Black Bear Management

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has the responsibility to conserve our bear populations. Washington residents enjoy knowing that healthy numbers of bears roam our forests. Some people seek out these wary animals as one of our most sought after game species. In past decades, western Washington black bears were routinely killed in large numbers to control damage that they cause by feeding on young Douglas-fir trees. Black bear populations have rebounded from these damage control activities and populations have nearly doubled since the early 1970’s. Our increasing human population and encroachment into bear habitat creates new management challenges. The WDFW is responding to over 500 complaints a year regarding urban sightings and property damage, attacks on livestock, and bear/human confrontations. The Department believes that the most cost effective way to control bear populations is through recreational hunting. In 1996, public concern over bear hunting methods led to a citizens vote that eliminated hound hunting and hunting over bait for bear. This initiative is expected to reduce the number of bears harvested during the hunting season. Since the majority of bear habitat in Washington State exists in federal lands and industrial forest lands; bear populations should prosper well into the future.

To learn more about Black Bears in Washington, contact the:

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Wildlife Management Program
(360) 902-2515
E-Mail: wildthing@dfw.wa.gov

To report attacks, damage or depredation by Black Bears, contact your local state patrol office.

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