June 2010 Archives

Wildlife belongs in the wild, and experts emphasize:  "If you care, leave them there."

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) urges people who are out enjoying the outdoors not to handle young wild animals.

People often spot young wild animals they think are orphaned or need help. In most cases they are neither, and should be left alone, DFG officials stressed.

In 2008, more than 500 fawns were turned into California rehabilitation facilities by well-meaning members of the public. Many of these fawns were healthy and did not need to be disturbed.

Once a fawn is removed from its mother, it can lose its ability to survive in the wild. The same danger applies to most animals, including raccoons, bears, coyotes and most birds.

 Disease is another reason that wild animals should not be handled. Wild animals can transmit diseases that can be contacted by humans, including rabies and tularemia, and also carry ticks, fleas and lice.

People improperly handling young wildlife is a problem  most common in the spring, when many species are caring for their young offspring.

"People frequently pick up young wild animals because they believe they have been orphaned or abandoned and need to be saved," said Nicole Carion, DFG's statewide coordinator for wildlife rehabilitation and restricted species.

 "However, in the vast majority of cases, the parents are still caring for their offspring and the attempt to 'rescue' the young animal all too frequently results in harm. Even though California has many capable rehabilitation centers, people need to understand that humans cannot provide the survival training or the perfect diet provided naturally by their wild mothers."

The responsibility for intervention should be left to DFG personnel or permitted wildlife rehabilitators.

It is illegal to keep orphaned or injured animals for more than 48 hours in California. People can call a rehabilitator, who will determine whether there is a need for a rescue. Rehabilitators are trained to provide care for wild animals so they retain their natural fear of humans and do not become habituated or imprinted.

 For more details, visit DFG's website at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/rehab/facilities.html

Marine biologist Carrie Wilson of the Department of Fish & Game produces this Q & A feature, selecting a few to answer each week. Her email address is   CalOutdoors@dfg.ca.gov.

Q: I often see people on the piers catching stingrays and then cutting off their tails before removing the hook and throwing them back in the water. Is this legal?

A: No! This practice is both cruel and illegal under CCR Title 14, section 1.87, which states "it is unlawful to cause or permit any deterioration or waste of any fish taken in the waters of this state." These animals require their tails and stingers for survival and defense against predators.

Q: I was told by a hunter education instructor that just like handguns, shotguns and rifles transported in vehicles must be in locked cases or in the trunk of your vehicle. However, I often see non-lockable rifle and shotgun cases for sale in stores in California. The law (Penal Code, section 12001) seems to indicate that if the barrel can be interchanged with one less than 16 inches in length, it is considered a firearm capable of being concealed upon the person. If this is so, then most - if not all - pump and semi-auto rifles must be locked up when being carried concealed in a vehicle to avoid violating the concealed weapons law (PC, section 12025). What do you think?

A: According to the Department of Justice (DOJ) firearms website on transportation of firearms at ag.ca.gov/firearms/travel.php:

Nonconcealable firearms (rifles and shotguns) are not generally covered within the provisions of California PC, section 12025 and therefore are not required to be transported in a locked container. However, as with any firearm, nonconcealable firearms must be unloaded while they are being transported. Long guns that are classified as assault weapons have more stringent transportation requirements.

According to DFG Hunter Education Instructor Blaine Nickens, this is addressed in a 2006 DOJ Information Bulletin (ag.ca.gov/firearms/infobuls/2006FD-06.pdf) and the definitions in the Penal Code state:

A handgun is any pistol, revolver or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person that has a barrel length of less than 16 inches. The term also applies to any device that has a barrel length of 16 inches or more which is designed to be interchanged with a barrel less than 16 inches (PC, section 12001(a)).

A shotgun or rifle must have an overall length of at least 26 inches and a minimum barrel length of 18 inches for a shotgun or 16 inches for a rifle. If not, it is prohibited under Penal Code sections 12020(c)(1) and 12020(c)(2), respectively.

Basically, if a firearm is manufactured as a pistol it must be transported and stored as one. If the barrel on a pistol is less than 16 inches on a pistol (like a Thompson-Center Contender) it is considered to be concealable and must be transported in a locked container.

We suggest you contact the DOJ Firearms Bureau for clarification at (916) 263-4887 or ag.ca.gov/firearms/contact.php.

Q: Is it legal to use legal sport-shot duck for crab bait?

A: Yes. There is no law preventing the use of legally taken game, and duck is fine. However, you may be asked to provide proof the bird was legally taken by a person with a proper license and the appropriate stamps. If you intend to use fresh pheasant taken from game farms after the legal season, you will need to provide proof the bird was taken on a licensed pheasant club property.

Q: Why is there a new limit on splittail in the inland fishing regulations this year? I'm sure there's some biological reason but have not been able to find out what that is.

A: Sacramento splittail is a native minnow once listed as a threatened species under the Federal Endangered Species Act. According to DFG Supervising Fisheries Biologist Marty Gingras, the original listing was due to extensive habitat loss and fluctuations in abundance. Though the species is no longer listed, the decision to delist was controversial and under regional examination. Splittail are the object of a sport fishery primarily focused on the spawning grounds during spawning season. The species is also used as bait. The present sport fishing regulation (CCR Title 14, section 5.70) will add protections for splittail that are consistent with concerns about the species.

