Senate Bill 6118, sponsored by Sen. Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls, was developed in response to the state’s burgeoning mountain lion population. The animals’ surge was spurred by the passage of a 1996 voter initiative that banned cougar hunting.
Gov. Gary Locke signed the bill last week. It previously had passed the House, 90-5, and the Senate, 33-15.
It provides for a three-year pilot program to investigate the effectiveness of hunting with hounds to control the rising cougar population. The program will take place in Ferry, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Chelan and Stevens counties. These areas have been most affected by the surplus number of cougar.
The signing of SB 6118 is a major step toward increased safety for Washington citizens. Since the hunting ban, Washington’s mountain lions have become less fearful of humans, creating safety concerns. The animals have also been interfering with the state’s elk reintroduction program. To date, 20 percent of the reintroduced elk have been killed by cougars.
Sportsmen should contact Gov. Locke and thank him for signing SB 6118. Sportsmen can call (360) 902-4111 to leave a message for the governor.
Source: U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance
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