Recreation
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- Written by: CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
Does CDFW offer any tax-deductible donation options that help conserve wildlife?
Q: Does CDFW offer any tax-deductible donation options that help conserve wildlife?
A: Yes, thank you for wanting to help native and endangered plants, animals and fish! California taxpayers have the option to help one or all three of California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) tax check-off funds when filing their state income tax return:
1) The Rare and Endangered Species Preservation Voluntary Tax Contribution Program (Line 403 on Tax Form 540) supports conservation actions that help protect hundreds of rare, threatened and endangered plants and animals within our state.
2) The California Sea Otter Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund (Line 410 on Tax Form 540) supports CDFW scientists investigating causes of sea otter mortality and reasons why the species is not thriving in California. A portion of the funding goes to State Coastal Conservancy projects which help protect California’s sea otter population.
3) The Native California Wildlife Rehabilitation Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund (Line 439 on Tax Form 540) helps sick, injured and orphaned wildlife by supporting permitted wildlife rehabilitation facilities through a new CDFW grants program.
Everything you need to know to complete your donation can be found on CDFW’s Voluntary Tax Contribution Funds webpage. We truly appreciate your positive impact on key issues affecting California’s native species!
Rockfish identification
Q: How do I know if I’ve caught a copper, quillback or vermilion rockfish?
A: This is an important question because new regulations to help protect depleted stocks of copper and quillback rockfishes go into effect this year. In addition to the new season and depth regulations, CDFW reminds anglers that there is still a one-fish sub-bag limit for both copper rockfish and quillback rockfish, and a four-fish sub-bag limit for vermilion rockfish.
While it can be challenging to identify rockfish, anglers are responsible for properly identifying the species they catch.
CDFW has developed numerous fish identification resources for anglers including flyers to help distinguish copper, quillback and vermilion rockfishes from similar looking species:
Copper rockfish, canary rockfish and gopher rockfish identification
Quillback rockfish, China rockfish and black-and-yellow rockfish identification
Vermilion rockfish, canary rockfish and yelloweye rockfish identification
The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission’s RecFIN website has additional fish identification materials. Visit CDFW’s Groundfish webpage for more information including frequently asked questions.
Albino rattlesnakes
Q: I’m an out-of-state licensed reptile breeder and I have a potential customer in California who wants to legally acquire captive bred albino Western Diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox). I read that they might be a restricted species. Would the customer need a permit to purchase the snakes?
A: No, a permit would not be necessary in this case. However, we appreciate you checking because the regulations are complicated. First, Crotalus atrox, while native to California, isn’t a restricted species. Currently, there are no native amphibians or reptiles that are a restricted species per California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, sections 671(c)(3) and 671(c)(7). Note that the term "native" refers to all individuals from species and subspecies indigenous to California regardless of whether they are captive bred or from outside the state per CCR, Title 14, section 1.67.
Second, CCR, Title 14, section 40(a) states that importation of native California amphibians and reptiles is prohibited without permission from CDFW. That permission is afforded through various permits and licenses depending on the purpose of the importation, but the only one that currently applies to the pet trade is a Native Reptile Propagation Permit issued per CCR, Title 14, section 43. That section is limited to the three species of snakes that may be commercially bred: Lichanura orcutti, Lampropeltis californiae, and Pituophis catenifer (subsection 43(c)). Additionally, captively bred albino native reptiles are exempt from the requirement to possess a permit to purchase, breed, and sell (subsection 43(a)(7)), and they can be imported and exported without a permit from CDFW.
Third, note that albinos are defined as individual native reptiles lacking normal body pigment and having red or pink eyes. Therefore, if your albinos do not meet both specifications they would not be exempted from the importation prohibition in CCR, Title 14, section 40(a).
In summary, as long as your albino rattlesnakes meet the physical description in the regulations, they are exempt from the prohibition on importation and the requirement of the recipient to purchase a propagation permit. However, note that some local jurisdictions have ordinances against possession of venomous animals, so the customer should check to see if they live in one of those areas.
Answer provided by CDFW Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Coordinator Laura Patterson.