Councilmembers Patrick O'Donnell and Robert Garcia issued the following statements on Tuesday's City Council vote to fund the city's share of an Army Corps breakwater feasibility study:

O'DONNELL: "Tonight, I am proud to say that the Council took a historic step towards the restoration of our shore. The Council's decision to direct the city manager to enter into a Federal Cost-Share Agreement with the Army Corps for the Long Beach breakwater feasibility study is a win-win for our residents and the region. We are one step closer to cleaner water, a more vital economy, and increased recreational opportunities."

GARCIA: "Long Beach took a bold and courageous step forward by supporting and funding the breakwater feasibility study. We now have a historic opportunity to remake our shoreline and bring waves and clean water back to our city. As we move forward, we will ensure that the study fully looks at protection of our coastal homes and the Port of Long Beach."

Want to get rid of electronic waste in an environmentally safe manner?

Bring your old televisions, computers, monitors, printers, VCRs, cell phones, DVD players, microwave ovens, etc. to the free E-Waste Collection on July 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Environmental Services Bureau, 2929 E. Willow St.

No hazardous waste. For more details, visit www.longbeach-recycles.org or call 562.570.4694.

 Long Beach residents are invited to dispose of their old tires in an environmentally safe manner during a Tire Amnesty Day on July 10.

The free service, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., will be at the Environmental Services Bureau, 2929 E. Willow St.

Tires cannot be disposed of in landfills and pose a threat to public health, safety and the environment, according to city officials.
 
No hazardous waste is allowed. No rims and only five tires or less per car. For more details, visit www.longbeach-recycles.org or call 562.570.4694.

A series of community meetings begins Tuesday, as part of a 22-month long transportation study exploring the re-use of the West Santa Ana Branch of the unused 20-mile Pacific Electric railroad right-of-way.

The meetings are sponsored by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG, in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) and the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).

The study will focus on new transportation options, station locations, and recreational and economic development opportunities. The study, will also examine tradeoffs associated with different types of transportation, including light rail, street cars, dedicated bus lanes, commuter rail and high speed rail options. Community input is central to the study.

All weekday meetings are set for 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., while the Saturday session (June 19) is 1 - 3 p.m. :

• June 15, Garden Grove Community Meeting Center, 11300 Stanford Ave., Garden Grove.

• June 16, Huntington Park Community Center, 6925 Salt Lake Ave., Huntington Park.

• June 17, Cypress Community Center, 5700 Orange Avenue, Cypress.

• June 19, Cerritos Park East Community Center, 13234 East 166th Street, Cerritos.

• June 22, Progress Park Plaza, West Auditorium, 15500 Downey Ave., Paramount.

• June 23, Stanton Council Chambers, 7800 Katella Avenue, Stanton, CA 90680

Transportation planners hope that the community input at these meetings will lead to identification of an initial set of alternative strategies, and the criteria for evaluating these strategies as part of the technical analysis. A second round of community meetings is slated for fall 2010 to present a recommended set of possible transportation alternatives, including station locations.

 A technical assessment of the alternatives will be performed and the resulting information, such as engineering viability, estimated capital costs and environmental issues will also be presented. In fall 2011, a third set of community meetings will solicit input on the "preferred alternative."

"We want to encourage the community to look at this resource with new eyes, and realize that the possibilities are significant - access to more jobs, along with recreational, educational, and economic development opportunities when cities need it most," said Lakewood Councilmember Diane DuBois, co-chair of the steering committee for the study,

For more details, visit www.scag.ca.gov/perow

Marine biologist Carrie Wilson of  the state Department of Fish & Game produces a regular column, featuring questions and answers. It is offered below, with only minor editing. You can contact her at CalOutdoors@dfg.ca.gov.

Q: I have a question regarding access rights to California waterways. I've noticed "no trespassing" signs posted on many of the Delta sloughs south of Sacramento that state the area between the public road and the slough itself cannot be accessed or fished. These look like government signs.
While investigating I found that state and federal law, as well as the California Constitution (Article 10, sections 1, 4 and 7), appear to guarantee the public's access to these waterways. Shouldn't the public have the right to access and fish from this land?

A: While California law allows for public access to public waters, it does not grant the public the right to cross private property to reach those waters. That means that while the waters are open to public use and passage, in order to reach those waters you may need to do so from a public launch ramp. If you want to fish from a bank, you will need to do so from areas that are public property or not marked with No Trespassing signs due to private property rights.
The signs you are referring to here are different, though. According to DFG Capt. Mark Lucero, the posting at the Delta levees has been an issue since early 2000 when the reclamation districts first erected these signs to keep anglers from parking their vehicles on the levees and down embankments. DFG has received constant complaints from anglers upset with the posting and lack of accessibility to the river. We inform the anglers that the trespass issues are a penal code violation and that our officers will not be issuing citations for trespass. However, we do caution the anglers that they may be cited by a sheriff's deputy. There's been a real effort lately, through CalTIP and letters sent to DFG, to get our officers to address this issue. However, as mentioned, our officers will not be enforcing trespass laws or conducting angler checks as a priority. In addition, anglers may fish from the bank of the levees if they access the bank via navigable means and stay within the mean high tide.

