News Room

At 11:59 a.m. tomorrow the fisheries closure that was implemented following the Southern California oil spill will be lifted. Fishing can resume midday tomorrow.

December 2021 California Department of Fish and Wildlife Calendar

CDFW will reopen the Ocean Ranch Unit within the Eel River Wildlife Area to waterfowl hunting and other public access beginning Wednesday, Dec. 1 as the majority of habitat restoration work taking place there winds down for the year.

On Nov. 10, OR93 was found dead near Interstate 5 near the town of Lebec, California. Following a full investigation and necropsy, CDFW has determined that the wolf died from trauma consistent with vehicular strike and does not suspect foul play.

Wildlife Conservation Board Funds Environmental Improvement and Acquisition Projects at Nov. 2021 Meeting

Humpback whales have migrated out of Fishing Zones 1 and 2 and crabs there have passed quality testing, which means that the commercial fishery north of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line to the Oregon state line will open on Dec. 1, giving commercial crabbers the opportunity to get crab on tables and menus before the year is out.

CDFW has begun releasing juvenile fall-run Chinook salmon into the Klamath River now that river conditions have improved with cooler temperatures and increased flows that give the young salmon their best chance at survival and reaching the Pacific Ocean.

CDFW is now accepting grant applications for fishing programs, classes and activities that educate and engage diverse, metrocentric communities. This grant program is part of CDFW’s ongoing angler recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) effort to increase fishing participation and conservation awareness statewide.

Bears are entering hyperphagia, or the time of year when they seek massive amounts of calories for the winter den cycle, and they will still be on the hunt for Kokanee salmon, seeds, berries, grubs, and other high-protein foods. Human food should not fall into this category.

CDFW invites nonprofit organizations to support wildlife research, habitat and management by auctioning off limited big game hunting tags for the 2022-23 season.