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Recreation
Nesting wild mallards in backyard pool?
Question: We have a pair of mallard ducks that seem to have taken up residency in our backyard pool and have laid eggs in the surrounding plants.
I am afraid that if they hatch they will end up dead because of all the meat eating birds in the area.
Why are they doing this?
If I can get them to leave, where will they fly off to? I can't seem to find any help in the town that I live in (Modesto, Calif.).
I read your piece in the Modesto Bee and wondered if you had any suggestions of what I could do? (Richard, Modesto)
Answer: Unless ducks are marked with a transmitter, we can only speculate where they are headed. Most likely the ducks in your backyard are a drake and hen pair that need a safe place to build a nest.
Backyard pools generally don’t have many predators so ducks often nest nearby them. Once the eggs hatch, they won’t want to hang out in the pool for long because there is no food in the water.
At that point, you may want to open your backyard gate so the hen can walk her brood out to a nearby river or other water source.
You have another option, too. Since waterfowl are protected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, you cannot catch and move them yourself.
Instead, you might want to contact a permitted local wildlife rehabilitation center if there is a need to move them after hatching to a more non-residential setting.
For a list of permitted wildlife rehab facilities, please go to www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/WIL/rehab/facilities.html .
Are hooks with pinched barbs legal for fishing salmon?
Question: I was told that a barbed hook (circle or otherwise) which has had the barb “pinched down” with pliers is by law considered legal for salmon fishing.
True or false? (Rick S.)
Answer: True. As long as it is pinched all the way down so there is no barb. It’s safer to just buy barbless hooks or grind off the barbs.
Barbless hooks are defined as, “A fish hook from which the barb or barbs have been removed or completely bent closed, or which is manufactured without barbs” (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 1.19).
Where’s the search authority?
Question: My friend and I disagree about a point of law.
If a game warden sees that you are fishing, or have been fishing, or sees your rods and ice chests in the car, can he demand you open the car and open your ice chests? Can he demand you open the trunk also?
I think this is fair because we have definitely been fishing and always have less than our limits, but my friend thinks it is an abuse of power to demand we open our trunk or car, which is our private property.
If the game warden does have this right, what would happen if we refuse to comply? Thanks! (S. Love, Los Angeles)
Answer: Yes, any wildlife officer can ask for your consent to inspect a vehicle.
Whether an officer has the authority to conduct an inspection when consent is not given depends upon the specific circumstances of the contact.
Wildlife officers have extensive inspection authorities that are unique to their jobs. For example, it is a crime to refuse to show a wildlife officer “… all licenses, tags, and the birds, mammals, fish, reptiles or amphibians taken or otherwise dealt with under this code, and any device or apparatus designed to be, and capable of being, used to take birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, or amphibians” (Fish and Game Code, section 2012).
Also, wildlife officers are authorized to inspect all receptacles, except the clothing actually worn by a person at the time of inspection, where birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, or amphibians may be stored or placed (FGC, section 1006).
Fishing multiple rods from shore outside San Francisco Bay?
Question: I know that you can use as many rods and hooks as you want outside the Golden Gate, but can I use multiple rods to catch striped bass and halibut from the shore?
I already know that only one rod can be used for salmon, rockfish and lingcod.
I have heard if you have a striped bass or a halibut in possession, then only one rod can be used. Is this true? (Eddie H.)
Answer: No, that’s not correct. Outside of the Golden Gate, if you are fishing from shore for halibut and striped bass, you can use as many rods and hooks as you want.
If you were to catch a species like salmon or rockfish, however, you would have to release it, as only one line may be used for these species.
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
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – The employees of the Mendocino National Forest want to remind visitors to have a safe July 4 holiday, especially while recreating in the forest.
With hot and dry conditions continuing, visitors are asked to be careful with fire in the National Forest, including campfires, gas stoves and lanterns, and to comply with current fire restrictions.
Fireworks, including sparklers, are prohibited on the Mendocino National Forest.
The forest is currently under fire restrictions, which means there are limitations on where campfires, gas stoves, lanterns and internal combustion engines – including chainsaws – can be used.
Recreation sites are posted with the information. More information on fire restrictions can also be found at www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .
Nighttime temperatures are generally cooler in the mountains, and even during summer there is the possibility of storms.
Visitors should be prepared for changing conditions. Bring layered clothing and plenty of food and water on your outdoor adventure. Tell someone where you plan to go, which routes you plan to take and when you plan to be back.
“We want everyone to have a safe and memorable Fourth of July weekend, especially those joining us on the Forest,” said Forest Supervisor Sherry Tune. “Human-caused fires are preventable and historically have been among the most devastating for the Mendocino. We have been very fortunate not to have a large fire on the Forest since 2012 and ask visitors to help us maintain that this fire season by being careful during their visit.”
All Mendocino National Forest offices will be closed Friday, July 4, in observance of the holiday.
For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .
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- Written by: Editor
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will hold a public workshop Saturday, July 19, to discuss the implementation of the lead bullet ban.
The workshop will be held at the Community Room at City Hall, 777 Cypress Ave. in Redding from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
A CDFW representative will detail a proposed implementation plan, the PowerPoint is available on the CDFW Web site.
Following the short presentation, interested parties can make comments and provide input that will help shape CDFW’s final recommendation to the Fish and Game Commission, which CDFW anticipates presenting at the commission’s meeting in Sacramento in September.
Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB 711 requiring that the commission adopt a regulation to ban lead ammunition in the state no later than July 1, 2015, with full implementation of the ban to occur no later than July 1, 2019.
Gov. Brown has directed CDFW and the Commission to work with all interested parties in order to produce a regulation that is least disruptive to the hunting community.
In order to determine what is least disruptive to hunters, CDFW has been reaching out to interested parties this year in a number of ways, including question and answer sessions at sportsmen’s shows, meetings with hunting organizations and now a series of public workshops throughout the state. A public workshop was held in Ventura in April and in Eureka in June.
After Redding, planning is underway for workshops later this year in Rancho Cordova (Sacramento area), San Diego, Fresno and Riverside/San Bernardino.
In addition, individuals and organizations may email comments to
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- Written by: Editor
HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The HVL Men’s Niners Golf Club held a stroke play tournament on Thursday, June 26.
The results were:
- First flight: Bill Eagleton was first with net 32. Fred Figg second, 34. Paul Bertlin, Don Herndon and Tom Marshall tied for third, 35.
- Second flight: Dennis Bero took first, 31. Randy Brown second, 34. Bill Helt, Bill Kyle and Ron Clark tied for third, 35.
- Third flight: Jeff Markham posted the lowest net of the day, 30. Jim Cary second, 31, and Jim Brown third, 32.
- Fourth flight: Ned Munger first, 32. Dick Kistner second, 33 and Paul Harvey third, 34.
Closest to the par 3 pins were Tom Gibbs and Paul Harvey.
Chip-ins were scored by Jim Brown, Arch Madsen, Ron Clark and Tommy Sowell.
Sixty-nine men participated in this event.
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- Written by: Editor