Pete Thomas Outdoors

Can gray wolves hybridize with coyotes?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Pete Thomas Outdoors, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly California Outdoors Q&A column:

Question: I have heard that the gray wolf that recently wandered into California has been "hanging out" with coyotes. I have also heard that wolves sometimes breed with coyotes and produce offspring that is half wolf and half coyote. Would such an offspring be protected under the endangered status of the wolf or open to hunting like a coyote? Either way, how would someone tell if the animal was 100 percent coyote or a hybrid? Thanks for any insight you can provide. (Jeff S.)

Answer: We have been getting a number of inquiries regarding wolf-coyote hybrids after we observed and photographed the wolf known as OR7 in the company of coyotes.

According to Department of Fish and Game Northern Region Wildlife Program Manager Karen Kovacs, genetic investigations have confirmed that wolves and coyotes have interbred elsewhere. In the Northeast, tests have confirmed that gray wolves and coyotes have interbred. However, there is no evidence to date that gray wolves reintroduced to the Rocky Mountain region have hybridized.

Also, wolves are known to kill and consume coyotes and several studies show that coyote populations decrease when wolves become reestablished in the same habitat. Remember, OR7 was documented near coyotes for only a short time. It would be speculation to suggest that OR7 was "hanging out" with them.

Coyotes in the Northeast that have wolf DNA are larger than average coyotes but clearly not as big as wolves. Coyotes on average weigh about 15-30 lbs; wolves 70-100 lbs. Coyotes are about 1.5 feet tall; wolves about 2.5 feet tall. Kovacs believes that a hunter is more likely to mistake a dog or wolf-dog hybrid for a wolf than confuse a wolf-coyote hybrid with a wolf.

Although gray wolves are listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, a wolf-coyote hybrid produced by one of those wolves would not be protected under that law, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Neither is currently listed under California’s endangered species act.

If coyote hunting in California, don’t shoot if you are in doubt of your target. If the animal doesn’t look 100 percent coyote, it’s more likely to be a domestic dog than a wolf or coyote-wolf hybrid. See our webpage for differences between coyotes and wolves. The size difference is pretty dramatic.
For all of the latest information on this lone gray wolf, please visit our website at www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/wolf/.

Q: What are the rules and regulations on the mantis shrimp? I accidentally snagged one with a hook and line and let it go because I knew nothing about it. I didn’t even know what it was until I got home and was able to research it. (Michael H.)

What becomes of unclaimed big game hunting tags?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Pete Thomas Outdoors, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly California Outdoors Q&A column:

Question: Last year I drew an Area 6 antelope tag. While in camp I was talking with a fellow hunter who told me he drew a tag six years ago. He also told me he had a tag for this year and showed me an antelope he had shot that day. I told him I was surprised at his good luck in drawing so soon. He responded by saying he was just as surprised when he received a telephone call from DFG offering him an unclaimed tag. I am wondering what becomes of unclaimed tags. I heard that years ago there was a standby list for unclaimed tags, but thought that was done away with long ago. (Jim S.)

Answer: Hunters who are drawn for an elk, antelope or sheep hunt must claim and pay for their tags shortly after the drawing. According to DFG Information Systems Analyst Tony Straw, in the big game drawing all non-winning applicants are ranked according to their preference points and the random number they received in the drawing. DFG notifies by mail a small set of the top ranked alternates for each hunt. If a tag is not claimed by the person who is drawn, then the tag will be offered to the first ranked alternate. If the first alternate does not want the tag, then it is offered to the next ranked alternate and so on, until the tag is claimed.

It sounds like the hunter you ran into last year was an alternate for the Zone 6 – Surprise Valley Hunt because one or more winners declined their tags. It is also likely he is mistaken on how long it has been since he was previously drawn. Alternates are selected based on preference points, so an alternate for this hunt would not have received a tag that recently. Rarely does a tag go unclaimed by any of the notified alternates. When this occurs, the tag will be offered to the next ranked alternate (DFG generally calls the customer in this case rather than sending a letter to expedite the process). If that person does not want the tag, this process is repeated until the tag is claimed.

Tags for the most sought-after hunts, such as a bull elk tag or a buck antelope tag are not usually declined. The most desirable hunts generally don’t make it past the first alternate. Cow elk tags are much more likely to go beyond the first alternate. Some hunters may have second thoughts about burning points that took years to earn on a cow elk tag.

