March 23, 2023

Question: How do I know if I’ve caught a copper, quillback or vermilion rockfish?

Answer: 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 ( https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Fish-ID ) including flyers to help distinguish copper, quillback and vermilion rockfishes from similar looking species:

Copper rockfish, canary rockfish and gopher rockfish identification ( https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=197164&inline )

Quillback rockfish, China rockfish and black-and-yellow rockfish identification ( https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=197176&inline )

Vermilion rockfish, canary rockfish and yelloweye rockfish identification ( https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=138378&inline )

The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission’s RecFIN website ( https://www.recfin.org/resources/fish-id-printed-materials/ ) has additional fish identification materials. Visit CDFW’s Groundfish webpage ( https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Groundfish-Summary ) for more information including frequently asked questions ( https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=199118&inline ).

March 9, 2023

Question: I read that a pair of bald eagles were nesting on a golf course in Alameda. Is this the first time that bald eagles have nested locally?

Answer: While it’s impossible for us to know for certain, it does appear that this is the first time a pair of bald eagles have nested in this area of Alameda County in at least 50 years. However, our database shows one bald eagle nest in 2012 near Lake Chabot in Alameda County which successfully fledged one young, and in 2022 there was a confirmed bald eagle nest near Lake Del Valle in Alameda County.

What’s significant about this pair of bald eagles is that the nest is in a highly urban area. Lake Chabot and Lake Del Valle are more typical eagle habitat.

Historically, bald eagles were widespread and abundant in California. But by the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the bald eagle was listed as an endangered species under both the federal and California endangered species acts, fewer than 30 nesting pairs remained in California – all in the northern third of the state. The decline was largely attributed to exposure to DDT, a pesticide used to control mosquitoes and other insects. It was later determined that the pesticide and its residues were poisoning bald eagles by causing egg shell thinning which resulted in failed nesting attempts.

Restrictions on the use of DDT, plus nest protections and other conservation actions, resulted in a remarkable recovery. The bald eagle was removed from the federal list of endangered species in 2007 after having met recovery goals. However, the bald eagle is listed as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act and designated as fully protected under California Fish and Game Code section 3511. It is also still federally protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

“Part of what’s exciting about the Alameda pair is the indication that environmental conditions in the historically highly polluted San Francisco Bay have improved enough to potentially support a nesting pair of bald eagles,” said Dan Applebee, CDFW Conservation and Recovery Unit Supervisor.

For more information visit CDFW’s bald eagle webpage at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Birds/Bald-Eagle.

March 9, 2023

Question: Can I legally take a turkey with a bolt action .22 long rifle that uses Ruger 10-22 magazines? The factory magazine holds 10 rounds, and I would replace it with a single shot magazine.

Answer: No. Rifles are not a legal method of take for resident game birds. Authorized methods of take can be found in CDFW’s Waterfowl and Upland Game hunting regulation booklet (PDF)(opens in new tab), pages 27-28. The applicable regulation is California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 311 which outlines methods authorized for taking resident small game.

March 15, 2023

Anticipating good conditions for the survival of hatchery-produced Chinook salmon throughout the Sacramento River and tributaries, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will release both spring and fall-run Chinook during the historic rain and snowfall the state is experiencing. Several releases have already happened, and others are planned over the next few weeks to utilize good in-river habitat conditions for these young salmon.

On Feb. 23, with a series of late-winter storms building, CDFW staff released approximately 1.1 million fall-run Chinook salmon fry into the American River at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery in Sacramento County. These Chinook salmon are part of a pilot study testing new genetic based tagging techniques that if successful, will allow more flexibility in fish release strategies to take advantage of natural high flow events in the future.

It was the first release of fall-run Chinook into the American River in more than three years. Since the spring of 2020, drought conditions have forced trucking of Nimbus Fish Hatchery juvenile salmon to points within the San Francisco and San Pablo bays. These 1.1 million fish are in addition to the normal 4 million smolts released annually from Nimbus Hatchery for mitigation and are also in addition to the 500,000 in increased production scheduled for 2023 to help offset losses to in-river production caused by drought.

In the coming week, CDFW will release 250,000 fall-run Chinook salmon from the Feather River Hatchery. These fish are part of the 3.1 million fish that were raised above and beyond the hatchery mitigation requirement. They will be taken to the Sutter Bypass for release where they can directly enter rearing habitat resulting from rainfall the region experienced in early March. The expectation is these fish will be able to utilize this habitat to grow to smolt size before entering the Delta and heading toward the ocean. An additional 900,000 of these 3.1 million fish will be released in the Feather River in early April as pre-smolts when favorable conditions are expected to continue based on current snowpack and reservoir conditions. The remaining 2.9 million additional fish as well as the six million mitigation fall-run Chinook, will be trucked to the San Pablo and San Francisco Bays as smolts for release.     

This week will also be the start of the annual spring-run Chinook salmon releases in the Feather River from the hatchery. Over the course of the next few weeks approximately two million spring-run Chinook salmon will be released at several release locations along the Feather River. The favorable conditions in the Feather River and bypasses should provide good rearing habitat allowing these fish to grow and increase survival rates. 

“By putting these fish out into the river now, they are going to experience the natural environment of our rivers as natural-origin fish would and will be able to take advantage of the high flows we’re getting with these storms,” said Jay Rowan, who oversees CDFW’s Fisheries Branch.

CDFW expects survival rates for these Chinook salmon to be very high given the increased flows and expects to see the benefits of these early releases three years from now when the adults return to complete their lifecycle.

February 23, 2023

Question: What’s the best way to haze urban coyotes?

Answer: Hazing is a process designed to scare animals away and instill in them a fear of humans, which is done for both public safety and the well-being of the animal. For the general public, here are a few hazing techniques that can work with coyotes: Making yourself look as big and scary as possible, waving your arms above your head, vocalizing aggressively toward the coyote while maintaining eye contact, stomping your feet and taking a few steps in the coyote’s direction (while maintaining a safe distance), throwing rocks or sticks toward the coyote, using a shaker can (a can filled with coins or some other small object that when shaken makes a loud noise), using a garbage bag by shaking it open so it makes noise, or using an airhorn or water gun.

For hazing to be effective, people need to continue to haze the coyote until it completely leaves the area. Many people will haze the coyote and then stop once the coyote takes a few steps away. However, it’s crucial to continue hazing until the coyote completely leaves the area.

More information about living with urban coyotes can be found on California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Keep Me Wild web page ( https://wildlife.ca.gov/ ). Additionally, CDFW’s Wildlife Watch Program produced a document on coyote hazing techniques ( coyote hazing techniques.pdf ). People who are experiencing problems with urban coyotes are encouraged to submit a Wildlife Incident Report ( https://apps.wildlife.ca.gov/wir ). CDFW also helped produce this short video about living with coyotes (video) ( ).

CDFW’s goal is to help people and wildlife coexist, and that includes native predators like coyotes. Coyotes occupy an extremely important niche in our ecosystem. They help keep rodents under control and scavenge carrion (remains of dead animals), which helps keep neighborhoods clean.

Remember that hazing must always be done safely and from a distance. If there is an immediate danger to public safety, or if a coyote has bitten or scratched a human, get to a safe location and call 911.

February 9, 2023

Question: 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?

Answer: 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.

February 9, 2023

Question: What is the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact?

Answer: The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact (IWVC) is an agreement between 49 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 (opens in new tab) 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.