Local Wildlife Management: Leavenworth's Role and Measures to Mitigate Human-Wildlife Conflicts

Today's article clarifies the misconception that the City of Leavenworth handles local wildlife encounters. In fact, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Chelan County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) are the ones managing wildlife issues in the Leavenworth area. The WDFW, which oversees nearly one million acres in 33 wildlife areas and various species, including black bears, is responsible for the state’s fish and wildlife species under state law.

From 2019 to 2023, the WDFW received over 430 black bear calls, with 166 instances where officers responded to the Leavenworth area due to property damage or human-wildlife conflict. During this time, ten black bears were relocated after becoming accustomed to human-provided food sources. The City of Leavenworth has a service contract with CCSO, which handles local wildlife incidents, investigates encounters, and coordinates with relevant agencies.

Although the City of Leavenworth does not manage local wildlife, it is implementing measures to prevent negative human-wildlife interactions. These include distributing over 30 bear-resistant garbage cans to areas with frequent bear conflicts within city limits and acquiring 55 wildlife resistant, self-compacting street cans to manage trash overflow downtown. The city is also clearing dense brush and vegetation along the riverfront and in parks to reduce wildlife’s ability to travel undetected.

Residents are advised to call RiverCom at (509) 663-9911 in case of a black bear sighting or other concerning wildlife. For more information about living with black bears or becoming more aware of bear behavior, residents can visit wdfw.wa.gov/blackbears or bearwise.org.

In conclusion, while the City of Leavenworth does not handle local wildlife encounters, it is actively involved in efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflicts. The primary responsibility for managing wildlife issues lies with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.

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