Become a wildlife officer

Q: I am starting college in the fall and am finally interested in becoming a wildlife officer. What is the best degree to earn that will help me qualify for the job?

A: Thanks for your question! Before starting your educational journey and before applying, it is important to understand that we have certain minimum qualifications for education that must be met.

You must have a total of 60 semester college units (no degree required). Within these 60 semester units, you must have 18 semester units in Biological Sciences, Police Science or Law Enforcement, Natural Resource Conservation, Ecology, or other “related” fields. This 18 semester unit requirement does not necessarily have to be your field of study and the units needed to complete this requirement can be taken from your general education or other accredited university courses you have taken. Students who have 30 semester college units and 18 semester units completed (within 30 units), in compulsory or related fields, may apply. You must complete the remaining 30 semester units during the hiring process before being hired.

The CDFW has determined that “related fields” include, but are not limited to: animal sciences, botany, chemistry, conservation, ecology, entomology, environmental management, environmental sciences. environment, environmental studies, fisheries or wildlife management, forestry, geography, geology, herpetology, life sciences, mammalogy, marine biology, natural resources, oceanography, ornithology, physics, psychology , plant taxonomy, water quality management, wilderness survival and zoology.

So, to answer your original question:

If you meet the above conditions, study what you like. Obtaining a two- or four-year degree is not mandatory, but could potentially make you a more competitive candidate. Our wildlife officers frequently take the obvious study courses such as criminal justice, wildlife biology or environmental studies, but we also have a leading English wildlife officer who has taught report writing at our academy. for many years and a former major in chemistry who worked as a chemist before becoming a wildlife officer. Now he specializes in criminal pollution investigations. There are many other examples where the educational background or personal area of ​​expertise of a wildlife officer applies to our work. Those with excellent computer skills have proven to be a valuable resource in investigating Internet wildlife trafficking or poaching crimes that were discovered when a suspect published their violation or attempted to sell the crime. poached wildlife online. We hope that you will continue to pursue your educational and professional goals in wildlife law enforcement and that one day you will bring your unique talents to our Law Enforcement Division. If you wish to become a wildlife officer, you must submit your application before July 31, 2021 in order to be considered for the next hiring cycle. Please contact our LED recruiter, Lt. Perry Schultz, at [email protected] for more information.

Sea urchins

Q: Can I do tidal pool for sea urchins in the San Francisco Bay Area?

A: Yes, in general you can collect sea urchins in San Francisco Bay from shore with a fishing license and a catch limit of no more than 35 sea urchins for each species. The capture of invertebrates in ocean waters is covered by the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, section 29.05. Section 29.05 (a) prohibits the capture of invertebrates at night, except from shore, in San Francisco and San Pablo Bays, and in saltwater tributaries east of the Golden Gate Bridge. There are different regulations that apply to certain areas outside of the San Francisco Bay Area, which can be found in section 29.06. There are also areas up and down the state, known as Marine Protected Areas, which are closed to the harvesting of any marine life (see section 29.05 (b)). Information on marine protected areas in the San Francisco Bay Area is available on the CDFW website.

Sale of tuna on a charter fishing trip

Q: Can I sell yellowfin to a friend on a sea fishing trip?

A: No. Section 7121 of the California Fish and Game Code (FGC) states that it is illegal to sell or buy any fish or amphibian caught under the authority of a sport fishing license. This includes any fish or amphibians captured or introduced into state waters or brought ashore. It should also be noted that the definition of “sell” in this context, according to article 75 of the FGC, would include offers to sell, barter, exchange or trade. You can give your tuna to your friend as long as there is no expectation or agreement to receive something of value in return. On a trip like this, sharing a freshly caught tuna for a meal with other sea anglers is not only legal, but a great way to build camaraderie during your trip. However, it would be illegal to sell or trade tuna to your friend or anyone else.