Dangerous Wildlife Complaint Response Human conflicts with dangerous wildlife and WDFW
Enforcement Program response
With human populations continuing to expand into traditional black bear and cougar habitat, combined with intentional/unintentional feeding, human conflicts with wildlife are inevitable. When human conflicts occur, citizens regularly call WDFW offices seeking assistance.
WDFW enforcement program is responsible for responding and assisting the public regarding solutions to human/dangerous wildlife complaints.
WDFW policy directs agency employees to respond within certain time frames and with certain responses depending on the urgency of the incident. The following is a summary of WDFW agency policy regarding response to dangerous wildlife complaints:
Cougar and or Black Bear depredation on livestock resulting in loss:
WDFW response:
WDFW enforcement officer response within 24 hours.
Responding enforcement officer has discretion to:
Euthanize offending animal.
Immobilize, mark, and relocate offending animal one time only.
Cougar and or Black Bear behavior that constitute an Urgent Human Safety Concern:
WDFW response:
Immediate response by WDFW enforcement Officer.
Responding enforcement officer has discretion to:
Euthanize offending animal.
Immobilize, mark, and relocate offending animal one time only.
Cougar and or Black Bear attacks on humans: Although rare, in the event a black bear, cougar or other dangerous animal attacks a human, there are necessary protocols.
WDFW response:
Immediate response by WDFW enforcement officer.
Euthanize offending animal.
Submit tissue samples to State Health Department for rabies test.
