BILL NUMBER: S5402B
SPONSOR: HOYLMAN-SIGAL
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
protecting wolves; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon
expiration thereof
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To foster protection for wolves migrating into New York by requiring the
department of environmental conservation to collect genetic data on
large canids in order to more fully understand the presence of wolves in
the state.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends the environmental conservation law by adding a new
section that includes the following provisions: Requires all wild canids
(this includes coyotes and wolves) taken in'the state to be reported to
the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Requires DNA analy-
sis be performed on taken or accidentally killed canids that are over
fifty pounds to determine if the canid is a wolf; if a canid that is
taken or found is determined to be a wolf, the DEC is authorized to take
measures that it deems necessary to protect another wolf or wolves;
information pursuant to this statute voluntary submitted by hunters and
trappers cannot be used as evidence of violation of the state's endan-
gered species law; the DEC shall periodically submit a report to the
legislature on the status of wolves in the state; and, the DEC shall
modify its hunting and trapping training curriculum to include informa-
tion on wolves and reflect this legislation.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Wolves are protected under federal and New York law as an endangered
species. However, wolves migrating into New York have been mistaken by
hunters for large coyotes and killed despite this existing legal
protection. Wolves are an important component in establishing and main-
taining a biologically diverse ecosystem. In addition, studies conducted
in Alaska and Canada have shown that wolves do not significantly dimin-
ish populations of animals important to hunters such as deer and moose
and studies have also shown that the presence of wolves helps to control
coyote populations. It is the purpose of this act to provide additional
meaningful protections for wolves migrating into the state and to
require the Department of Environmental Conservation to collect genetic
data on large canids in order to more fully understand the presence of
wolves in the state and provide information to the public according to
these findings.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.8295A/S.7927A of 2023-24
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:;
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.