Council members back education-first approach, consider civil penalties to curb harmful wildlife interactions

Council members and members of the public discussed a citizen-led effort to discourage people from approaching or interfering with newborn wildlife, particularly fox kits, on San Juan Island.

Tillery, who has been leading a working group on the topic, said the proposed approach is staged: education first, then signage, and a third component — potentially civil penalties — if people ignore the other steps and continue to block roadways or lure animals. “If you're not gonna abide by the signage and the education, then we do have a third component, and that would be some type of civil penalty,” Tillery said.

Speakers described specific harms reported by neighbors in Cow Point: photographers lying on roadways with zoom lenses, luring baby animals onto decks, or otherwise interfering with wildlife and creating safety hazards for motorists and residents. A council member noted the idea of low-cost, printable signs the county could host on its website so residents could place notices in neighborhoods.

The council and staff also discussed outreach partners to amplify educational messaging, including the visitor bureau, land bank and the sheriff's office. Tillery said local law enforcement is aware of the effort and that the working group has had “a few conversations with Sheriff Peter.”

Council members emphasized education as the central tool but signaled willingness to include enforceable measures for repeat or dangerous behavior once legal counsel and the prosecuting attorney’s office confirm the county’s authority to do so. The council did not vote on a specific ordinance at this meeting; members asked staff to continue drafting options and to return with legal guidance and cost estimates for signage and enforcement.