WSR 15-10-021
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 14-95-Filed April 27, 2015, 9:15 a.m., effective May 28, 2015]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: To remove Steller sea lions from the list of threatened species in WAC 232-12-011 Wildlife classified as protected shall not be hunted or fished. This removal is based on department review of all relevant data that show that the Washington Steller sea lion population has strongly increased in number, indicating the species no longer needs to be listed as threatened. As a mammal of the order Pinnipedia, the Steller sea lion will continue to be protected under WAC 232-12-011 under other protected wildlife.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 232-12-011.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW
77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.12.020, and 77.12.047.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 15-01-139 on December 19, 2014.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: April 10, 2015.
Brad Smith, Chair
Fish and Wildlife Commission
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 08-03-068, filed 1/14/08, effective 2/14/08)
WAC 232-12-011 Wildlife classified as protected shall not be hunted or fished.
Protected wildlife are designated into three subcategories: Threatened, sensitive, and other.
(1) Threatened species are any wildlife species native to the state of Washington that are likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout a significant portion of their range within the state without cooperative management or removal of threats. Protected wildlife designated as threatened include:
| |
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
western gray squirrel |
Sciurus griseus |
((Steller (northern) sea lion |
Eumetopias jubatus)) |
North American lynx |
Lynx canadensis |
ferruginous hawk |
Buteo regalis |
marbled murrelet |
Brachyramphus marmoratus |
green sea turtle |
Chelonia mydas |
loggerhead sea turtle |
Caretta caretta |
sage grouse |
Centrocercus urophasianus |
sharp-tailed grouse |
Phasianus columbianus |
Mazama pocket gopher |
Thomomys mazama |
(2) Sensitive species are any wildlife species native to the state of Washington that are vulnerable or declining and are likely to become endangered or threatened in a significant portion of their range within the state without cooperative management or removal of threats. Protected wildlife designated as sensitive include:
| |
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Gray whale |
Eschrichtius gibbosus |
Common Loon |
Gavia immer |
bald eagle |
Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
Peregrine Falcon |
Falco peregrinus |
Larch Mountain salamander |
Plethodon larselli |
Pygmy whitefish |
Prosopium coulteri |
Margined sculpin |
Cottus marginatus |
Olympic mudminnow |
Novumbra hubbsi |
(3) Other protected wildlife include:
| |
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
cony or pika |
Ochotona princeps |
least chipmunk |
Tamius minimus |
yellow-pine chipmunk |
Tamius amoenus |
Townsend's chipmunk |
Tamius townsendii |
red-tailed chipmunk |
Tamius ruficaudus |
hoary marmot |
Marmota caligata |
Olympic marmot |
Marmota olympus |
Cascade golden-mantled ground squirrel |
Spermophilus saturatus |
golden-mantled ground squirrel |
Spermophilus lateralis |
Washington ground squirrel |
Spermophilus washingtoni |
red squirrel |
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus |
Douglas squirrel |
Tamiasciurus douglasii |
northern flying squirrel |
Glaucomys sabrinus |
wolverine |
Gulo gulo |
painted turtle |
Chrysemys picta |
California mountain kingsnake |
Lampropeltis zonata; |
All birds not classified as game birds, predatory birds or endangered species, or designated as threatened species or sensitive species; all bats, except when found in or immediately adjacent to a dwelling or other occupied building; mammals of the order Cetacea, including whales, porpoises, and mammals of the order Pinnipedia not otherwise classified as endangered species, or designated as threatened species or sensitive species. This section shall not apply to hair seals and sea lions which are threatening to damage or are damaging commercial fishing gear being utilized in a lawful manner or when said mammals are damaging or threatening to damage commercial fish being lawfully taken with commercial gear.
