“Landowners, Fish and Wildlife team up to take on elk” misses the mark on what’s really happening (The Columbian, Aug. 15). Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife wants you to believe elk fencing is the solution to all problems. It is not.
A neighbor of landowners mentioned in the article is not singing WDFW’s praises after repairing over 40 elk breaches of his electric elk fence with no help or compensation from WDFW; 106 other landowners in eastern Skagit County who responded to the 2019 county assessor elk intrusion damages survey reported $1.4 million in damages annually, and are facing continuing elk intrusion damages.
Getting a fence is not based on damages or other criteria. Most landowners are told there is no funding for elk fencing as only a select few get posts and wire. Landowners have to clear fence line and do most of the installation with WDFW requiring landowners to provide maintenance and upkeep on elk fence with no compensation.
Did WDFW choose electric fencing because it’s the cheapest option and puts the burden of liability and maintenance on landowners instead of WDFW? Why should landowners manage the state’s imported elk when state law assigns WDFW with that responsibility?
