Recreation
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- Written by: CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
Why do bats live under the I-80 Yolo Causeway near Davis?
Q: Why do bats live under the I-80 Yolo Causeway near Davis instead of a more natural setting?
A: It is pretty amazing that around 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats choose the Yolo Causeway as their home. There are several reasons why they do so, says Yolo Basin Foundation Program Coordinator Corky Quirk. First, Mexican free-tailed bats like heat and temperatures under the Yolo Causeway are warm and stable. The asphalt and causeway deck provide additional warmth. Second, the bats can keep relatively safe from predators by nestling in the causeway's expansion joints and crevices. However, the causeway isn’t totally protected. Predators sometimes hang out under the causeway to prey on fallen bats, especially during birthing and juveniles’ first flights. Peregrine falcons may also show up to hunt bats in the air. Third, bats choose the Yolo Causeway as their home because of its proximity to food. There are foraging opportunities nearby and the adjacent wetlands and rice fields are a good source for insects. The causeway is also just a short bat flight away from farm fields and orchards in Yolo and Sacramento counties.
Habitat loss may also be a factor as urbanization has reduced natural roosting locations such as hollow trees. In fact, the Yolo Causeway may have attracted bats from other areas by providing a safe, warm roosting place.
For more information on the Yolo Causeway bats visit the Yolo Basin Foundation’s website.
Crab casting
Q: Can I crab using a rod and reel with a trap attached to my line?
A: No. This style of trap, commonly known as a crabhawk or crabjaw trap, is sold in many places and our wildlife officers have encountered anglers using them. However, they are not legal in California because they are not listed as a method of take for saltwater crustaceans. California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 29.80 lists approved methods of take for crabs which include taking by hand, crab loop traps (snares), hoop nets and traps.
Airbow hunting
Q: Can I hunt in California using an air gun that shoots arrows via pressure?
A: No. The device you’re referring to is often called an airbow, which is essentially an air gun that shoots arrows. An airbow is not considered a firearm and does not fall under the definition of a bow or crossbow outlined in California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, section 354. Game mammals and birds may only be taken in California by methods listed in CCR, Title 14, sections 311, 507 and 353. Because an airbow does not fall under any of these sections, it may not be used to take game animals in California.
Lobster claws
Q: Is it true that California lobsters don’t have claws?
A: Yes, it’s true. The California spiny lobster is a species of lobster that does not have claws. In fact, there are far fewer clawed lobsters than spiny lobsters, says CDFW Environmental Scientist Jenny Hofmeister. Out of all the lobster fisheries in the world, there are only a few that target clawed lobsters. Most lobsters are spiny like the species that live in California. However, as the name suggests, California spiny lobsters are covered in spines. This feature presents its own unique challenge for scientists who work with the species. Scientists don’t have to worry about claws when handling lobsters for conservation purposes, but they do have to watch out for their spines!
California’s spiny lobsters are a rocky reef kelp forest species found mostly off the coast of Southern California in shallow waters to a depth of about 300 feet. For more information watch CDFW’s Introduction to Lobstering video or visit the department’s recreational lobster fishing web page.
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- Written by: Nadine Strauss
LAKEPORT, Calif. — It was “Running Springs Heating & Air Night at the Races” Saturday night at Lakeport Speedway with the North State Modified Series, and once again it was Scott Winters of Tracy who set fast time and went on to claim his third consecutive NSMS victory in the non-stop 60 lap feature race.
Ian Elliott of Lakeport, driving the Running Springs house car, finished second to Winters and also won the $100 in the O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Dash for Cash.
Winters clocked in at 12.675 seconds followed by Richie Potts of Petaluma at 12.930 seconds. Pole setter Dustin DeRosier of Cloverdale battled with Elliott the first two rounds of the main event with Elliott forging ahead on lap three to pull out in front.
Potts followed Elliott to take over second and began his bid for the lead. Potts moved to the high side, but when Elliott’s car pushed going into the turn, Potts dove under him and assumed the lead.
As DeRosier was being funneled backwards, Winters slipped under Elliott on his way to the front.
Potts continued to lead the pack, with the battle for second being waged between Elliott and Winters. Winters finally settled into second place, dropping Elliott to third and Kelseyville driver Sal Martinez to fourth.
Winters caught up to Potts on lap10, and when Potts’ car pushed going into turn one, it was all Winters needed to fill the gap, pull alongside Potts, and take over the number one spot the following round.
As Winters pulled away from the field, Elliott snuck under Potts, and the duo swapped places with each pass until Elliott’s efforts finally prevailed and he took over second place at the half-way marker.
