Resolve, To Create a Deer Predation Working Group

Sec. 1. Deer predation working group. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall establish a deer predation working group to review and to recommend necessary revisions to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's predation control policy. The 8-member working group must include representatives from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the University of Maine System, an organization that represents the needs of Maine's forest products community, an organization that represents trappers, an organization that represents professional guides, an environmental organization, an organization that represents sportsmen and an organization that represents small woodlot owners in the State; and be it further

Sec. 2. Duties. Resolved: That the working group shall consider:

1. Methods of coyote control;

2. Tools and devices to be employed in predation control;

3. The protocol used by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to determine when and where to deploy animal damage control agents;

4. The need and consequences of reducing the bear population in northern and eastern Maine to allow the deer population to recover; and

5. The appropriate protocol for accomplishing bear reductions, if any, as determined under subsection 4.

The policy and protocols developed by the working group must adequately consider and minimize impacts to nontarget species, especially threatened and endangered species; and be it further

Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall report the working group's findings and recommendations and any recommended legislation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters no later than January 5, 2009. That joint standing committee may submit legislation related to the report to the First Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.

summary

This resolve is a committee bill relating to the recommendations of the working group created by Resolve 2007, chapter 39. The resolve directs the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to establish an 8-member deer predation working group to develop policies and protocols for the control of deer predation by coyotes and bear. The working group is directed to report its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters no later than January 5, 2009. The resolve authorizes the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters to submit legislation relating to the report to the First Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.