Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 1992 NO. 4 >

1.   If an individual lawfully acquires wildlife in another state and lawfully brings it into Washington, the wildlife is the property of the individual, not the State.  However, to lawfully bring wildlife into Washington an individual must comply with regulations of the Department of Wildlife and the individual's ownership is subject to the overarching regulatory authority of the State. 2.   The Department of Wildlife has the authority to regulate deleterious exotic wildlife. Regulations adopted by the Department to regulate deleterious exotic wildlife do not conflict with RCW 77.12.010, which provides that nothing contained herein shall be construed to infringe on a private property owner's control over his or her private property.

AGLO 1977 NO. 5 >

In order to sustain a criminal prosecution for mutilating or needlessly wasting the carcass of a game animal under RCW 77.16.090, it is necessary to prove that the person charged with wasting or mutilating is the same person who killed the animal in question.

AGLO 1978 NO. 23 >

Under the provisions of RCW 36.68.090 a county may construct and operate a county zoo and impose reasonable admission charges in connection therewith.

AGO 1951 NO. 139 >

The owner of trespassing stock is liable for damaging nonfenced property in a stock restriction area.

AGO 1960 NO. 145 >

The animal feeding demonstrations sponsored by the Washington State Dairy Council and properly conducted in the public schools do not fall within the provisions of chapter 16.52 RCW.

AGO 1954 NO. 198 >

The State of Washington Department of Agriculture may require "Bang's" tests on cattle herds in Klickitat County and if the owner of any untested bovine animals refuses to have them tested, the Director may order the premises on which they are kept quarantined, and no animals or the product of such animals may be removed from the premises.  The violation of a quarantine order, the willful obstruction or hindrance of a duly authorized agent of the Director, or a failure to comply with or violation of any order, rule or regulations promulgated by the Director under applicable statutes is a misdemeanor and is punishable as such.

AGO 1958 NO. 212 >

The director of game or his representative may withhold from auction beaver pelts or may withdraw beaver pelts from sale before the hammer of the auctioneer falls.   The director or his representative may not sell beaver pelts at a private sale.

AGO 1954 NO. 293 >

1.   A hunter who lawfully shoots a game animal acquires a vested legal right in such animal provided he continues to manifest an immediate intention to possess it by exercising actual physical possession and by tagging.  2.   Where a second hunter shoots and tags a dying animal bagged by another while the first hunter is attempting to reduce it to possession, the second hunter is guilty of larceny if all other elements of the crime are present.