Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/103244
2B Daily News – Saturday, January 12, 2013 Outdoor & living CDFW launches online sales for wildlife protection Helping to protect California's natural resources is now just a few mouse clicks away. This week the Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) launched the online sales of the 2013 Warden Stamp and the award-winning publication Outdoor California. The Warden Stamp Program was initiated in 2010 to address the need for better equipment and training for the state's wildlife officers and to provide funding for special law enforcement programs. There are fewer than 400 wildlife officers (formerly called wardens) to patrol and protect 159,000 square miles of California's natural habitat. "From catching poachers to stopping polluters, wildlife officers put their lives on the line every day to protect California's natural resources," said Chief Mike Carion of CDFW's law enforcement division. "Due to funding levels, our enforcement staff often lack the necessary equipment to get the job done safely and efficiently." For $5, individuals can purchase the newly designed 2013 Warden Stamp. All funds raised from the sales of the stamp go to purchase essential law enforcement equipment for wildlife officers and to support CDFW's K-9 program. For more than 60 years, Outdoor California has celebrated the state's natural habitat and wildlife with compelling features and stunning photography. The bi-monthly magazine offers behind-the-scenes access to the fascinating work of department environmental scientists and chronicles cases brought by CDFW wildlife officers in the Thin Green Line feature. Annual subscriptions for the magazine are just $15. CDFW adds the Warden Stamp and Outdoor California to its catalogue of products and services available through its Automated License Data System (ALDS). The department introduced ALDS two years ago to simplify the purchasing needs for the state's hunters and anglers. The online capabilities have made it easier for thousands of sports enthusiasts who have Internet capabilities to purchase the state-required licenses, tags and stamps without traveling to a CDFW office or agent. To purchase the Warden Stamp or Outdoor California, please visit http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/ols/. To view and image of the 2013 Warden Stamp, visit https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.as hx?DocumentID=58651 This year's stamp was sponsored by the California Game Wardens Foundation and the Sportsfishing Conservancy, which is also selling the Warden Stamp online at http://sportfishingconservancy.org/. CDFW partners with Sportsmen's Exposition The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will participate in the annual International Sportsmen's Exposition (ISE) at Cal Expo in Sacramento through Sunday.. The event is the largest outdoor sportsmen's show of its kind in northern California. Fisheries and wildlife scientists and game wardens will be available throughout the show to answer questions from the public and provide information regarding fishing and hunting opportunities throughout the state. A full service license booth will sell licenses, tags and report cards. CDFW's wildlife officer recruitment trailer will have information for anyone interested in pursing a career in fish and wildlife enforcement. In addition, there will a free laser shot game in the trailer. Wildlife officer K-9 detection teams will also be at the show conducting demonstrations in the Sporting Dog Arena. A demonstrations are scheduled on Sunday from 10:30–11:30 a.m. California wildlife officers featured in the popular television series "Wild Justice" on the National Geographic Channel will be on hand for a presentation in the Adventure Theater today from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Marina Delucci of Rocklin is the winner of the first CDFW and ISE youth hunter essay contest where contestants submitted an essay, 500 words or less, on what "Passing on the Tradition" means to them. Marina, an 11-year-old fourth generation waterfowl hunter, will be awarded a lifetime hunting license, a signed box set of DVDs of the second and third seasons of "Wild Justice," and hunting gear and clothing provided courtesy of the CDFW Hunter Education program. Marina will receive her award on Saturday during the "Wild Justice" presentation. Captain sentenced for crabbing in Sonoma County The captain of a commercial crab vessel was sentenced by the Sonoma County Superior Court for a misdemeanor violation committed while taking Dungeness crab from inside the Stewarts Point State Marine Reserve. The Fish and Game Code and California Code of Regulations prohibit the take of any wildlife or deployment of fishing equipment in marine protected areas. Steven Anello, 54, of Bodega Bay, was sentenced Jan. 3 to 36 months of informal probation, forfeiture of the proceeds of Dungeness crabs illegally taken, payment of a $10,000 fine, 20 hours of community service work and five days in jail. Anello