Potts’ car continued to get loose allowing Martinez to drive under Potts. Again Potts drove his car in the outside groove next to Martinez for eight circuits before Martinez successfully moved into third place on lap 38.
The remaining laps went without incident with Winters the $1000 winner at the Sunoco checkered flag followed by Elliott, Martinez, Potts and DeRosier.
Potts earned the O’Reilly’s Hard Charger award with his two multi-lap outside groove runs. He also claimed $50 in the dash for cash and was the recipient of the Scribner jug along with Elliott. Frank’s Radios certificates went to Elliott, Potts, DeRosier, Winters and Martinez.
The next stop for the North State Modifieds will be at Shasta Speedway in Anderson on August 5, and then on to Stockton 99 Speedway on August 19 for the 3rd annual Bob Lehman Classic.
The North State Modified Series would not be possible without the support of Hoosier Tire West, Sunoco Race Fuels, Anderson Logging, Racer Bling, Mark & Sharon Baldwin, Doyce Eaton, Scribner Plastics, McMurray & Sons Roofing, Frank’s Radios and O’Reilly’s Auto Parts.
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- Written by: Mendocino National Forest
They will on Friday, July 28, at 1 p.m.
The Willows visitor information office will close to the public on Thursday, July 27, and will reopen Friday, July 28, at 8:30 a.m. Front desk staff will be in training during the closure.
For assistance during the temporary closure, visitors can email the forest’s Public Affairs Office at
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Q: How do I get my kid’s school involved with CDFW’s in-school target archery program?
A: Since 2006, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has offered equipment grants to California schools for incorporating target archery into physical education curriculums. Currently, CDFW is partnered with the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) and utilizes its curriculum to safely teach archery to fourth through 12th-grade students. In addition to the fundamentals of archery, students learn focus, self-control, discipline, patience and other skills aimed at helping them succeed inside and outside of the classroom. Target archery is an inclusive sport that every child can participate in regardless of skill or athletic ability.
The first step to starting a scholastic target archery program in your school would be to speak with school administration about offering the program. The program is typically offered during the school day as part of a gym class. All types of schools are eligible including private, charter, home and special needs schools. Grant approved schools must send a credentialed teacher to a Basic Archery Instructor training class prior to starting in-school lessons. Training classes are paid for by CDFW and offered throughout the year at many locations throughout the state.
For more information visit CDFW’s Scholastic Archery Program web page or contact California Coordinator Leticia Palamidessi at
Klamath River
Q: What will happen to fish in reservoirs along the Klamath River before the dams come down? Will they be relocated?
A: The Klamath Dam removal, the largest dam removal project in U.S. history, is an opportunity to restore the health of the Klamath River. The project will benefit salmon, steelhead and other native species along with local Tribes and communities within the Klamath Basin. As for the fish, the plan is to translocate Lost River sucker and shortnose sucker prior to the drawdown of Iron Gate and Copco reservoirs. Both of those fish species are listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act and California Endangered Species Act.
Aside from the listed species, there are no plans to relocate fish from the reservoirs. Many fish species in the reservoirs are non-native, including largemouth bass, yellow perch, and bluegill. These non-native fish species are typically associated with reservoir ecosystems. Once the reservoirs are drawn down, these species are likely to experience substantial population losses or be eliminated. However, the decline in non-native fish is expected to benefit native fish such as native trout. The makeup of fish species in the future is expected to be like what is currently found downstream of Iron Gate Dam, which includes steelhead, Chinook and coho salmon. CDFW plans to closely monitor fish populations following removal of the dams to understand the impacts and inform future management actions.
Fish and Game Commission
Q: What’s the difference between CDFW and the California Fish and Game Commission?
A: Essentially, CDFW implements and enforces the California Fish and Game Code along with regulations adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission. CDFW also provides biological data and expertise to inform the Commission’s decision-making process.
The Commission was one of the first wildlife conservation agencies in the U.S. Established by California’s State Constitution, it is composed of five Commissioners appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate.
The Commission and CDFW are separate legal entities with a wide variety of authorities, some general in nature and some very specific. Primary functions of the Commission are adopting policies and regulations which guide its work and the work of CDFW, listing and delisting threatened or endangered species, letting leases for shellfish cultivation and kelp harvest, and establishing seasons, bag limits, and methods of take for hunting and fishing. CDFW’s law enforcement division enforces regulations adopted by the Commission, but CDFW also administers other programs, such as the lake and streambed alteration program, which are unrelated to the Commission.
Commission meetings are held bimonthly, with both video and audio coverage live-streamed and archived. Visit the Commission home page on the day of each meeting to watch or listen live.
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