Bill Looks To Address Wildlife Relocation In Idaho

A new proposal in the Idaho House, House Bill 195, looks to establish stricter guidelines for the state Department of Fish and Game before relocating or transplanting wildlife.

“The bill requires 30-day advance notice to county commissioners, landowners and lease holders before any wildlife release, with a few exceptions, for small animals like starlings and raccoons," said Dex Lake with the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation.  "If written concerns are submitted within 10 days of the notice, County Commissioners must hold a meeting to approve, amend or reject the release.”

Lake added additional wildlife would be exempt under HB 195, including coyotes, jackrabbits, skunks, weasels and rattlesnakes.  Additionally, the bill absolves livestock producers of liability if wildlife-to-livestock interactions result in disease transmission.

“The bill requires mandatory disease testing for relocating wolves and other tracked wildlife, addressing concerns about tapeworms, brucellosis and other threats to livestock,” Lake noted. 

Lake added the bill is currently going through some redrafting to address technical corrections and may move forward under a different bill number.  Click Here to learn more about HB 195.

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