Summary of proposed rule
The rule proposal allows the existing pilot Beaver Relocation Permit Program to continue and allows individuals to relocate wild American beaver that are in conflict with landowners as an additional alternative to lethal removal. The rule also establishes standards for humane treatment of temporarily captive beaver, selection of suitable release sites, and requirements for considering coexistence options before translocation.
Scope and rationale for proposed rule
WDFW proposes to build on WDFW's pilot Beaver Relocation Permit Program that started in 2019 and currently provides education and support for individuals and non-profit organizations who relocate beaver across the state. The proposed rule incorporates aspects of the pilot program to establish a permitting process for overseeing and regulating beaver relocation through enforceable rules. This proposed rule creates a new rule in WAC chapter 220-450 that provides definitions and establishes requirements for beaver relocation permit application, beaver capture, housing, caretaking, and release, and penalties for violating the rule.
Documents
- CR-101 – filed as WSR 24-07-016 on This Preproposal was withdrawn by the department on May 1, 2024.
Public hearing
Commission hearing scheduled: August 9-10th, 2024 at 8am
Location: Natural Resources Building (NRB) - Room 175. Address: 1111 Washington Street SE, Olympia, WA 98504
Information on how to register to testify at the public hearing is available at wdfw.wa.gov/about/commission.meetings, or contact the Commission office at 360-902-2267.
State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)
This rule making has undergone SEPA review for environmental impacts and WDFW has issued a SEPA determination, DNS 24-025. The SEPA determination is available for public comment on the 2024 Beaver Relocation engagement page.
Please visit WDFW's SEPA page for more information.
For more information
Staff Contact: Heather.Bonagofski@dfw.wa.gov
Public comments
To submit comments on this proposal, please visit the Beaver Relocation Permit public engagement page.
You may also submit a comment via email to 2024beavercr102@publicinput.com or by leaving a voicemail message at 855-925-2801 and entering project code 7085.
The comment period ends at 11:59 pm on August 9, 2024.