CDFW authority

December 2, 2021

Question: When an animal is injured or sick, what gives CDFW the authority to euthanize it versus releasing it and letting it die naturally?

Answer: The decision to euthanize a wild animal is one of the more difficult decisions CDFW makes as the trustee of California’s fish and wildlife. CDFW’s mission is to manage California’s diverse fish, wildlife and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public. The majority of that effort is related to the improvement, preservation or management of habitat. To that end, CDFW’s primary goal is fish and wildlife population stabilization and management of those populations to the benefit of the species, and the public’s enjoyment of those species.

When a sick or injured animal presents itself, often stemming from a report from the public, CDFW scientific staff and wildlife officers have a lot to think about as we assess the situation. If the animal is injured but has even a minimal chance at surviving, CDFW typically gives it a chance to survive on its own. However, if the animal has suffered mortal injury or is suffering from some terminal illness and is going to die, then staff may humanely euthanize the animal to end its suffering and sometimes to stop spread of a disease.

FGC section 1001 entrusts and provides CDFW with the authorization to make these decisions. The statute states: Nothing in this code or any other law shall prohibit the department from taking, for scientific, propagation, public health or safety, prevention or relief of suffering, or law enforcement purposes, fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds and the nests and eggs thereof, or any other form of plant or animal life.