Latest news with #CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife
Los Angeles Times
09-07-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
‘Go away!' SoCal hiker captures scary encounter with mountain lion on video
It's the type of nightmare scenario every Southern California hiker fears — you're walking alone on a trail when suddenly, a mountain lion appears on the path. But for Cortney Rasura last week, that nightmare became reality. In a wild video shared on Instagram, Rasura captured two moments when a mountain lion came onto her hiking trail, and at one point, appeared to be headed straight toward her. 'No!' she repeatedly yelled at the cat. 'No, go away!' Rasura encountered the mountain lion on July 3 on Gridley trail in Los Padres National Forest, she said in an interview with KTLA. After making several steps toward her, the mountain lion diverts from the trail and bounds up the hillside. You can hear Rasura's relief in the video as she mutters, 'thank you!' Rasura told the station that she's an experienced hiker, and knew to maintain eye contact with the cat and not run away. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife encourages people to take steps to avoid mountain lion encounters, such as hiking in groups, not hiking at dawn, dusk or nighttime and keeping food stored properly. But in an unplanned encounter, Rasura took several of the agency's recommended steps, including staying calm, not running away and making loud noises. The agency also recommends trying to look bigger, if possible, and warns people to never approach the big cat or crouch down. According to the CDFW, there have been a dozen mountain lion attacks on humans in the last decade in California, one fatal. Even still, the agency said such attacks remain quite rare, as humans are 1,000 times more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a mountain lion.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Yahoo
Wildlife officials crack down on unexpected black market operating in Bay Area: 'High demand'
California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials discovered and shut down caviar traffickers as part of a broader enforcement effort against wildlife poaching and smuggling, according to SFGate. Officers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife have recently ramped up enforcement efforts against the illegal poaching of sturgeon and salmon along the Sacramento River. Under the California Endangered Species Act, both fish species are currently under consideration to be designated as "threatened." Fish populations are so stressed that salmon fishing on the Sacramento River has been off limits since 2023, while sturgeon fishing is limited to catch-and-release only. However, people still want caviar, and sturgeon caviar, in particular, can fetch quite a price. SFGate reported that the department put out a news release stating there is "high demand and profitability of illegal caviar trafficking." As part of their enforcement efforts, wildlife officials stopped cars and conducted surveillance, which led to the capture of two groups possessing sturgeon. Meanwhile, a probe into the trafficking of the Dungeness crab led to the uncovering of a salmon poaching ring. The salmon poachers were harvesting and processing black market salmon roe, of which investigators seized over 150 pounds. Animal poaching and trafficking can lead to the endangerment or extinction of species, especially if officials have already listed those species as threatened. If poachers and traffickers wipe a species out entirely, it disrupts local ecosystems, resulting in a chain reaction of widespread damage. Trafficking also turns species into invasive ones when smugglers relocate them to new regions across borders. Invasive species bring a host of problems, including threatening ecosystems by wiping out native species and reducing food security in areas that rely on fishing or using up available resources, resulting in native species losing access. Invasive species can destroy ecological balance by harming water quality, damaging waterways, or destroying water infrastructure. This type of damage can also lead to increased costs of water treatment and repairs, which may be paid for by taxpayers. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is likely to continue efforts to curb fish poaching in the area. As for the poachers they have already discovered, officials have issued several citations, though charges are still pending in some cases, which would result in further consequences. In the sturgeon poaching instances, SFGate reported that officers charged two people with "illegally capturing 'an endangered or threatened' species." Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species? Definitely Depends on the animal No way Just let people do it for free Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Newsweek
02-07-2025
- Newsweek
Man Decides to Help Wounded Bear—Then Things Take a Turn
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A 59-year-old man was hospitalized in Humboldt County, northern California, on Sunday after being repeatedly bitten by a bear that he was attempting to assist after finding it lying in the middle of a road. Newsweek contacted the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for comment on Wednesday via telephone and voicemail message outside of regular office hours. Why It Matters Bear attacks on humans are rare but can be fatal, with eight people killed between 2020 and 2022, six by grizzly bears and two by black bears, according to The Times of London. The National Parks Service warns people to keep their distance from bears and avoid anything that could surprise them. Bear numbers in the U.S. have increased substantially over the past few decades, and their range has also been extended in recent years. What To Know Speaking to local media outlet SFGATE, California Highway Patrol Sergeant Caleb Carsey said the office in Humboldt County was "flooded with 911 calls" on Saturday, with concerned citizens reporting a "very large" bear on Chezem Road, in a rural area southwest of Hoopa. Carsey said his office was told the bear appeared to be injured, and could have broken its back or legs. Carsey said "our suspicion is that the bear was struck by a vehicle," though this wasn't