California Outdoors Q&A

Frog Hibernation

Q: Is it true that frogs hibernate during colder times of the year?

A: Black bears aren’t the only wildlife species in California that hibernate in winter months. There are 27 species of native toads and frogs in the state and many hibernate, whether in water or on land. Mountain yellow-legged frogs are a good example. To escape frigid weather, the frogs take shelter in underwater rock crevices and submerged vegetation located in deep pools, which are less likely to freeze over.

Elevation plays a big role in what time of year this happens, with frogs at higher elevations having longer hibernation periods than those at lower elevations. Once the frogs find a perfect location, they can remain there throughout winter. During hibernation, the frogs heart rate and metabolism slow enough that the animals don’t require food.

A common misconception is that hibernating frogs bury themselves in mud at the bottom of a pond or stream. But unlike a hibernating turtle, frogs would suffocate without access to oxygen-rich water.

Terrestrial frogs normally hibernate on land, burrowing deep into the soil and safely below the frost line.

Nonlead Ammunition

Q: I am new to hunting and understand that we need lead-free ammunition to hunt in California. For larger game, are copper-jacketed bullets with lead cores legal under the nontoxic criteria? Or do my bullets need to be 100 percent copper or fully lead-free? 

A: You’ll need nonlead ammunition for any type of hunting with a firearm in California. No copper-jacketed, lead core bullets are permitted as they contain lead at their core. One hundred percent copper bullets are fine; They are the most common and commercially available nontoxic big game ammunition available, but copper itself is not necessarily required. There are other nontoxic metals and alloys used for bullets, but copper remains the most popular. The best resource to be sure your hunting ammunition is lawful to use in California is found at wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Nonlead-Ammunition/Certified.

Specifically, Section 250.1 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations requires hunters to use nonlead ammunition in accordance with Fish and Game Code Section 3004.5. These regulations and code sections contain definitions that help explain California’s nonlead ammunition requirements.

Tulare Lake

Q: Is it likely that Tulare Lake will continue to exist year after year, or could it drain off and disappear again?

A: When it’s full of water, Tulare Lake in Kings County is practically the size of Lake Tahoe. The major rivers which feed Tulare Lake are dammed and diverted for agricultural and municipal water uses so the lake only fills during exceptional rain years. Tulare Lake made a dramatic reappearance last year after a heavy rainy season, and the lake is likely to remain present in 2024 with rainfall predictions once again being above average.

CDFW is deeply involved in the monitoring of Tulare Lake because of the health implications for the state’s bird populations. As a main landing spot within the Pacific Flyway, millions of waterfowl, shorebirds and other bird species are expected to spend time there. It’s because the water is stagnant and too warm in summer months that avian botulism occurs.

The disease is caused by a toxin-producing bacteria that appears naturally in bodies of water like Tulare Lake. During bacterial growth, the botulinum toxin becomes concentrated in the bodies of invertebrates, such as fly larvae, which are then eaten by waterfowl and other birds, infecting them.

The last large avian botulism outbreak in Tulare Lake happened in 1983 when approximately 30,000 birds, mostly waterfowl, died. The numbers were far more encouraging last year, with fewer than 5,000 deaths. CDFW worked with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine’s, Oiled Wildlife Care Network and California Waterfowl to quickly collect dead birds to slow the spread of the bacteria and treated more than 1,200 birds releasing nearly 900 healthy birds back into the wild.

Nontoxic ammo

Q: Many sporting goods stores ran out of copper and steel ammo at the beginning of the pandemic. How can hunters continue to use the correct ammo?

A: It is true that finding nontoxic hunting ammunition as required by law in California has been a real challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several factors contributed to the ammo shortage during the past couple years including global supply chain issues, a lack of raw materials such as steel, bismuth, nickel and copper, and a huge demand among consumers who were buying – and often hoarding – ammo of all types and kinds.

The good news in the spring of 2022 is that the availability of nontoxic hunting ammunition appears to be increasing at most sporting goods stores. Availability likely will depend on the type of ammunition you are looking for and the time of year. Nontoxic ammunition for standard, popular rifle calibers and shotgun gauges may be easier to find in the brand and configuration you want compared to more niche rifle calibers and subgauge shotguns.

Similarly, it will be hard to find nontoxic dove loads and deer rounds right before those seasons open. The best advice we can offer is not to wait until hunting season to shop for ammo. Dove and deer hunters, for example, need to start looking now for seasons that open in September and might have to adjust expectations about finding their favorite brand and cartridge.

Additionally, different types of metals are used today to make nontoxic ammunition beyond just copper and steel. You may be able to find nontoxic ammunition more easily if you widen your search to include options such as bismuth, tungsten and metal alloys. These alternative metals can be even more effective than steel or lead; the downside is that they often are more expensive as well.

If you locate your nontoxic ammunition of choice online or from an out-of-state sporting goods store, you can work with your local Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder or licensed ammunition vendor to have the ammunition shipped and transferred to you in California. Licensed retailers in California typically charge a small handling fee for this service.

Grunion regulations

Q: I heard there are new regulations for California grunion. What do I need to know?

A: Effective June 1, 2022, the new regulations add the month of June to the seasonal no-take closure for grunion. The closure now extends from April 1 through June 30. Additionally, a bag and possession limit of 30 grunion per person was created. See CDFW’s news release for more information.

During the open season, a California fishing license is required for persons 16 years and older. Grunion may be taken by hand only. No nets or appliances of any kind may be used to take grunion, and no holes may be dug in the beach to entrap them. Visit CDFW’s grunion web page for species facts, a schedule of expected runs and regulation information.

Desert tortoise

Q: I was at a public event where an organization was giving out a desert tortoise care sheet with instructions on how to care for one as a pet. Isn’t the desert tortoise a protected species?

A: Yes, the desert tortoise is listed as a threatened species under the federal and California Endangered Species Acts, and is currently under consideration for uplisting to endangered in California. It is illegal to remove desert tortoises from the wild, but some people had pet desert tortoises before the law was enacted. Possession of a desert tortoise requires a permit and a permit sticker from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)—which is how wildlife officers would determine whether a desert tortoise is legally possessed.

Once in captivity as a pet, desert tortoises can never be released back into the wild because they frequently contract a respiratory disease that can decimate the already dwindling wild populations. For this reason, pet tortoises that were abandoned can sometimes be legally re-homed. More information can be found on the California Turtle and Tortoise Club website.

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