WASHINGTON – A new law banning the feeding or baiting of deer, elk, and moose is now in effect across Washington. The law, signed by the governor last week, aims to reduce the spread of diseases among wildlife.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife is prioritizing public education over enforcement for now. Staci Lehman, the department’s communications officer, stated, “We don’t want to scare people or anything like that, we just want to educate them and let them know they are not helping.”
Some animal feed stores NonStop Local contacted were caught off guard by the new regulations. Several stores were unaware of the law, with one even in the process of ordering feed when contacted.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website provides resources to help residents determine if they are violating the new law. The concern is that feeding wildlife can lead to increased car crashes and the spread of diseases such as chronic wasting disease.
Lehman emphasized, “People don’t feed wildlife to break the law on purpose. Most really believe they’re helping.” She added, “So to start with, it will be more education-based than writing anybody a ticket.”
While the focus is on education, repeated violations could still result in citations. Residents are encouraged to check the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website for more information on compliance.
