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Recreation
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- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Why are clams becoming unburied at Pismo Beach?
Q: I read reports of events on Pismo Beach where hundreds or thousands of clams are becoming unburied. How often is this happening and what is the cause?
A: In the past, it was relatively uncommon for clams to become unburied at Central Coast beaches and in the Monterey area. However,this year we’ve seen more events where hundreds, if not thousands, of clams have unburied. Some of these clams perish from drying out in the sun or being eaten by birds, but many rebury and survive, according to reports from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly). The smaller clams seem to unbury more easily, but they also rebury easier than the bigger ones. The local population of Pismo clams is the highest it’s been in decades, so it is possible that clams are being observed unburied simply because there are more of them.
We don’t yet have a clear understanding of why this is happening. This summer, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the California Department of Public Health tested the Pismo clam population for diseases, parasites, paralytic shellfish poisoning and domoic acid levels. The results did not show that any of these factors likely contributed to clams unburying. Cal Poly is keeping an eye on the unburied clams and may do further testing. CDFW will continue working to conserve Pismo clams and provide support to Cal Poly and partner agencies.
Regulations for Pismo clams can be found in California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, section 29.40. Pismo clams can be harvested with a valid fishing license. Anglers may retain 10 Pismo clams per day if the clams meet the minimum size of five inches in greatest diameter north of the San Luis Obispo/Monterey county line, and four-and-a-half inches south of the county line. Note that almost no legal sized clams can currently be found in the Pismo Beach area. All undersized clams must be immediately reburied in the area where they were found. In Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, the season for Pismo clams starts Sept. 1 and ends after April 30. In all other counties, the season is open year-round.
As Pismo clams recover from a decades-long population decline, only a small percentage have reached legal harvest size, with almost all clams found being too small to harvest. Wildlife officers have issued hundreds of citations for possession of undersized clams and seized thousands of undersized clams in the past few years. Pismo clam poaching can be reported via CalTIP.
More information is available on CDFW’s Invertebrates of Interest page. Additionally, the San Luis Obispo Coast District offers an overview video(opens in new tab) on the Pismo Clam population, including instructions for reburying clams.
Big game
Q: Is it illegal to intentionally feed big game?
A: Yes. CCR, Title 14, section 251.3 prohibits knowingly feeding big game mammals. Big game is defined in CCR, Title 14, section 350 as the following: deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, wild pig (feral pigs, European wild pigs and their hybrids), black bear and Nelson bighorn sheep in certain areas as defined in California Fish and Game Code, section 4902(b).
Gray wolves
Q: How can I tell the difference between a coyote and a gray wolf, and what should I do if I see a gray wolf?
A: Gray wolves are native to California and up until very recently, had not been present in the state since the 1920s. With the recent expansion of this large carnivore in the western United States, gray wolves are recolonizing California. This species is wide ranging and as a habitat generalist can be found in many different habitats. Currently, gray wolves are known in the northernmost parts of the state (southern Cascades and Modoc Plateau areas).
Here are the differences in physical characteristics between coyotes and gray wolves:
Coyotes are shorter, sleeker and lighter on their feet. They typically weigh 15 to 45 pounds and stand at a shoulder height of about one-and-a-half feet. They typically have a long and pointed snout, as well as long and pointed ears.
Gray wolves are larger, bulkier and stout. They typically weigh 70 to 130 pounds and stand at a shoulder height of two-and-a-half feet. They typically have a large and blocky snout, and short and rounded ears.
To report wolf activity or sightings please contact CDFW at 530-225-2300 or fill out a sighting report on our website. You can also email
More information on distinguishing between wolves and coyotes is available on CDFW’s gray wolf webpage.
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Q: I have a few questions about the new trap regulations for recreational crabbing that took effect on Nov. 1. Why the new regulations? Where can I find information about the new requirements for marker buoys, main buoys and validations?
A: We appreciate your interest in keeping up to date on recreational crabbing regulations. The new regulations are spelled out in California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, sections 29.80 and 29.85.
They were adopted to address entanglement risk in the recreational fishery and to minimize interaction potential with protected whales and sea turtles.