Q: We have a flush of feral peacocks in our neighborhood. They are very annoying and dig in our garden. My son says he’s heard they taste like pheasant. Is it lawful to hunt them? What rules would apply? (SE Jones)

Legal to scare Canada geese away on private property?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Pete Thomas Outdoors, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly California Outdoors Q&A column:

Question: My neighbor has lake front property and regularly chases away (or throws sticks and pine cones at) Canada geese during the nesting season. His intent is to keep them off his dock, but he extends his harassment about one-tenth of a mile up the beach on several others private ground and PG&E property. Is this legal? I figure the wildlife came with the property location and should be left alone. Love my neighbor but hate his treatment of our local geese. (Anonymous)

Answer: Your neighbor is within his rights to haze geese from his property. Canada geese are state and federally protected under laws and regulations within the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and California Fish and Game Code. However, within those regulations, non-lethal hazing methods, such as harassment as done by this individual, are allowed to deter Canada geese from privately-owned property where property damage or a nuisance may occur to the landowner.

Resident Canada goose populations have increased considerably since the 1990s in California. In this time, Canada geese have expanded outside their historical nesting range. Due to this increase, conflicts between landowners and resident Canada geese have expanded in many counties in California.

Your neighbor is allowed to scare resident geese away from his property with non-lethal means at any time. The Department of Fish and Game advocates that landowners take proactive non-lethal measures to reduce Canada goose use on impacted private property. Possible suggestions for hazing geese away from properties during the breeding season include landscape modification to make the area less attractive to resident geese (e.g. keep grass short to discourage feeding), use of dogs, visual deterrents such as scarecrows, predator decoys, mylar flagging and balloons, and fencing.  Additionally, waterfowl hunting can be an effective deterrent in problem areas outside the breeding season when state and local regulations allow this activity.

For additional questions regarding how private landowners can best control problem Canada geese, please contact DFG’s Waterfowl Program staff at (916)  445-3763.

Q: Do I need a fishing license when fishing a private lake on a ranch behind a locked gate? There is no public access. The lake is fed by a year round creek that originates on federal land. The fish in it were planted by a private party, but the fish do run up the creek to spawn. Thanks for the clarification. (Ken, Alturas)

Does cooked abalone count toward the daily bag limit?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Pete Thomas Outdoors, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly California Outdoors Q&A column:

Question: I often go to Fort Bragg with a group of friends to get abalone. On the first day we all make our dives, and then in the evening we have abalone and a fish fry. The abalone is all sliced, pounded and breaded. Some always remains uncooked or cooked and not eaten. We go diving again the next day and get our limits again, and then head home that day or the next. I know I may only possess three abalone in the shells. However, what about the abalone I have left over, including the abalone that has been sliced, pounded and breaded for food? Will I be in violation for being over my limit? Do I need to keep the old shells and tags? (Terri L., Nipomo)

Answer: The law states: No more than one daily bag limit of each kind of fish, amphibian, reptile, mollusk or crustacean named may be taken or possessed by any one person unless otherwise authorized; regardless of whether they are fresh, frozen, or otherwise preserved (California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 1.17). 

According to Department of Fish and Game Lt. Dennis McKiver, even if you have leftover abalone that is pounded, breaded and cooked, it still remains part of your abalone limit until you either eat it or give it away. If you have a partial abalone left over after your first day’s dinner, you would only be allowed to get two abalone the next day. Otherwise you would be over your possession limit. If you have three tagged abalone in their shells and one partial abalone pounded and breaded and you are headed home, you would not only be in violation of being in possession of an over limit, but you would also be in violation of transporting an abalone that has been removed from the shell.

In the future, make sure you eat all of your prepared abalone or else give it away before you get another full limit or head home.

Q: I want to keep a pet dwarf caiman and was wondering how I can get a permit to do so. I know a lot about them and how to handle them properly based on what I’ve learned from other gator experts and gator farm workers. I have done a lot of research myself and know to never release a caiman into the wild. (Ian L.)

What new abalone regulations go into effect this year?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Pete Thomas Outdoors, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly California Outdoors Q&A column:

Question: What are the new abalone regulations that will go into effect this year?

