Two Important Bills For Oregon's Wildlife Pass the Oregon Legislature

The Oregon legislature has passed two important bills to protect Oregon's wildlife during the 2009 session. Both are now on their way to the Governor's desk for signing. House Bill 3089 increases penalties for illegal killing of protected wildlife species. Audubon teamed up with the Oregon Hunters Association, Oregon Trappers Association, Oregon Sport Fishermen, Trout Unlimited and Native Fish Society to pass this bill. Of particular interest to Audubon members will be provisions that would increase civil penalties for intentional illegal take of birds of prey from the existing level of $50 per bird to $2000-$5000 per bird. It would also allow second offenses to be treated as felonies.

Senate Bill 596 bans the chemical Deca-BDE from use in Oregon. Audubon teamed up will Willamette Riverkeeper to pass this bill. Deca-BDE is used as a flame retardant in many products but has been linked to a variety of health problems and has been recognized as a "persistent bioaccumulative toxin." It is showing up in increasingly alarming levels in everything from human breast milk to a variety of wildlife species including peregrine falcons and osprey. There are safer cost effective alternatives available. Oregon joins eight other states with some level of prohibition of use of this chemical. Thanks to Senator Jackie Dingfelder and Representative Brian Clem for their leadership on the wildlife penalty bill and Senator Mark Haas and Representative Ben Canon for their leadership on the PBDE bill.