Wildlife Incident Reporting - About

The Wildlife Incident Reporting application is a centralized system for managing all Wildlife related reports of interactions or sightings of wildlife of interest to the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG). This include sightings of rare or endangered animals, and, in particular, reports of incidents of nuisance activity, property or crop damage, and/or interactions which might threaten public safety.

To make a report of any of the above, first-time users are required to self-register with the system. Simply click on the "Register" link on the upper right corner of the Wildlife Incident Reporting application home page, fill in the required information, create a user ID and password, and submit the information. Once registered with the system, you are automatically logged in, and may file your observation or nuisance report.

To update activity, or file new reports, simply log in using your user ID and password, and you may search your activity history, add new information, or file new reports.

If the species of animal causing the nuisance or damage is a black bear, deer, elk, mountain lion, or wild turkey, a depredation permit issued by the DFG is required to allow the killing of the animal causing the damage. Depredation permits are issued by a DFG biologist or game warden after confirmation of the species and report. Requirements such as method of carcass disposal, use of traps, and specified or prohibited kinds of traps or ammunition, will be indicated in the permit, as well as the time period the permit is valid for.

Along with the permit, individual carcass tags will be issued for each animal permitted to be killed. These tags must be filled out, signed by the authorized permittee, and affixed to the carcass of each animal killed. A carcass tag report confirming the information must be filed with the DFG, and may be done online by logging in to the Wildlife Incident Reporting application. selecting the "New activity concerning a previously reported incident or observation" option, then selecting the "Killed carcass tag information" option from the displayed dropdown menu. Simply fill in the required information and submit a tag report for each animal killed.

If the species of animal causing the nuisance or damage is a beaver, grey squirrel, or wild pig, a depredation permit is required, and may be issued online by a DFG biologist or game warden. No carcass tags are required for beavers, grey squirrels, or wild pigs which are to be disposed of on the property where the damage occurred. However, a carcass tag report is required to be submitted to the DFG. If a wild pig carcass is to be transported off the property where the damage occurred, a carcass tag is required to be filled out and affixed securely to the carcass before transport, and a carcass tag report is required to be filed with the DFG for each animal taken. This may be done online as stated in the preceding paragraph.