Hotline For Trouble

Wildlife

A toll-free telephone hotline to report dangerous cougar or bear incidents has been installed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Dial (888) 879-6069 to report cougar or bear incidents that threaten public safety or cause damage to property, livestock or pets.

The hotline is just one of several measures the department is using to respond to the increase in complaints about nuisance wildlife since a voter initiative in 1996 restricted the manner in which hunters could control cougar and bear populations.

The Washington Legislature last year approved $800,000 for the agency to use in dealing with dangerous wildlife. Eight wildlife enforcement agents were budgeted into the wildlife control plan. One agent already has been assigned to Spokane and another is expected to be on duty in Colville.

“Public safety is our primary concern,” said Bruce the agency’s enforcement chief. “We want to do everything in our power to provide our constituents with a means to quickly report dangerous wildlife incidents.”

The hotline will be staffed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. When staff is not available, callers must leave details of their situation on the voice messaging system and also will be directed to contact their local Washington State Patrol office. State Patrol dispatchers contact Fish and Wildlife Officers.

The new hotline is only for reporting dangerous wildlife encounters. For general information requests about wildlife or to report sightings of cougars or bears, call the department’s regional offices at Spokane, 456-4082 or in Ephrata, (509) 754-4624.