The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) issued a new black bear take policy for the state in mid-February. According to the department, the last time the bear policies were updated was more than two decades ago in 2000. The updated policies apply statewide, although there are also sections specific to the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Most notably to producers, the policies address depredation incidents. “Existing law allows any owner or tenant of land or property that is being damaged or destroyed or is in danger of being damaged or destroyed by specific animals, including bears, to request from the Department a permit to kill the animal involved,” the guidance read. This has been the case since at least 1957.
However, the permit will now be issued by CDFW after an application is submitted showing satisfactory evidence of the damage or destruction. The permit will contain information about why it is necessary, what efforts were made to solve the problem without killing the bear, corrective actions that should be implemented to prevent a recurrence and proper disposal of the carcass.
“The Department emphasizes that this process requires information from the applicant whether any efforts, and if so, what efforts, were made to solve the problem without the need for lethal action,” the updated policy read. “If no such efforts have been made, the Department will work with the applicant to propose nonlethal efforts first.”
In addition, CDFW may add terms and conditions to the permit to protect wildlife and ensure public safety. This could include actions such as hazing, enclosing animal pens, or installing fencing, electric fencing, motion lights, sprinklers, noise machines or guard animals.
According to Section 4181.1(a) of the California Fish and Game Code, “Any owner of livestock or the livestock owner’s employee may immediately take a bear encountered in the act of, inflicting injury to, molesting or killing livestock if the taking is reported to the Department no later than the next working day and the carcass is made available to the Department.”— Anna Miller, WLJ managing editor
