Subcommittee tables bill that would require Board of Wildlife Resources to act on scarce species

Delegate Zaire presented House Bill 767, saying hunters in Campbell County have reported a sharp decline in wild turkey counts and asking the committee to require the Board of Wildlife Resources to act when a species is found to be scarce. "This bill directs the board to adjust regulations to accommodate the recovery of any species of wildlife discovered to be scarce," the delegate said.

Ryan Brown, executive director of the Department of Wildlife Resources, told the subcommittee the administration had no formal position yet but described existing agency practice: "we do manage wildlife today on a county basis where necessary depending on the species," he said, adding that while some places have fewer turkeys than in the past, DWR had not found evidence that turkeys were in danger of local elimination in Campbell County. Brown characterized the bill as largely directing the agency to do work it already performs.

Committee members pressed for evidence of DWR inaction; Delegate Zaire said the request was driven by multiple constituent reports. After discussion, a member moved to lay the bill on the table. The motion passed by recorded vote 9-0. The chair said the department's current monitoring and management practices addressed the issues raised and thanked those who testified. The bill was tabled, meaning no further subcommittee action was taken at this meeting.