WASHINGTON – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is actively reaching out to retailers across the state to raise awareness about a new law that restricts feeding wildlife. Staci Lehman from the department explained their approach to informing businesses, such as Walmart, Sportsman’s Warehouse, and Ace stores, about the legislation.
Lehman emphasized the department’s collaboration with these retailers. “We cannot tell them what to sell, obviously, but we can advise them that they may want to consider how much they order of certain items because they may have less sales in the future as a result of this new law,” she said.
The enforcement of this law will initially focus on education rather than penalties. Lehman noted, “People don’t feed wildlife to break the law on purpose. Most people really believe that they’re helping.” Officers will educate individuals on the negative impacts of feeding wildlife before issuing fines.
The law, which came into effect on May 17, aims to prevent the spread of diseases like chronic wasting disease, which was confirmed in the Spokane area in late 2024. “We really want to discourage the gathering of deer, elk, and moose in one area because they can pass it to each other,” Lehman stated.
The department is also launching an education campaign through public events, news releases, and social media to spread awareness. For those interested in receiving updates, Lehman suggested visiting the department’s website at wdfw.wa.gov and signing up for email notifications.
The new law is part of a broader effort to protect wildlife from becoming habituated to humans, which can lead to aggressive behavior and other negative consequences.
