California Outdoors Q&A

Planted steelhead

Q: Is CDFW doing anything to improve genetic diversity of planted steelhead?

A: Yes. CDFW follows recommendations from the Hatchery Science Review Group, requirements in Biological Opinions, and works with partner fisheries management agencies to develop Hatchery Genetic Management Plans (HGMPs). HGMPs, which are specific to each hatchery program, prioritize hatchery practices that ensure genetic diversity of the steelhead run is maintained or improved when possible. Under the HGMPs, CDFW has a target number of natural origin steelhead that are incorporated into the hatchery broodstock which ensures there is no genetic drift between hatchery and natural origin fish. These efforts coincide with assessing the run of steelhead to predict peak run timing. CDFW is making every effort to maintain genetic diversity and to keep the steelhead run sustainable for generations to come.

Hatcheries are constantly evaluating their practices and adopting the best scientific methods to maintain genetic diversity. Steelhead are produced to mitigate for construction of dams that blocked off historic spawning habitat and in order to sustain a healthy population in rivers such as the Russian, Feather and Mokelumne, to name a few, and to provide maximum angler opportunity while adhering to best hatchery management practices.

CDFW raises steelhead at several of its hatcheries including Warm Springs Fish Hatchery in Sonoma County, Nimbus Fish Hatchery in Sacramento County, and Mad River Fish Hatchery in Humboldt County.

Beaver dams

Q: How can beavers help tamp down wildfire risk?

A: Beavers are incredibly good at engineering dams that slow water down and spread it out. The process can help wet larger areas of land inducive to vegetation growth which are much greener and lusher than typical side channel growth in water restricted areas. In turn, this can act as a buffer to wildfires potentially moving through the area by either stopping the spread or slowing it down.

Funding for CDFW’s new beaver restoration program was identified and approved in June as part of the FY 22-23 Budget Act. The program funds dedicated scientists who, once hired by CDFW, will begin working on projects that help the environment by bringing beavers back to California rivers where they once thrived. This is new funding and a new program for CDFW. However, CDFW has been, and still is, involved in beaver restoration activities through some of its fisheries and restoration grant programs.

Black bears

Q: There are some problem bears in our small community of cabins and vacation homes in the Mammoth Lakes area. Specifically, we have a mother bear with two cubs routinely breaking into properties looking for food and making a mess. The property damage is extensive. Does CDFW relocate problem bears?

A: We’re very sorry to hear about these unwanted human-bear encounters. The root cause of most human-bear conflicts throughout California is black bears gaining access to food attractants such as human or pet food and garbage. This is often due to unintentional or intentional feeding, both of which are illegal in addition to being unhealthy and harmful for the bear. This leads to predictably bold and destructive bear behavior. Human-food conditioned bears lose their natural and healthy fear of people, and then they can become increasingly brazen in their attempts to gain access to human food and trash. In your case, sadly, it appears we have a sow – mother bear – teaching these destructive behaviors to her cubs.

We always recommend that you report bear issues to CDFW when they first occur and before they escalate. One of the easiest and most effective ways to report bear and other wildlife conflicts to CDFW is through our statewide online Wildlife Incident Reporting (WIR) system. These reports are closely monitored and directed to the appropriate wildlife biologists and human-wildlife conflict specialists in your area who can assist.

Given the severity of your situation, CDFW is still able to help and would be happy to meet with you and your neighbors to discuss best practices for securing food and garbage that likely are luring the bears to your community. It will take a community-wide effort to solve the problems you are now facing. CDFW staff can also suggest other non-lethal deterrents that have proven safe and effective in resolving bear conflicts such as electric fencing or electrified door mats.

Relocation is never an ideal option, as it often simply moves the problem bear to another community to deal with. Bears can be territorial, so relocating a problem bear can also set it up for a life-and-death conflict with other bears already in the area. Relocated bears can and do travel hundreds of miles to return to their home areas. CDFW’s Black Bear Policy in California, which was updated earlier this year, explains the various options for dealing with conflict bears in California. Thanks for reaching out. We look forward to working with you and your neighbors to assist in safely coexisting with your black bear neighbors.

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Russian River steelhead

Q: This year’s steelhead return numbers in the Russian River are low. Is the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Warm Springs Hatchery doing anything to improve the situation?

A: As anglers ourselves, we sympathize with the frustration of low steelhead return numbers so far this year. It’s important to remember that the recent steelhead return numbers are preliminary. Peak spawning for steelhead is in February, so it’s still too early to say anything conclusive about this year’s returns. It’s also important to remember that there are many elements beyond CDFW’s control. CDFW cares for steelhead at the hatchery for one year. But the steelhead life cycle is 2-3 years, and they spend much of that time in the ocean where environmental factors impact behavior. Despite modern scientific data and all the resources we have available, the life history of steelhead remains a bit of a mysterious odyssey. The journey from freshwater to the ocean and back is filled with perils, obstacles and unknowns.

Under CDFW’s new hatchery genetic management plan, production this year and moving forward has been reduced from 500,000 to 400,000. CDFW’s goals at both the Warm Springs Hatchery and Coyote Valley Fish Facility are to release 200,000 smolts from each location for a total of 400,000 juvenile steelhead released to the Russian River watershed annually. Standard anadromous hatchery practices can yield a one percent return annually but fluctuate depending on environmental conditions. Steelhead are produced to help sustain a healthy population in the Russian River for future generations, and to provide maximum angler opportunity while adhering to best hatchery management practices.

Western monarchs

Q: New data shows that overwintering numbers for western monarch butterflies improved to almost 250,000 in the past year. Has the western monarch population recovered?