Answer: When the abalone harvest season opens on April 1, the following  new abalone regulations are going into effect:

1) The Fort Ross area will be closed for the first two months so abalone in this area may be taken only during the months of June, August, September, October and November (CCR Title 14, section 29.15(b)(1)). A map showing the abalone closure area around Fort Ross can be found at http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=42101&inline=true

2) Individuals taking abalone shall maintain separate possession of their abalone. Abalone may not be commingled in a float tube, dive board, dive bag, or any other container or device, until properly tagged. Only after abalones are properly tagged (as described in CCR Title 14, section 29.16 (b)), may they be commingled with other abalone taken by another person (CCR Title 14, section 29.15(g)(1)).

Q: I have a friend who lost some livestock to either coyotes or a mountain lion. He wants to protect the rest of his animals and was advised to contact the local government trapper. How can a person become a licensed trapper authorized to track down and remove these problem predatory animals?

Is it legal to use noise suppressors at a range or while hunting?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Pete Thomas Outdoors, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly California Outdoors Q&A column:

Question: Is it legal to use noise suppressors (mistakenly called silencers) on rifles and handguns? I know that porting, venting, flash collars and muzzle brakes are OK to use at target ranges and while legally hunting in California. Can a noise suppressor that is attached to the front end of the barrel, or that slides over the front end of the barrel, be lawfully used at a target range or while legally hunting anywhere in California? (Tony N., Sr.)

Answer: No, stay completely away from silencers. It is a felony for any person, firm or corporation within the state to possess a silencer (California Penal Code, section 12520). Upon conviction, punishment includes imprisonment in the state prison or a fine not to exceed $10,000, or both. A silencer is defined as "… any device or attachment of any kind designed, used or intended for use in silencing, diminishing or muffling the report of a firearm." This definition and law also applies to any combination of parts, designed or redesigned, and intended for use in assembling or fabricating a silencer (California Penal Code, section 12500).

Q: Why do most, if not all, boats for hire ban taking beer or liquor aboard? I have worked as a deckhand and fully understand the safety concerns, as well as what large amounts of space coolers full of beer for up to 70 people on a half-day trip might take up. What I am wondering though is whether there are any U.S. Coast Guard or Department of Fish and Game laws against it that I can quote for people who ask. Many of the anglers I’ve spoken with over the years get angry because they think the boat is just trying to make a buck. (Rob M.)

It's official: Sonoma County abalone season closed

It's now official: The abalone season has been closed along the entire Sonoma County coastline effective immediately because of a recent die-off of the mollusks.

On Tuesday, the Office of Administrative Law approved the emergency regulations for the closure based on the Sept. 15 California Fish and Game Commission vote to close the fishery, taken in the wake of confirmed reports of dead red abalone and a variety of invertebrates on beaches and inside coves along the northern California coast. Reports have come from Bodega Bay, Russian Gulch, Fort Ross, Timber Cove and Salt Point State Park in Sonoma County, and as far north as Anchor Bay in Mendocino County.

Divers cannot take abalone in the closed area, and are encouraged to avoid diving there altogether.

The season currently remains open in the rest of the northern California coastal counties of Marin, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte.

The first reports of the die-off began Aug. 27 and is believed to be the result of a red tide-induced poisoning and/or lack of oxygen. According to California Department of Fish and Game biologists, these abalone deaths coincided with a local red tide bloom and calm ocean conditions and though the exact reasons for the deaths are not known, invertebrate die-offs have occurred in the past along the northern California coast when similar weather and bloom conditions existed.

Abalone fishermen are advised to contact a physician immediately if they become ill, and to report symptoms to the local county health department.

The public is also encouraged to report the location, number and date of dead or dying abalone to Ian Taniguchi at (562) 342-7182 or by e-mail. The latest red tide updates from the California Department of Public Health are also posted online.

Photo: A healthy live red abalone. Credit: Derek Stein / California Department of Fish and Game

Abalone season closed in Sonoma County because of die-off

The California Fish and Game Commission took emergency action Thursday and voted to close the abalone season along the entire Sonoma County coastline because of a recent die-off of the mollusks.

This action was taken in the wake of confirmed reports of dead red abalone and a variety of invertebrates on beaches and inside coves along the northern California coast. Reports have come from Bodega Bay, Russian Gulch, Fort Ross, Timber Cove and Salt Point State Park, and as far north as Anchor Bay in Mendocino County.

The implementation date of the closure has not yet been determined but is expected soon, though divers are encouraged to avoid diving in the affected areas immediately.

The first reports of the die-off began Aug. 27 and is believed to be the result of a red tide-induced poisoning and/or lack of oxygen. According to California Department of Fish and Game biologists, these abalone deaths coincided with a local red tide bloom and calm ocean conditions and though the exact reasons for the recent deaths are not known, invertebrate die-offs have occurred in the past along the northern California coast when similar weather and bloom conditions existed.

