California Department of Fish and Wildlife

09/03/2026

Young wolves can travel hundreds of miles while searching for new territory or a mate. These long-distance journeys are a natural part of wolf ecology and explain how wolves continue expanding into new areas in the western US. Right now, in California, while most wolf packs are in the northern part of the state, there are likely a number of individual wolves in other parts of the state that have dispersed from those packs, or from adjacent states. Several wolves from California are known to have dispersed to Oregon.

09/02/2026

Catch a Trophy-Sized Memory at Heenan Lake! From September 1 through November 30, Heenan Lake — a pristine body of water located in Alpine County, California — opens for fishing. The lake is home to trophy-sized Lahontan cutthroat trout (LCT), one of the most cherished fish in the West. This catch and release fishery is one of the unique angling opportunities found in California’s eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. You can also explore additional fishing opportunities, including Heenan Lake, by using the California Inland Recreational Angler Survey (CIRAS) at https://ciras.wildlife.ca.gov. To learn more about LCT, visit https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Lahontan-Cutthroat-Trout.

09/02/2026

It's almost time to celebrate California Biodiversity Day, Sept. 5-13! With more than 180 virtual and in-person events lined up across the state, there are tons of opportunities to connect with nature and learn how you can help protect our environment. Learn more via the link below.

The California Natural Resources Agency, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Parks, California Academy of Sciences and California Volunteers invite the public to join the celebration for California Biodiversity Day 2026. With more than 180 events taking place across the stat...

09/02/2026

Meet Lei Johnson, a California Conservation Corps (CCC) member working as a natural resource interpreter at the Los Banos Wildlife Area in Merced County under the guidance of CDFW Los Banos Education Coordinator, Candace Sigmond. Lei is part of a team of CDFW interns from the CCC and California Climate Action Corps who are connecting Californians to CDFW lands across the state. Visit a CDFW Land near you to find out how the department is conserving unique California habitats and wildlife for all to enjoy.

CDFW Lands: https://wildlife.ca.gov/lands

09/02/2026

For many California hunters, dove season marks the traditional start of fall hunting, bringing friends, family and generations of hunting traditions together.

At Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, hunters were up before sunrise and ready to hit the fields.

Please remember to hunt safely and follow all regulations.

08/31/2026

The Fall 2026 Chinook salmon recreational season opens tomorrow, September 1, in two areas of the coast:

• 38º02' N. lat. to Pigeon Point: September 1 – October 31
• Pigeon Point to the U.S./Mexico Border: September 1 – 30.

Both areas will share a 20,000 Chinook salmon harvest guideline and may close earlier* if the guideline is met.

If you can’t get out on the water to catch them yourself, take advantage of fresh commercially-caught king (Chinook) salmon available in many local markets. Fall harvest for commercial ocean salmon fishing resumes September 4 south of the 38º02' N. lat. line.

For more information on ocean salmon seasons, to view current regulations, and catch estimates for each management area please visit the ocean salmon webpage: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Salmon

*Note - Ocean salmon management areas have different open dates and harvest guidelines. When National Marine Fisheries Service determines a harvest guideline has been reached and has determined a closure date for that area, the information will be posted on our ocean salmon webpage

08/31/2026

Elevated levels of domoic acid closed the recreational razor clam fishery in Del Norte County July 31. Recent sampling shows there is no longer a health risk for human consumption, and the fishery has been reopened today Aug. 31. Read more in the press release linked.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Meghan Hertel has opened the recreational razor clam fishery in Del Norte County following a recommendation from state health agencies that domoic acid no longer poses a significant threat to human health if consumed.

08/31/2026

Two suspects were recently booked into the Monterey County Jail after a tip from the public launched a CDFW investigation into illegal deer trapping activity. CDFW wildlife officers found that the suspects were using snare traps in the Monterey area to capture and kill three deer, one of those being a buck that suspects admitted to killing using knives and sticks.

During the officers’ initial investigation, they found evidence that corroborated the tip, including blood, snares and drag marks on the ground, which indicated a deer had been killed and removed from the area.

Wildlife officers began monitoring the area at night to identify and catch the suspects in the act. On July 13, the second evening of their investigation, wildlife officers detained the suspects after they were found servicing the illegal traps. The wildlife officers seized knives, antlers, four snares and deer meat as evidence of the crimes. The suspects were charged with numerous wildlife crimes, including unlawful method of take, hunting without a license, take of deer using a trap and hunter trespassing.

Cases like this are an example of how wildlife officers act on, and rely on, complaints and information submitted by the public. To report a wildlife crime, call CALTIP 24/7 at 1-888-334-2258.

08/31/2026

In 2020, Assembly Bill 1254 made it illegal to hunt or trap bobcat in California. The legislation called for CDFW to survey the state’s bobcat population and the findings of that survey are now available. The survey estimates California is home to about 62,000 bobcats distributed throughout much of the state except for major urban and agricultural areas. Next CDFW will publish a draft Bobcat Conservation and Management Plan, inviting public and Tribal review. Read more in the press release.

CDFW is pleased to present the California Bobcat Population Monitoring Project’s Report of Findings, the most extensive and comprehensive bobcat population survey ever conducted in California, and possibly anywhere in the United States, and one that leveraged the best available scientific tools an...

08/31/2026

The CDFW September Calendar of Events is now available.

The CDFW September Calendar of Events is now available.