A: Although CDFW is cautiously optimistic about the new data, it does not represent a full recovery. The 2021-22 overwintering numbers improved significantly but they still represent a one-year trend. Prior to the 1980s, California hosted between one to four million overwintering butterflies each year. When viewed through that lens, 200,000 western monarchs is less than 20 percent of the historical average. When viewed through that lens, 200,000 western monarchs is less than 85 percent of historic numbers. We saw western monarchs decline from around 200,000 to less than 2,000 in just three years (2016-2018), indicating they are still vulnerable at that population size. Finally, monarchs were concentrated in overwintering sites along the Central Coast between Los Angeles and Monterey counties, while the Bay Area supported fewer than 600 monarchs this year despite having robust populations in the past. We’d like to see monarch numbers increase across their entire historic range and better understand why they were not uniformly distributed this year.

Despite these concerns, CDFW remains encouraged by the data and inspired to build on the past year’s success. We’re focused on improving management of CDFW-owned overwintering sites and increasing the availability of early-season milkweed to support first generation monarchs. We encourage the public to use habitat-based approaches to conservation (such as planting regionally appropriate native milkweed and nectar plant species) and to participate in community science projects that help track the status of the western monarch population.

Oil spills

Q: Which species of wildlife are most impacted by oil spills?

A: Many wildlife species, as well as plants and other natural resources, can be impacted by oil spills. However, seabirds and sea otters are most often impacted.

For seabirds, this is because: 1) There are comparatively more seabirds in California than other species at risk, such as marine mammals; 2) Seabirds spend a lot of time floating at the surface of the water, where most of the oil is; and 3) The microscopic structure of feathers that keeps birds waterproof is damaged, leading quickly to hypothermia.

Sea otters are vulnerable to oil spills because they spend most of their time on the surface of the water and use their dense fur (with a microscopic structure similar in some ways to feathers) to keep warm.

CDFW’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) is the state’s public trustee in protecting, managing and restoring California’s wildlife and habitat after an oil spill. OSPR works to protect and preserve 3,400 miles of shoreline and 7,700 square miles of state waters from petroleum substances. When a spill occurs, OSPR works with partner agencies and deploys a team of wildlife officers, scientists and oil spill prevention specialists to manage the state’s response.

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Eurasian collared doves

Q: I am aware that there is a year-round open season on Eurasian collared doves and no limit. Can I hunt them in the middle of summer? How am I supposed to tell the difference between all the doves in flight?

A: Let’s start with the first question! Yes, you can hunt Eurasian collared doves all year long. And you’re right, mourning doves, white-winged doves, spotted doves, ring turtle doves and Eurasian collared doves look similar, but hunters are expected to know the difference. Stated more explicitly: wildlife officers expect you to know the difference! Over time, dove hunters need to develop the skills to differentiate between different dove species on the wing. We have a dove identification (PDF) graphic that may help get you started. Learning more about dove species can help, too. For example, there are areas of the state where Eurasian collared doves are more prevalent (mostly in the southern half of the state).

We recommend two strategies. First, hunt with a partner who has a significant amount of experience in telling the difference between each type of dove in flight. As you see doves while hunting, ask the experienced hunter to explain what characteristics they are looking at to differentiate the birds from one another. Hunters will look at markings such as the black band across the back of the Eurasian collared dove’s neck. They also pay attention to flight patterns and listen to different sounds generated by the doves’ wings. Second, when you begin hunting doves, we suggest hunting during the mourning dove and white-winged dove season. That way if you make a mistake, you’ll have a reduced chance of inadvertently violating the law. For example, if you hunt dove on Sept. 1, the most popular dove hunting day of the year, you will have some room for error.

Bird identification is a skill in and of itself. Duck hunters are faced with the same requirements yet have many more species to differentiate from. Many duck hunters are known to visit popular waterfowl migratory areas to watch birds even after the season is over for the purpose of improving their identification and calling skills. There’s no reason why dove hunters can’t do the same. With a decent pair of binoculars and an attentive ear, you can more quickly learn the subtle differences between dove species and gain a better understanding of their behaviors. Finally, remember that Eurasian collared dove are a game species, and hunters must possess both a license and an upland game bird validation. 

Steelhead Report Cards

Q: The state collects data from steelhead report cards. I would like to see this data. Is it ever released or summarized for public viewing?

A: Some data collected from steelhead report cards is summarized and updated on our website: wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Inland-Fisheries/Steelhead-Report-Card. The website also includes the last legislative report which summarizes data from 2007 through 2014. A legislative report summarizing data from 2015-2019, which includes total report cards sold, amount of revenue accrued and spent, angling data, and benefits of the report card program has been submitted for review and will be made available once approved. Requests for steelhead report card data can also be submitted directly to the Program Coordinator at SHcard@wildlife.ca.gov or through a formal request for public records.

Taking mollusks by hand

Q: When limpets are taken from shore can gloves be used to protect your hands?

A: Yes, gloves can be used to take any number of intertidal invertebrates, including limpets. Limpets are a type of saltwater mollusk. California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, Section 29.10(a) permits the take of saltwater mollusks by hand. Nothing in the regulations prohibits gloving the hands. If you think about harvesting California Spiny Lobsters by hand while on SCUBA for example, just try to take a spiny lobster without wearing gloves! Ouch!

Fishing license

Q: I have a fishing license but my friend doesn’t. When I catch a fish, can my friend help me by netting the fish while I hold the rod?

A: No. The California Fish and Game Code defines take in section 86. It states: “Take” means hunt, pursue, catch, capture or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture or kill. If your friend is assisting you with the “catching” of fish, by the letter of the law, he or she would need a license too.

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