The classification of fully protected was California's initial effort in the 1960s to identify and provide additional protection to those animals that were rare or faced possible extinction. Lists were created for fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Most fully protected species have also been listed as threatened or endangered species under the more recent California Endangered Species Act.
Fully protected species may not be taken or possessed except with authorization from CDFW and only under specific circumstances. CDFW may authorize take of fully protected species for necessary scientific research, including efforts to recovery fully protected or CESA-listed species, relocation of a fully protected bird species for the protection of livestock, or if the fully protected species is listed as a covered species whose conservation and management is provided for in a Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP).
CDFW may authorize take of fully protected species that is incidental to a project only for the five types of projects listed below. If you think CDFW may be able to authorize take of fully protected species for your project or activity, please reach out to your regional CDFW office to discuss your project before applying for take authorization.
- A maintenance, repair, or improvement project to the State Water Project, including existing infrastructure, undertaken by the Department of Water Resources.
- A maintenance, repair, or improvement project to critical regional or local water agency infrastructure.
- A transportation project, including any associated habitat connectivity and wildlife crossing project, undertaken by a state, regional, or local agency, that does not increase highway or street capacity for automobile or truck travel.
- A wind project and any appurtenant infrastructure improvement, and any associated electric transmission project carrying electric power from a facility that is located in the state to a point of junction with any California-based balancing authority.
- A solar photovoltaic project and any appurtenant infrastructure improvement, and any associated electric transmission project carrying electric power from a facility that is located in the state to a point of junction with any California-based balancing authority.
The following species are fully protected. Their common and scientific names listed are from Fish and Game Code Sections 3511, 4700, 5050, and 5515. However, some of these names are no longer consistent with current scientific nomenclature.
Fishes
| Common Name
|
Scientific Name
|
Colorado pikeminnow
(formerly Colorado
River squawfish)
|
Ptychocheilus lucius
|
Mohave tui chub
(formerly Mohave chub)
|
Siphateles bicolor mohavenisis
(formerly Gila
mohavensis
)
|
| Lost River sucker
|
Deltistes luxatus and Catostomus luxatus
|
| Modoc sucker
|
Catostomus microps
|
| shortnose sucker
|
Chasmistes brevirostris
|
razorback sucker
(formerly humpback sucker)
|
Xyrauchen texanus
|
Owens pupfish
(formerly Owens river pupfish)
|
Cyprinodon radiosus
|
| unarmored threespine stickleback
|
Gasterosteus aculeatus williamsoni
|
| rough sculpin
|
Cottus asperrimus
|
Amphibians
| Common Name
|
Scientific Name
|
| Santa Cruz long-toed salamander
|
Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum
|
| limestone salamander
|
Hydromantes brunus
|
| black toad
|
Bufo boreas exsul
|
Reptiles
| Common Name
|
Scientific Name
|
| blunt-nosed leopard lizard
|
Gambelia sila
|
| San Francisco garter snake
|
Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia
|
Birds
| Common Name
|
Scientific Name
|
| California black rail
|
Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus
|
California Ridgway's rail
(formerly California clapper rail) |
Rallus longirostris obsoletus
|
| California condor
|
Gymnogyps califonianus
|
| California least tern
|
Sterna albifrons browni
|
| golden eagle
|
Aquila chrysaetos
|
| greater sandhill crane
|
Grus candadensis tabida
|
light-footed Ridgway's rail
(formerly light-footed clapper rail) |
Rallus longirostris levipes
|
| southern bald eagle
|
Haliaeetus leucocephalus leucocephalus
|
| trumpeter swan
|
Cygnus buccinator
|
| white-tailed kite
|
Elanus leucurus
|
Yuma Ridgway's rail
(formerly Yuma clapper rail) |
Rallus longirostris yumanensis
|
Mammals
| Common Name
|
Scientific Name
|
| Morro Bay kangaroo rat
|
Dipodomys heermanni morroensis
|
| bighorn sheep
|
Ovis canadensis - except Nelson bighorn sheep
(ssp. Ovis canadensis nelsoni) in the area described
in subdivision (b) of Section 4902 (Fish and Game Code)
|
| northern elephant seal
|
Mirounga angustirostris
|
| Guadalupe fur seal
|
Arctocephalus townsendi
|
| ringtail
|
genus Bassariscus
|
| Pacific right whale
|
Eubalanea sieboldi
|
| salt-marsh harvest mouse
|
Reithrodontomys raviventris
|
| southern sea otter
|
Enhydra lutris nereis
|
| wolverine
|
Gulo luscus
|