The regulations establish a validation stamp requirement, trap limit, trap service interval, new trap marking requirements, and new authority for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to temporarily limit the use of crab traps in times of increased entanglement risk.
A full background report and rationale is available on the California Fish and Game Commission’s website. You can find answers to the most commonly asked questions about the new regulations on our crab fishery webpage.
Hunter education
Q: I was looking for information about hunting wild pigs in California and came across a YouTube video with wildlife officers providing just the information I needed! Are there other videos like this and if so, where can I find them?
A: It sounds like you watched a recording of CDFW’s Advanced Hunter Education (AHE) webinar titled “Wild Pig Hunting on Public Lands.”
This webinar is one in a series of CDFW Advanced Hunter Education webinars which launched about a year ago. Each webinar is about an hour long and focuses on a particular hunting related topic.
Some of the topics covered so far include turkey hunting 101, virtual scouting and Zone D11, D13 and D15 deer hunting opportunities.
You can sign up to participate in upcoming webinars at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Hunter-Education/Advanced. Additionally, you can view recordings of prior webinars by searching for “AHE” titled videos on CDFW’s YouTube channel.
CDFW’s R3 (which stands for recruit, retain and reactivate) program also offers a virtual seminar series called the R3 Harvest Huddle Hour (R3H3). R3H3 seminars are focused on people new to hunting, fishing, foraging and shooting sports.
You can register for these events by clicking on the calendar events listed on the R3 webpage. Past recordings can be found here. You may also find resources listed under the “hunting” tab useful too, like this older guide on hunting pigs in California.
Rattlesnakes
Q: I followed the news story about the Santa Rosa resident who found dozens of rattlesnakes under his home. Should I be worried about rattlesnakes under my house? Are rattlesnakes aggressive?
A: It’s perfectly natural, and perhaps even an innate human reaction, to feel worried when hearing a story about a California resident finding so many potentially dangerous snakes so close.
In general, rattlesnakes are not aggressive. They avoid conflict to the best of their ability because they don’t want to risk injury or death in a battle or to waste venom by biting something that isn’t prey.
The most familiar way rattlesnakes avoid conflict is signaling their presence by rattling and taking a defensive coiled posture when a potential threat gets too close for comfort. If left alone, they will move away from the threat, not toward it. A lot of bites occur when people are trying to kill or move rattlesnakes.
However, not all bites involve envenomation. They will sometimes “dry bite” as a warning.
Rattlesnakes are distributed broadly across the state but are typically found in open habitats like grasslands, savanna and desert, often in and around rock outcrops when available. When they are found in homes and yards, it’s usually along a wildland-urban interface. However, coming across a den under a house like the one in Santa Rosa is incredibly rare.
It’s important to recognize that rattlesnakes don’t seek out or prefer to live near people, but they will den under a home if there is an abundance of prey and if it’s the best available habitat in an area.
The Santa Rosa story is a good reminder that we should be mindful of our surroundings when we spend time outdoors and around our homes, especially during warmer weather.
Residents can make their yards rattlesnake safe by removing objects that attract them and their prey. This can include keeping vegetation away from fences, removing piles of boards or rocks around the home and preparing any holes in vents or other potential access points.
For more information on rattlesnakes in California, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Keep-Me-Wild/Rattlesnakes.
- Details
- Written by: Clear Lake State Park
The free event will take place at the park’s visitor center.
Enjoy a book on the StoryWalk trail and stay for some crafts. The trail is less than a mile in length.
Clear Lake State Park is located at 5300 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville.
For more information call 707-279-4293.
- Details
- Written by: Mendocino National Forest
The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is traditionally a popular time to visit the Mendocino National Forest.
National forests provide a great way to enjoy the outdoors, but it is important that everyone recreates safely.
Forest officials remind visitors to prepare for a trip to the forest by checking the weather forecast, having a full tank of gas and bringing extra food and water.
Visitors should carry emergency equipment and appropriate maps. Cellphone coverage is not reliable in many areas.
Weather and road conditions in the forest can change quickly. All visitors should be aware of the hazards of traveling through a burned area.