The number of dead and dying abalone has not yet been ascertained, though DFG divers are assessing the damage. Other DFG biologists and game wardens have collected abalone, mussels and water samples since the first reports came in and are continuing to document reported incidents from the public.

Abalone fishermen are advised to contact a physician immediately if they feel sick, and to report symptoms to the local county health department.

The public is also encouraged to report the location, number and date of dead or dying abalone to Ian Taniguchi at (562) 342-7182 or by e-mail. The latest red tide updates from the California Department of Public Health are also posted online.

Photo: A healthy live red abalone. Credit: Derek Stein / California Department of Fish and Game

Abalone die-off may prompt season closure in Sonoma County

The abalone season may be forced to an early closure due to a recent die-off of the mollusks along the Sonoma County coast.

The California Fish and Game Commission will consider this emergency action at a meeting Thursday to discuss the reports of dead red abalone and a variety of invertebrates on beaches and inside coves along the northern California coast. Reports have come from Bodega Bay, Russian Gulch, Fort Ross, Timber Cove and Salt Point State Park.

The California Department of Fish and Game is attempting to assess the impact of the situation and will provide the Commission with information at the meeting. Based on the DFG report, the Commission may take emergency action to close the abalone season along all or parts of the Sonoma coast.

The first reports of the die-off began Aug. 27 and is believed to be the result of a red tide-induced poisoning and/or lack of oxygen. According to DFG biologists, these abalone deaths coincided with a local red tide bloom and calm ocean conditions and though the exact reasons for the recent deaths are not known, invertebrate die-offs have occurred in the past along the northern California coast when similar weather and bloom conditions existed.

The number of dead and dying abalone has not yet been ascertained, though DFG divers are assessing the damage. Other DFG biologists and game wardens have collected abalone, mussels and water samples since the first reports came in and are continuing to document reported incidents from the public.

Abalone fishermen are advised to contact a physician immediately if they feel sick, and to report symptoms to the local county health department.

The public is also encouraged to report the location, number and date of dead or dying abalone to Ian Taniguchi at (562) 342-7182 or by e-mail. The latest red tide updates from the California Department of Public Health are also posted online.

Photo: A healthy live red abalone. Credit: Derek Stein / California Department of Fish and Game

Can glitter be used as a baitfish attractant?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Pete Thomas Outdoors, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: I have been studying up on different methods of spearfishing while freediving and have read about the use of "glitter" as an attractant for baitfish. I have an idea to sprinkle glitter in the water so that when the baitfish come to investigate, the large game fish will follow and be caught as they attack the baitfish!

What are your views and the legal ramifications of this method? I understand chumming is not legal for taking game animals in our state, but the use of artificial lures is. With my idea the game fish would not be chummed by this method but instead just attracted by the collection of baitfish. If this method actually works, would it be legal?  (Theodore G., Stockton)

Answer: You have an innovative idea there. Unfortunately, even if your plan to lure unsuspecting fish to you by sprinkling shiny, sparkling glitter in the water were to work, you could be cited for doing so. Placing glitter in the water is littering and is prohibited under Fish and Game Code, section 5652.

The activity you describe would be considered chumming. According to DFG Game Warden Michele Budish, chumming is defined as "placing any material in the water, other than on a hook while angling, for the purpose of attracting fish to a particular area in order that they may be taken" (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 1.32). Chumming in the ocean is allowed, but chumming in freshwater is permissible only in specific areas and for certain fish species (see CCR Title14, sections 2.30 and 2.40).

Q: I was diving in Sonoma County last weekend (Aug. 28) in Fisk Mill Cove. The water was dirty, as if there was a plankton bloom, and visibility was only four to five feet. On my very first dive to about 12 feet I looked into a cave in the rocks with my light and saw something I’ve never seen before in 50 years of diving for abalone. There was an abalone laying upside down and clinging to a piece of kelp rather than clinging to a rock like usual. My dive partner told me he picked up two similar abalone on one dive. They were also in a rock cave just laying upside down on the rocks. Later we met two other divers who had been diving at Timber Cove the day before and they too came across a couple of abalone laying upside down on their shells among the rocks.

Have you heard or seen this before? Are these abalone dying? Is the plankton bloom doing something to the abs? Are the abs suffocating from the plankton bloom? Are the abalone ok to eat? (T. Yamashita)