was also ordered to stay out of Stewarts Point Marine Conservation Area during his probation. Between April 3 and 7, 2012, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officers observed Anello deploying crab traps into Stewarts Point State Marine Reserve waters. Officers located 23 of Anello's traps inside the protected waters in the reserve. It was also discovered the traps were not equipped with an escape device that allows crabs to escape from traps in the event traps are not raised or become lost. The escape devices help minimize crab mortality and are also required by law under the Fish and Game Code. life FISH AND WILDLIFE CDFW photo A California Spiny Lobster. California Outdoors Q&A Catching Lobsters with a Noose Question: Is it legal to catch lobster with a noose? I want to make a sort of noose of PVC pipe and an elastic band (from the sling of a sling spear). This would not at all harm the lobster if caught in the noose. (Anonymous) Answer: No, this is not legal. The only approved methods for sport take of lobster are by hand or with hoop nets (California Code Regulations Title 14, section 29.80). Capturing largemouth bass for aquarium Carrie Question: One of my friends has a large aquarium and is interested in putting some largemouth bass in it. I would like to know what the regulations are for catching a largemouth bass in a local lake and then transporting it live to his tank. It would never be released into a different body of water, and it would be taken legally. (Azure C.) Answer: Transporting fish alive from the water where they are taken is prohibited (California Code of Regulations, section 1.63). Laws allowing certain species of live fish to be maintained alive in closedsystems do not authorize possession in home aquariums. Your friend can legally buy bass for his or her aquarium from a licensed aquaculturalist, as long as he or she does not release it into the wild. Wilson Selling an old mounted bear head Question: I live in Washington State and need some help with a question that pertains to California rules. I have a friend who lives in California that wants my old mounted bear head for his cabin. It is about 60 years old, been in the family for years and passed around from one member to the other. I tried reading the rules on the Internet about taxidermy things and got confused. I don't want to get in trouble if I send it to him, and I don't want him to get in trouble for having it. It's not for resell, just for his personal use. Would we be breaking any laws if I send it to him? (Sue N.) Answer: It is legal under California law for you to give the bear mount to your friend, and for your friend to possess it for personal use. However, sale within California is prohibited. According to retired California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Capt. Phil Nelms, you will need to check with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to make sure it is legal under their laws. Please provide your friend with as many details as possible regarding the description of the mount, your name and contact information, your friend's name/contact info, etc. A declaration of entry form for any wildlife entering the state is required (Fish and Game Code, section 2353). This form is available online at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/enforcement/docs/declaration_form.pdf. It would be best for your friend to come pick it up or for you to take it to him. If you ship the item from Washington to California, the packaging must contain the following information as required by federal laws pertaining to wildlife movement from state to state. Title 50 Code of Federal Regulations, § 14.82 Alternatives and exceptions to the marking requirement. (a) The requirements of §14.81 (requires all the information on the outside of the shipping container) may be met by complying with one of the following alternatives to the marking requirement: (1)(i) Conspicuously marking the outside of each container or package containing fish or wildlife with the word "fish" or "wildlife" as appropriate for its contents, or with the common name of its contents by species, and (ii) Including an invoice, packing list, bill of lading, or similar document to accompany the shipment which accurately states the name and address of the shipper and consignee, states the total number of packages or containers in the shipment, and for each species in the shipment specifies: (A) The common name that identifies the species (examples include: Chinook (or king) salmon; bluefin tuna; and whitetail deer) and whether or not the listed species is venomous; and (B) The number of that species (or other appropriate measure of quantity such as gross or net weight). The invoice, packing list, bill of lading, or equivalent document must be securely attached to the outside of one container or package in the shipment or otherwise physically accompany the shipment in a manner which makes it readily accessible for inspection. The complete Code of Federal Regulations Title 50 is available online.