Q: A friend recently hit a deer, causing about $1,200 damage to the vehicle. He picked up the deer and put it in his truck to take home for food. He was stopped by a sheriff's deputy who told him to take the deer out of his vehicle or he would be cited. I heard that it is legal to pick up "roadkill." Can you please clarify this?

A: The officer was correct. It is illegal to pick up roadkill wildlife. No one may possess wildlife in any form unless the animal was legally taken by a licensed hunter during the hunting season for that species and while using approved harvest methods. Given this, even if the first criteria were true (your friend was a licensed hunter), motor vehicles are not a legal method of take. The next time your friend sees an animal killed on the roadway, he should not attempt to retrieve it for any purpose.

Q: Can sport-caught fish be prepared and consumed at sea when fishing/diving from a private vessel?

A: Yes, legally taken fish may be prepared and consumed at sea, but there are some restrictions. Abalone must remain attached to their shell and lobster tails must remain attached to the carapace until they are being prepared for immediate consumption. For finfish that may be filleted at sea, the skin (or prescribed portion) must remain attached for species identification until they are being prepared for immediate consumption (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 27.65)

Q: I am having problems with crows damaging my crops. Based on size, I think we also have ravens at work here. I know there is a crow hunting season, but what about ravens? Since "corvids" (crows and ravens) are very problematic predators for song birds and marbled murrelets on the coast, can landowners get a depredation permit for either species? If so, where?

A: There is no hunting season for ravens. They are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Check with the Permit Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) at www.fws.gov/permits/. Crows are also protected by the MBTA, but there is an open season between December and April each year (CCR Title 14, sections 472(d) and 485). The USFWS may provide a permit exemption for crows causing damage. Check in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 50, section 21.43 (available online at www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html).

 U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists intercepted fruit flies in mail parcels at the International Mail Facility.

On June 4, the Torrance-based CBP agriculture specialists while inspecting a parcel -- described as dry food from Mexico -- discovered fresh mangos. They also discovered that the mangos were infested with live larvae.

This is the second interception of mangos infested with larvae coming from Mexico in less than two weeks, the agency added.

The larva was collected and sent to the USDA entomologist for identification. The USDA entomologist informed CBP that the larvae was actionable, meaning it poses a risk to the U.S. agriculture industry and determined to be Anastrepha sp. (Tephritidae), a type of fruit fly.

Fruit flies have the potential to cause serious damage to fruit and other plant crops. The eradication and quarantine efforts can be extremely costly and have a significant economic impact. The mangos were destroyed under CBP supervision.

On a typical day in 2009, CBP agriculture specialists seized more than 4,291 prohibited plants, meat and animal byproducts and intercepted 454 agricultural pests that could potentially harm the country's agricultural resources.

Goodwill and 8th District Councilwoman Rae Gabelich will be hosting an e-waste Drive on June 19.

 E-waste contains hazardous lead and mercury, and these toxic substances eventually leak and contaminate landfills. It is illegal to dispose of e-waste in the trash since residential waste eventually enters the municipal waste stream. By recycling e-waste, everyone can help to divert toxins from entering the local environment.

The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, at Scherer Park on the southwest corner of Atlantic Avenue and Del Amo Boulevard, in front ofNorth Division Police Station.

Discard your old electronics, computer monitors, TV's, plasma screens, DVD players, electronics and cell phones.

Please, no fluorescent tubes, batteries, or household hazardous waste.

All cell phones will be donated to Su Casa--Ending Domestic Violence to help battered women and successfully transition out of abusive homes.

Proceeds from the collection drive will allow Goodwill to continue to fund its skills development and job placement programs for individuals with barriers to employment.

The Department of Fish & Game will hold town hall meetings throughout the state on the topic of black bass management.

 The meetings will provide black bass anglers and tournament sponsors the opportunity to provide comments to department's warm-water fisheries managers on black bass fishing and tournament angling in the state.

The Southland meeting will be held June 30 at 6 p.m., Anglers Marine, 3475 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim.

Fish & Game biologists will give a brief presentation on trends in black bass tournament fishing, the special conditions for tournament sponsors and fish health care concerns at tournament weigh-ins. A public comment period will follow. Written comments can also be sent to Kyle Murphy, DFG Senior Fisheries Biologist, at kmurphy@dfg.ca.gov.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger tissued the following statement Wednesday commending the Assembly for passing a ban on single-use carryout plastic bags in the state:

"I commend the Assembly for passing AB 1998, which would make California the first state in the nation to ban plastic bags. This bill will be a great victory for our environment and I applaud Assemblywoman Brownley for working on this effort."

AB 1998 was authored by Assemblymember Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica).