Fish and Wildlife offices reopen

SPOKANE–The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will reopen most of its facilities to the public starting Monday, March 21.

“When we closed our offices and hatcheries to the public in March 2020 due to the pandemic, I hoped we’d reopen a few months later; obviously that didn’t happen,” Director Kelly Susewind said Monday, March 14. “Here we are two years later, having adapted to provide our services virtually, and we are so excited to be able to serve you in person again.”

Staff is being required to wear masks; the public is not.

This opening includes WDFW’s headquarters at the Natural Resources Building in Olympia and some fish hatcheries and regional offices, he said. Staff will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the work week.

In Eastern Washington, residents can also call 509-892-1001 for assistance from the Spokane office or 509-754-4624 for help in North-Central Washington.

“We are excited to welcome you back and ask for patience as we restart our in-person operations,” Susewind said.