confirmed by any witnesses. A number of passing drivers stopped, and one, a 59-year-old from Salyer, approached the bear in "an attempt to administer care." This startled the bear, which bit the man repeatedly on his left forearm. Carsey said in response to the bear, there was "quite a bit of traffic that stopped," and fortunately, one driver was an off-duty emergency medical technician who put a tourniquet on the man's injuries. Carsey described his presence at the scene as "nothing short of a miracle." Stock photograph showing a black bear foraging for food near a stream on May 18, 2024 in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Stock photograph showing a black bear foraging for food near a stream on May 18, 2024 in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Jonathan Newton/GETTY The bitten man was later taken to the hospital by a Trinity Life Support ambulance, where he was still being treated as of Tuesday. Later, the bear died of its injuries, with a California Department of Fish and Wildlife northern region information officer telling SFGATE it was a 400-pound male that was attempting to climb over a guardrail when it was struck. In January, a black bear was shot dead in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, after attacking a man on his way back from the grocery store. January also saw the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announce it would maintain protections for grizzly bears in Idaho, Montana, Washington and Wyoming despite complaints from some local Republicans. What People Are Saying Carsey said: "It's a reminder to always be vigilant for animals in a roadway. Moreover, I'd stress the importance of not approaching injured animals. It's a stark reminder that they're still wildlife. They're hurt, they're scared, they don't know what's a threat, what's not a we've learned anything from this, it's to urge the public not to approach injured animals." On its website the National Park Service says that "keeping your distance and not surprising bears are some of the most important things you can do" to stay safe around bears. It adds: "Most bears will avoid humans if they hear them coming. Pay attention to your surroundings and make a special effort to be noticeable if you are in an area with known bear activity or a good food source, such as berry bushes." What Happens Next California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials took samples from the dead bear for their records. The agency is urging members of the public to keep their distance from any injured bears they come across going forward.
Los Angeles Times
02-07-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Reel in the fun: Californians can fish for free, no license required, for 2 days this summer
As beaches fill up and grills fire up across California for the Fourth of July weekend, the state is offering another way to enjoy the great outdoors — free fishing, no license required. This Saturday, anyone can cast a line in a lake, river or the ocean without spending a dime. July 5 will mark the first of two free fishing days offered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife this summer, with the second falling on Aug. 30, also a Saturday. The days are designed to offer Golden State residents a low-cost way to try out fishing by eliminating the requirement for a sport fishing license. 'Have you ever felt the excitement of watching your bobber suddenly jiggle, then dive out of sight? Or feeling the tap-tap-tap of a bass as it tastes the worm on the end of your line?' said the department in a news release announcing the free fishing days. 'If you are new to the sport of fishing, and not sure if you will enjoy it, a great opportunity awaits you.' The DFW also offers a Fishing in the City program to help residents in urban areas experience the joy of fishing in local ponds stocked with catfish and trout. This program also runs clinics to teach beginner anglers about fishing ethics, fish behavior, how to use tackle, and how to clean and prepare fish for dinner. During the summer, Fishing in the City locations often host youth fishing derbies with free fishing lessons, conservation tips and friendly competitions. All regular fishing requirements apply during free fishing days, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, fishing hours and stream closures. Report cards also remain required for fishing steelhead, sturgeon or salmon in the Smith and Klamath-Trinity river systems as these species and waterways are closely monitored due to conservation concerns. Collectively, these regulations are designed to strike a balance between public access to natural resources and the sustainability of California's freshwater and coastal ecosystems. Despite these efforts, many fish populations remain threatened in California. The Southern California steelhead trout have been pushed to the brink of extinction as their river habitats have been disrupted by barriers and dams. Commercial fishing of Chinook salmon is prohibited for the third year in a row this year as state regulators seek to help fish stocks recover. Outside of free fishing days, anglers can purchase recreational fishing licenses and read up on fishing regulations on the DFW's website.
CBS News
01-07-2025
- General
- CBS News
Nimbus Fish Hatchery's visitor center, parking lot to be closed over summer
A popular Sacramento area recreation spot is set to have some closures over the summer. The Nimbus Fish Hatchery says its visitor center, parking lot and fish ponds will be shut down as of July 1. California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials say ongoing contract negotiations and work to update the facility's HVAC system are also among the reasons for the closure. Officials say they're working to reopen the facilities as soon as possible, but the California Department of Fish and Wildlife – who manages Nimbus – anticipates the closure to last until September 2025. Neither the hatchery operations nor the fish will be affected by the closure, officials say. The Nimbus Fish Hatchery is a popular field trip spot for Sacramento-area schools. Visitors are walked through Fish and Wildlife's efforts to breed and raise salmon. Runners and cyclists also rely on the Nimbus Fish Hatchery's parking lot to access the American River Trail.