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
On Friday, on recommendation from California and Oregon agency representatives and industry advisors, the National Marine Fisheries Service took inseason action to cancel ocean salmon fishery openers that were scheduled between Cape Falcon, Ore., and the U.S./Mexico border through May 15.
The sport fishery had been scheduled to open off California in most areas on April 1. The actions were taken to protect Sacramento River fall Chinook, which returned to the Central Valley in 2022 at near-record low numbers, and Klamath River fall Chinook, which had the second lowest abundance forecast since the current assessment method began in 1997.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) has produced three regulatory options (PDF) for the May 16, 2023, through May 15, 2024, time period. None of the three options would authorize commercial or ocean salmon sport fishing off California until April 2024.
The alternatives were approved by the PFMC for public review on Friday.
On March 21, 2023, the PFMC will hold a public hearing in Santa Rosa to receive public comment on the three proposed regulatory alternatives. The PFMC will then meet April 1-7 in Foster City to adopt final regulations.
More information regarding the PFMC meetings and options can be found on the PFMC website at www.pcouncil.org.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The next guided nature walk will be held on Saturday, April 8.
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Is it legal to release kingsnakes into the wild for rattlesnake control?
Q: Someone posted on Facebook that they were seeking a kingsnake to breed and release into the wild for rattlesnake control. Wouldn’t that be illegal? Should I report the post to CDFW?
A: Yes, this would be illegal. Written authorization from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is required to release animals into the wild. CDFW would not approve this release for two general reasons: (1) The risk of spreading pathogens and parasites and (2) The risk of introducing new genotypes into the environment which could impact the species or ecosystem.
California kingsnakes are ubiquitous and habitat generalists. If a property doesn’t already have California kingsnakes, then it’s probably not suitable habitat. It wouldn’t be a healthy environment for the snakes, and they probably wouldn’t persist for long.
You can report release of captive wildlife through CalTIP, which stands for Californians Turn in Poachers and Polluters. Reports can be submitted anonymously. We genuinely appreciate your help in protecting against those who illegally harm the state’s natural resources!
Kingsnake photo: Taken by CDFW Scientific Aid Raquel Elander while investigating snake fungal disease.
Patches
Q: I’m a patch collector. Can CDFW send me any departmental patches for my collection?
A: CDFW does not typically give out departmental patches to the general public. However, we do participate in the California Wildlife Officers Foundation’s (CalWOF) Pink Patch Project, a public awareness campaign supporting breast cancer awareness and research. Pink Patch Project CDFW patches are currently sold out, but when they are back in stock, they can be purchased through CalWOF’s website.
Air rifles
Q: Can I use a big-bore air rifle to hunt big game like wild pigs, deer and bears in California?
A: No, big-bore air rifles cannot be used for the take of big game species or migratory game birds. However, they can be used to take small game mammals and resident game birds.
The allowable “methods of take” for big game animals can be found in California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, section 353. Air guns are not listed as an allowable method of take.
Note that air rifles are not considered “firearms” in California. Pre-charged pneumatics (PCP) big-bore air rifles use compressed air as a propellant to fire pellets.
Wildlife Violator Compact
Q: What is the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact?
A: The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact (IWVC) is an agreement between 47 states which allows for the reciprocal recognition of hunting and fishing license suspensions. If your license privileges have been suspended by another state, the suspension may be recognized here in California. For example, if your sport fishing or hunting privileges have been suspended in Colorado for five years, your privileges may also be suspended for five years in California or any of the states participating in the IWVC. The purchase of licenses or tags during the term of the suspension is a violation of the law and may result in prosecution. Licenses or tags purchased prior to or during a suspension are not refundable. Information on member states can be found on the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs website.
Over the years, CDFW has received occasional calls from hunters or anglers wondering why they were not allowed to purchase a hunting or fishing license at a California vendor. A common reason is that they have an unpaid citation in another state for something as simple as fishing without a license. That failure to take care of the fishing without a license citation would put them in the IWVC, which would prohibit them from purchasing a fishing license in California or any of the other participating 46 states until it is handled per the direction of the out-of-state court.
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