Related Links

• Hunting Program
• Nongame Program

Wildlife Rehabilitation

• List of Wildlife Rehabilitation Facilities
• Wildlife Rehabilitaion Education Information
• Regulations Verbatim (PDF)

End of Year Reports

• 2010 Year End Report
• 2008 Year End Report
• 2007 Year End Report
• 2006 Year End Report
• 2005 Year End Report
• 2004 Year End Report

Forms for download

• Wildlife Rehabilitation Application Process
• Attention Fawn Rehabilitators
• New Volunteer Form
• Training Proposal Form
• Annual Report Form

Wildlife Welfare & Rehabilitation

While the Department of Fish and Game is NOT a wildlife rehabilitator, we recognize the value of rehabilitative care for individual wild animals.

DFG works with interested agencies and organizations - volunteer and otherwise - to ensure high quality practices in the rehabilitation of sick, injured, orphaned, or displaced California wildlife.

For the purpose of this policy, wildlife rehabilitation means "any activity undertaken to restore to a condition of good health, for the purpose of release to the wild, animals occurring naturally and not normally domesticated in this State."

Animals listed as detrimental in Section 671 of Title 14, CCR shall be rehabilitated and released only as specifically authorized by DFG.

Extended care of animals listed in Section 671, viable wild populations of which do not exist in California, shall occur only under the authority of a permit issued pursuant to that Section.

On occasion the Wildlife Investigations Lab also deals with "wild animal welfare issues". Sometimes native wild animals and exotic wild animals that are listed as "restricted species" are confiscated because of illegal possession, or other problems. The devoted team of wildlife biologists, wildlife veterinarians and administrative staff at the WIL care for these wild animals by providing food and medical stabilization on a temporary basis. Staff work tirelessly to find adequate permanent placement for these animals at nature centers, zoos and qualified permitted restricted species facilities for less fortunate animals that cannot be returned to the wild.

Rehab team at work

WIL staff also work closely with DFG's License and Revenue Branch in reviewing restricted species facilites permits for the following:

• Zoonotic diseases
• Disease concerns for native wildlife species
• Disease concerns for livestock and poultry
• Escape and the establishment of wild populations
• Competition of feral populations with native species

If you have any questions, click here to email the Wildlife Rehabilitation program