season setting, proposed land transactions in Pacific County, and rule making to address marine mammal entanglements.

The meeting will be held at the Natural Resources Building (1111 Washington St. SE in Olympia) and will be live streamed online.

Thursday, April 3, will kick off with Big Tent, Fish, and Wildlife committee meetings. Agenda topics include budget and legislation, the annual shrimp and crab policy updates, an update on lamprey, commercial Dungeness crab rules, and the game management plan.

The full Commission meeting will begin Friday, April 5, with an open public input opportunity, followed by a report from WDFW Director Kelly Susewind. On Friday, the Commission will decide on the coastal crab fishery comprehensive line marking rule, proposed land transactions in Pacific County, and cougar and black bear season setting. The Commission will also hear a briefing on the Blue Mountain calf survival report.

Saturday’s agenda begins with an open public input opportunity, followed by a briefing on the 2024 annual wolf conservation management report and future meeting planning discussion. 

Those interested in providing verbal public comment during the meeting, either in-person in Olympia or remotely online or over the phone, must register in advance.

All members of the public are invited to share their perspectives and participate in WDFW public feedback opportunities regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, language proficiency, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, or basis of disability.

The full meeting agenda, including information about submitting public comment and accessing the meeting remotely, is available on the WDFW website. The meeting will be recorded and published on the Commission webpage so the public can watch afterward at their convenience.