1. (a) Temporary Confinement of Wild Animals. A person who is not authorized by the department under a permit or sub-permit issued pursuant to Section 679.3; has not previously had a permit or sub-permit revoked or denied by the department; has not violated any provision of Section 597 of the Penal Code; or has not been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude, may temporarily confine for no more than 24 hours, or in the case of a California licensed veterinarian no more than 48 hours, an injured, diseased, or orphaned wild animal, except for big game mammals listed in Section 350 or exotic game mammals listed in Section 325, for the purposes of transferring such an animal to a permittee, their sub-permittee, or designee, or the department.

   1. (1) A person shall provide the following information to a permittee, their designee, or sub-permittee, or the department in writing via email at [email protected] or telephone at (916) 358-2790, within 24 hours of confining any such animal: name and telephone number; taxonomic group or species of animal; description of its condition; date and location the animal was found; and location where the animal is currently confined. At the direction of a permittee, their sub-permittee, or designee, or the department, any such person shall perform one of the following actions: immediately release the animal at the location where it was found; temporarily confine the animal until the department, a permittee, or their designee can take possession of the animal; if able transport the animal to a permittee, their sub-permittee, or designee; or if able transport the animal to the department or a location the department deems necessary to protect native wildlife, animal welfare, human health or safety, and agriculture interests.
   2. (2) A California licensed veterinarian shall comply with subsection 679.5(b)(1) prior to transporting a wild animal, and any animal care records specific to that animal, to a permittee, their designee, or sub-permittee, or the department.
   3. (3) A person shall not knowingly temporarily confine or transfer for the purpose of rehabilitation any wild animal listed pursuant to subsection 671.6(c) of these regulations or any animal identified by the department as an invasive species pursuant to Food and Agricultural Code Section 5260.5, that include but are not limited to nutria, American bullfrog, African clawed frog, common coqui, red-eared slider, watersnake (Nerodia species), pin-tailed whydah, and mute swan.
   4. (4) A person may transport for the purposes of rehabilitation any injured, diseased, or orphaned wild mammal that is lawfully trapped, notwithstanding Subsection 465.5(g)(1) or having been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude; or any injured, diseased, or orphaned migratory bird pursuant to federal regulation 50 CFR 21.31(a).
2. (b) Prohibition on Possession of Big Game Mammals, Exotic Game Mammals or Fully Protected, Threatened or Endangered Species Except Under Department Permit. Section 679.2(a) notwithstanding, no person shall possess any big game mammal listed in Section 350 or exotic game mammal listed in Section 375, or any fully protected, endangered, or threatened species listed in Section 670.5, without specific written authorization from the department.
3. (c) Disabled Wildlife in an Oil/Toxic Spill Area. No person shall enter a department designated oil/toxic spill area to temporarily confine or transport wildlife disabled by an oil spill or other spilled toxic substance, except for a person in possession of a permit, or their designee, sub-permittee, or authorized person, issued pursuant to Section 679.3 who has incident-specific authorization from the department for the specific designated oil/toxic spill area.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 1050, 2081, 2120, 2121, 2150.4, 3005.5, 3800, 4150, 4180 and 5050, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 1008, 2000, 2186, 2190, 3511 and 4155, Fish and Game Code; Section 8670.61.5, Government Code; Section 597, Penal Code; and Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 14, 16, 17, 21.29, 21.30, 21.31, 22 and 23.

History

1. New section filed 8-13-2025; operative 8-13-2025 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 265 (Register 2025, No. 33).