HB 302: Delaying wildlife and lamprey transplants — 2025

Rep. Doug Pickett (R-Oakley) introduced House Bill 302, as a replacement of HB 195, based on the opposition of the Idaho Fish & Game Commission. The bill is still a problem, as it would complicate efforts to relocate or transplant wildlife.

The bill would require the Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDFG) to notify the county commissioners and any affected ranchers, landowners, or lessees about proposed wildlife relocation efforts. The bill requires a 30-day waiting period if anyone requests a hearing before the county commission, along with approval from the commission before the animal(s) could be relocated. Such notification, hearing, and approval would be required for each relocation effort.

Relocating wild animals is an important tool that the IDFG uses when animals cause conflicts or threaten communities. In addition, from time to time, IDFG works to reestablish or augment wildlife populations where they are absent (yes, like parachuting beavers), or where species have become genetically isolated. Each year, IDFG relocates about 31 moose, and 79 turkeys, along with dozens of other animals.

At the apparent request of the IDFG, the revised bill excludes game fish from the bill, but the restrictions on relocations would still apply to non-game fish like lamprey, whose restoration efforts could be blocked.

If enacted, the bill could result in excessive detention of wild animals in captivity (cages or traps) for a period extending beyond 40 days. This would stress wildlife, limit options for animals that need to be relocated, delay efforts to reestablish native wildlife, and would likely lead to increased wildlife mortality. Instead of detaining animals for this length of time, the more likely outcome is that IDFG would simply dispatch animals that were causing conflicts, instead of relocating them.

The bill would allow County Commissions to block relocation efforts entirely, seizing more control from the IDFG and its independent Commission. If a County blocked a reintroduction, IDFG would have to restart the clock with the next county.

Finally, and inexplicably the bill would continue to allow the release or relocation of classified “predatory wildlife” of coyotes, jackrabbits, skunks, weasels, starlings, raccoons, and rattlesnakes without going through the process. Not that they’re relocating these species very often, but it still seems odd.