CDFW K-9s

December 2, 2021

Question: What type of law enforcement work do California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) K-9 teams do?

Answer: Established in 2006, CDFW’s K-9 program currently has 16 teams working across the state in just about every law enforcement area within the department, including cannabis enforcement, marine enforcement and CDFW’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response, the state’s lead for response to oil spills.

K-9s help wildlife officers enforce the many laws in our state related to the protection of natural resources. CDFW’s K-9s are primarily used for their detection abilities which allow them to sniff out evidence, illegally harvested game, narcotics, contraband and invasive species like quagga mussels. CDFW K-9s also serve as part of dual-purpose teams and, in addition to detection, are utilized to help protect wildlife officers and apprehend suspects. A K-9 can serve as a wildlife officer’s primary backup when no one else is available. All CDFW’s K-9 teams can also be used in search and rescue to help locate missing persons or suspects at large.

K-9s are also an outstanding public relations tool and are often used in schools and public events to bridge the gap between community and law enforcement. The K-9 program is a tremendous asset to CDFW’s Law Enforcement Division in performance of its mission.