(OLYMPIA, WA) — The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission met virtually on July 19 to discuss several carnivore-related topics, including proposed changes to cougar hunting seasons and the status of gray wolves on the state’s protected species list.

First, the Commission delegated a rulemaking petition to establish a spring black bear depredation permit season to the Director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The Director will review the merits of the petition and decide whether to accept the petition to initiate rulemaking.

The Commission then approved changes to the cougar hunting seasons. The new rule sets the cougar hunting season in Washington from September 1 to March 31, sets a maximum of 13 percent of each population management unit (PMU) using a specific statewide density, and includes all known human-caused cougar mortality in determining when a PMU must be closed during the season.

The Commission included an amendment to the cougar hunting rule to clarify that all known human-caused cougar mortality that contributes to the 13 percent limit will be counted between April 1 of the current year and March 31 of the following year. Additionally, the Commission determined that in PMUs that reach the 13 percent limit prior to the cougar hunting season that begins September 1, the limit will be increased to 20 percent of the population to provide hunting opportunities in those PMUs. The Commission also directed staff to initiate rulemaking for the 2025-26 cougar hunting season.

Ultimately, the Commission voted against the staff recommendation to reclassify gray wolves as a protected sensitive species in Washington. As such, gray wolves remain on the endangered species list in Washington. This vote does not affect the federal classification of gray wolves, which remain on the federal endangered species list in the western two-thirds of Washington and are delisted from the federal list in the eastern third. WDFW will review the state protection status of wolves as part of a future periodic status review process, or sooner if the recovery goals of the state’s Wolf Conservation and Management Plan are met within five years.

The meeting was recorded and will be made available on the Commission’s webpage for the public to view at their convenience. Updated regulatory documents relating to today’s decisions will be posted on WDFW’s regulatory webpage.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is a governor-appointed panel that sets policy for WDFW. WDFW works to conserve, protect, and ensure the survival of fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable recreational and commercial opportunities for fish and wildlife.