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Recreation
Moving turtles and other wildlife due to drought
Question: I live in San Luis Obispo and have a quick question regarding relocating three baby turtles.
My wife and I have visited this small pond for quite some time, and due to the drought we are afraid that the turtles will die due to the pond getting smaller and smaller.
We know that the California turtle is in danger to become extinct due to the red-eared turtle influx here in California.
I need to know if I need a permit to move them off of state land. (Kevin M., SLO)
Answer: While it’s natural to want to help, moving animals is not only illegal, it is potentially detrimental, and your good intentions could have very bad consequences.
According to California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Statewide Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Coordinator Laura Patterson, many animals, including some turtles, have a natural homing instinct and will not stay where they are transplanted.
They may be carrying diseases or parasites that could impact the animals at the release site.
In addition, transplanted animals may be genetically different, and interbreeding with the existing population could produce offspring less adapted to local conditions.
At the very least we know that in times like these with very limited resources, they will now compete with the animals already existing at the site, resulting in even worse overcrowding and potentially lowering survival and reproductive success even more than would have happened from the drought conditions.
By law you can take only non-native turtles with a California sport fishing license (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 5.6), but release into the wild or relocation of an animal (native or non-native) requires a permit from CDFW.
In the case of aquatic turtles, the law says it is unlawful to place, plant or cause to be placed or planted, in any of the waters of this state, any live fish, any fresh or salt water animal, or any aquatic plant, whether taken without or within the state, without first submitting it for inspection to, and securing the written permission of, the department (Fish and Game Code, section 6400).
The situation you describe is very unfortunate, but all of California is experiencing a severe to exceptional drought, and ponds and creeks have already gone dry or are expected to dry by summer’s end throughout the state.
This is effecting the state’s wildlife, including many native species that are listed as endangered or threatened under state or federal law.
Abalone and scuba gear
Question: If I’m out spearfishing with scuba gear, can I leave the scuba gear in the boat to also free dive for abalone? (Anonymous)
Answer: No. Sport divers are prohibited from using scuba or other surface-supplied air equipment to take abalone, and they cannot possess abalone on board any boat, vessel, or floating device in the water containing scuba or surface-supplied air.
There is no problem transporting abalone and scuba gear together while on land. Divers working from boats, kayaks, float tubes or other floating devices who wish to use scuba equipment to spear fish or harvest sea urchins, rock scallops or crabs of the genus Cancer, will need to make a separate trip for abalone.
Shooting across a public road with a bow and arrow?
Question: The law says that you cannot shoot across a public road with a firearm or hunt within 150 yards of another home or building without permission, but what about archery? What about target shooting with archery?
If there is no law in your community, or unincorporated area of a county that prohibits or limits use of archery, and you want to shoot archery for target practice, does the same distance law apply? (James S.)
Answer: The same rules for firearms apply to archery equipment in this case – you may not shoot across a road or within 150 yards of a neighbor’s home, barns or outbuildings – even if just target shooting (Fish and Game Code, section 3004).
In addition to shooting across a roadway, this section also makes it unlawful for any person to intentionally release any arrow or crossbow bolt over or across any public roadway open to the public in an unsafe manner.
Beyond this, different counties and communities may have more restrictive ordinances that they enforce so you should check with your local law enforcement office for this information.
Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Join Brad Barnwell on Saturday, Aug. 16, for a bird walk along Cole Creek, Kelsey Creek Outlet and Kelsey Slough at Clear Lake State Park.
The fall bird migration has started and will hopefully produce some interesting transients.
The two-hour walk will start at the visitor Clear Lake State Park center parking lot at 7:30 a.m.
The walk will be at a slow pace and cover about one mile of paved road and trails.
Participants should bring binoculars/scopes, birding guide, water, mosquito repellant and sun protection.
Park entry fees are waived for those participating in the walk.
Clear Lake State Park is located at 5300 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville. The entry into the park is free for those attending the walk.
Anyone having special needs should contact the Clear Lake State Park Sector Office Tuesday through Thursday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 707-279-2267.
For further information about California State Parks go to www.parks.ca.gov .
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- Written by: Editor
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Channel Cats hosted its fourth annual Blue Lakes Open Water swim on Monday, Aug. 4.
The team began its mile-long swim at The Narrows Lodge Resort, owned by Art and Sharon Cerini. From the Narrows, the team swam to Pine Acres, a half-mile away.
Some swimmers finished at this point, but the majority of the team turned around and swam back to the Narrows Resort to enjoy a picnic dinner.
The youngest swimmers swam 100 yards along the shoreline and were the cheering squad for the mile-long swimmers.
Team supporters Greg Hadfield, Mike Clifton and Dr. Peter Stanley also swam with the Channel Cats.
“This is an important event for our evolving swimmers,” said Head Coach Agustin Merodio. “They learn to swim in a pool that contains clear water, lines on the bottom to guide them and a wall at each end for support. The open-water swim is an entirely different venue for the swimmers. They need confidence and endurance to swim for a mile in Blue Lakes. We were proud of all the swimmers.”
The team’s focus was safety and called upon many swim parents and community members to help monitor the swimmers in the water.
Kayaks were deployed to follow swimmers and Art Cerini launched two pontoon boats to provide a vantage point for coaches to keep an eye on the 34 swimmers who participated in this fun-filled event.
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- Written by: Editor
HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The HVL Men’s Niners Golf Club held the first round of its 2014 Club Championship on Aug. 7.
The results were:
- First Flight: Al Burrows took first with net 31. Rick Conrad was second, 32. Scott McAllister, Joe Vallee, and Fred Figg tied for third, 33.
- Second Flight: Bruce Brashares and Don Dornbush tied for first with the lowest nets of the day, 30. Dennis Bero was third, 32.
- Third Flight: John Castineau was first, 32. Mike Higman, Mike Riley, John Jones, and Jim Hodges tied for second 33.
- Fourth Flight: Bryon Hoss was first, 31. Tom Swihart was second, 32. Ed Carver and Sam DeBone tied for third, 33.
Closest to the Par 3 pins were Bryon Hoss and John Jones.
Chip-ins were scored by Sam DeBone, Jim Hodges, Joe Vallee and Scott McAllister.
Sixty-seven (67) men competed in this event.
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- Written by: Ron Hallman