Important Updates for Wildlife Rehabilitators regarding proposed changes to section 679

• The California Native Wildlife Rehabilitation Program, part of the Wildlife Health Laboratory within CDFW is proposing to revoke Title 14, Section 679 Possession of Wildlife and Wildlife Rehabilitation and replace it with new 679.1-.9.

• CDFW is actively engaging the stakeholders (i.e., wildlife rehabilitators) at this time. You can find some information on the proposed changes here, but drafts quickly become outdated during this rapid review process

• View the current 14 CCR Section 679 Possession of Wildlife and Wildlife Rehabilitation

• Don’t miss out on important emails from CDFW. Contact RehabWildlife@wildlife.ca.gov and ask to have your email added to their listserv

• Check back here for updates. CCWR will post meeting, survey, and review opportunities here when CDFW shares updates

Opportunities to comment and ask questions:

• March 8th, 2024 Virtual Town Hall with CDFW on 679 Regs View the recording.

• January 16, 2024 Wildlife Resources Committee Meeting (Sacramento & zoom)

• September 19, 2023 Wildlife Resources Committee Meeting (San Jose & zoom)

• June 26, 2023 Virtual Town Hall #2 with CDFW on proposed updates to Section 679 Wildlife Rehabilitations regulations. View the recording.

• May 22, 2023 Virtual Town Hall with CDFW on proposed updates to Section 679 Wildlife Rehabilitation regulations. View the recording.

• May 17, 2023 Wildlife Resources Committee Meeting (Monterey & zoom)

ccwr 679 response committee

(February 2024 update)

For the next step in CCWR’s review process, we are opening our review to the broader California wildlife rehabilitation community. We would like to invite all interested rehabilitation community members to join us for weekly meetings where we will discuss your comments on the most recent drafts of the regulations. If you have been overwhelmed by other 679 review efforts, this streamlined review process may help simplify your participation, clarify lingering questions, and help you to make impactful comments on the drafts.

These CCWR 679 Review meetings will be held on Saturdays at 10am through early April (i.e., the start of busy season). Our meetings will be led by committee leaders and CCWR Board Members and will not have CDFW staff in attendance. To protect the privacy of participants, these meetings will not be recorded. CCWR membership is encouraged, but not required for participation. You may choose to participate in some or all meetings. You only need to register for this recurring Zoom meeting once. Register here to join this review.

(December 2023 update)

CCWR is proud to announce the appointment of board Vice President Sam Christie and Dr. Rebecca Duerr as Co-Chairs of a CCWR 679 Response Committee.

The committee will consist of a diverse small group of 10-15 acknowledged experts in the wildlife rehabilitation field representing all aspects of the community, from small home-based centers to large centers, with experience to include the broadest possible swath of native California wild species. The committee's sole purpose is to provide rapid independent expert recommendations for improvements to the 679 Regulations and 679 Manual drafts proposed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. This work will include efforts to resolve the many points of concern and conflict that have arisen in this process thus far, and help revise the rules and regulations governing our work such that all of us can feel comfortable living with them into the future. This will be a separate process from the Department's own outreach to the wildlife rehabilitation community. 
The CCWR board of directors is particularly grateful to Dr. Duerr for offering her experience for this effort. As a member of the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Board of Directors, Clinical Veterinarian for International Bird Rescue, and 35+ years of experience in multiple organizations within our community, Dr. Duerr's long history in publishing research and educational materials to advance the field of wildlife rehabilitation is invaluable in organizing our response to this issue. Alongside the many others who dedicate their time, passion, and knowledge to this subject, we anticipate Dr. Duerr's editorial experience will provide the foundation for an effective set of recommendations from our community.

Contact Information for California department of Fish and Wildlife:

If you have questions about obtaining or renewing a Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit contact Heather.Perry@wildlife.ca.gov

If you are reporting an avian mortality or disease issue contact Krysta.Rogers@wildlife.ca.gov

If you are reporting non-game mammal mortality contact Deana.Clifford@wildlife.ca.gov

If you are reporting a suspected toxin mortality contact Jaime.Rudd@wildilfe.ca.gov

If you are reporting game animal mortality contact Brandon.Munk@wildlife.ca.gov

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Interested in becoming a Permitted California wildlife rehabilitator?

There is a process to becoming a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in California. We highly suggest finding a local wildlife rehabilitation organization and becoming a volunteer before considering getting a permit. However, you are welcome to visit the CDFW Wildlife Welfare and Rehabilitation page. Here is a summary of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit Application Process.