News Archive

The statewide bear harvest cap remains at 1,700. Public discussion on MPA petitions will continue at upcoming regional meetings.

California has cleared more than 215,000 cannabis convictions and disrupted $1.2 billion in illicit cannabis activity over the past decade, Governor Gavin Newsom announced today, as the state marks 10 years since voters approved the Newsom-led Proposition 64 in 2016.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Meghan Hertel has assessed entanglement risk under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program (RAMP) and announced changes to the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Fishing Zones 1, 2 and 3 (California/Oregon border to Pigeon Point, 37°11' N. Latitude).

Significant improvements in key California salmon populations — specifically Sacramento River fall-run Chinook and Klamath River fall-run Chinook — will allow for more ocean salmon fishing opportunities this year.

Late spring and early summer are peak times for California’s deer herds to give birth to fawns, and CDFW is issuing a reminder to well-intentioned residents and visitors to not interact with the baby deer – even if they find one that appears to be abandoned or hungry.

Scientists with the Wildlife Genetics Research Unit at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife have completed a genomic study of nutria, an invasive South American rodent, linking their 2017 discovery in Merced County to a population in central Oregon.

CDFW invites artists to submit their original artwork to the 2026-27 California Duck Stamp Art Contest. The species is the greater white-fronted goose and submissions will be accepted May 11 through June 19.

The CDFW April Calendar of Events is now available.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has been investigating increased reports of debilitated and dead seabirds on California beaches. Of the birds examined, nearly all have been younger birds that are emaciated, sometimes with opportunistic fungal respiratory infection and/or heavy parasitism, or with secondary injuries.

The 2026 recreational Pacific halibut fishery will open Wednesday, April 1 and remain open until the season ends November 15 north of Point Arena (38°57.5 N. Latitude) and December 31 south of Point Arena, or until the quota is reached, whichever occurs first.