Recreation
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Cultural heritage
Q: Why does CDFW celebrate cultural heritage months like Native American Heritage Month in November and Black History Month in February?
A: There are two main reasons why the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) celebrates cultural heritage months: 1) We want to celebrate, identify and understand the cultural needs of the diverse group of Californians we serve. Along those lines, we want people of all cultural backgrounds to feel welcome when they interact with CDFW. 2) We want people of different backgrounds who work for CDFW, or who want to work for CDFW, to feel like they belong. We want our workforce to reflect California’s diversity, and it helps us accomplish that goal when we understand the state’s diverse cultural perspectives.
CDFW believes that the most equitable way of providing services to the public is identifying and understanding people’s needs, and then providing services based on those needs.
For example, there are differences in the way that groups of Californians prefer to recreate and experience nature. Some cultures may gravitate toward hiking, while others may tend to prefer bird watching or fishing.
As a department, we want to embed equity into our work and make California’s natural resources available to everyone. To accomplish that goal, we strive to consider all perspectives when working on projects that involve or impact recreation.
Celebrating diverse perspectives also helps CDFW develop policy. By sharing diverse perspectives and celebrating how different cultures experience nature, we put ourselves in a better position to shape policies that are reflective of those experiences and needs.
CDFW’s celebration of cultural heritage months is about understanding differences so we can be respectful of one another and honor each other’s perspectives. We choose to recognize and honor differences in perspective as a reminder that our shared values include CDFW’s mission to manage California's diverse fish, wildlife and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and their use and enjoyment by the public.
Sonoran toad
Q: Does the Sonoran Desert toad exist anywhere in California?
A: The Sonoran Desert toad is considered extirpated from California, and its former range in the state occurred along the Colorado River. They do not occur in the wild anywhere in California as far as we know. They would be illegal to possess in California without a Scientific Collecting Permit.
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Hunters, anglers and other members of the public can once again visit these CDFW sales offices to purchase hunting and fishing licenses, tags, report cards, hunt applications, lands passes, Warden Stamps and other CDFW offerings. Customer service representatives are available once again in-person to answer questions.
CDFW’s six license sales offices are located in Eureka, Rancho Cordova, Fairfield, Stockton, Fresno and San Diego. Locations and hours are available on CDFW’s website. CDFW licenses, permits, tags and other entitlements may be also purchased through the following sales channels:
• Online via CDFW’s Online License Sales and Services website;
• Over the telephone through CDFW’s authorized telephone sales agent at (800) 565-1458; and
• Through an authorized independent license sales agent (ex: local sporting goods store, large discount store, or bait and tackle shop).
CDFW’s Redding sales counter remains closed though customer service staff are available in-person to validate hunting tags, answer questions and provide and receive applications to be fulfilled by mail.
Following the relocation of CDFW’s License and Revenue Branch to the California Natural Resources Building in downtown Sacramento in October 2021, license sales and customer support continue to be available by phone, mail, fax, email and internet.
- Details
- Written by: Anderson Marsh State Historic Park
The November nature walk will be led by volunteer State Parks Docent Roberta Lyons.
The hike will cover parts of the Cache Creek Nature Trail, the Marsh Trail and the Ridge Trail.
The hike will be over mostly level terrain and will cover about 3 miles at a leisurely pace. The hike should last between 1.5 and two hours.
Bring binoculars and meet in the parking lot at 8:15 a.m. for time to experience the early morning wildlife that can be found in the Ranch House and Barn complex yard.
The walk will begin at 8:30 a.m.
There is no charge for the guided nature walk and parking is free for those attending.
Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is located on Highway 53, between Lower Lake and Clearlake.
For more information about the guided walk, email
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Q: How do CDFW fish hatcheries prepare for wildfires?
A: First, we’d like to acknowledge the commitment of many California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) hatchery staff who have worked during wildfire season in challenging conditions. Multiple fires have occurred near CDFW fish hatcheries, including one at Trinity River Hatchery in Trinity County which prompted an 11-day evacuation of the facility. During that wildfire, one or two employees were escorted into the facility by law enforcement each day to feed fish, clean screens and check on operations.
In 2020, the Walbridge Fire burned more than 55,000 acres in Sonoma County and came within a mile of — and one ridgeline away from — the Warm Springs Fish Hatchery in Geyserville.
The hatchery’s supervisor, the late Brett Wilson, and three staff who lived onsite — Bryan Freele, Danny Garcia and Alan Pariani — stayed behind after evacuation orders were given to make sure fish were cared for. Power was out at the hatchery for several days requiring staff to refill diesel generators every few hours around the clock.
As helicopters and planes carrying flame retardant circled above, one after another, hatchery staff periodically rode motorcycles to the ridgeline to scout the fire. At one point, the fire came so close that staff connected all the hatchery’s fire hoses in the dark of night. The fire was contained after several days, and all the fish survived.
Wildfire defense at CDFW hatcheries begins with year-round facility maintenance. This includes ground maintenance such as cleaning ponds, trimming trees, mowing and clearing brush around on-site homes and at the hatchery. It also includes equipment maintenance such as making sure generators, fire hydrants, hoses and nozzles are in good working order.
There are also requirements in place for when wildfire causes poor air quality at a hatchery. Even if a wildfire isn’t directly threatening a hatchery, the air quality can be poor. This can be especially tough for hatchery staff whose jobs often involve labor and time spent outdoors. CDFW follows Cal/OSHA standards pertaining to Air Quality Index (AQI).
Anytime there’s an AQI above 150 to 499, employees are encouraged to wear N95 masks. If the AQI is 500 or above, staff are required to wear a fitted P100 respirator mask to work outside, or they must work inside in a ventilated building. A CDFW safety officer conducts fit testing for the masks, and each hatchery has an AQI monitor.
Hatchery supervisors also recognize the challenges that staff take on when there’s a wildfire near a facility impacting air quality. During these events, supervisors take extra precautions to make sure staff are taken care of and offered additional breaks and plenty of shade and water. Keeping staff, facilities and hatchery fish safe is a year-round effort for CDFW. A sincere thanks to our team whose dedication makes that possible.
Chumming
Q: When I fish in lakes in California, can I “chum”? I’d like to use corn or other food to help attract fish.
A: Whether you can chum will depend on where in California you’re fishing. Chumming is defined in California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, section 1.32 as follows:
“Placing any material in the water, other than on a hook while angling, for the purpose of attracting fish to a particular area in order that they may be taken.”
There are a few waterways in California where chumming is legal as outlined in CCR, Title 14, section 2.40. Chumming is only permitted in:
(a) The Colorado River District, but only approved bait fishes may be used as chum (see section 4.15) except in the Salton Sea where corn may also be used.
(b) Carquinez Strait and Suisun Bay and their tributaries and saltwater tributaries.
(c) Sacramento River and tidewater of tributaries downstream from Interstate 80 bridge.
(d) San Joaquin River and tidewater of tributaries downstream from Interstate 5 bridge.
Ferrets
Q: I’m traveling around the country in an RV, and I have ferrets. I would like to visit a few of the amazing parks in California. Is there a permit or any kind of exemption to bring my ferrets with me in my RV?
A: Ferrets are a restricted animal in California, and a Restricted Species Permit is required for every person who imports, exports, or possesses any restricted animal listed in California Code of Regulation (CCR), Title 14, Section 671(c). Restricted Species Permits are issued for limited purposes and involve stringent requirements, laid out in CCR Title 14, Section 671.1.
Unfortunately, a recreational vehicle trip would not be one of those purposes.
We do appreciate your effort to get your question answered before you enter the state. We wish you safe travels on your RV trip.
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