Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass with amendment a bill that prohibits the hunting of bobcats.

Highlights:

• Requires that the Department of Fish and Wildlife, in consultation with other relevant state agencies, local governments, federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, landowners, and scientific entities, develop, upon appropriation by the state legislature, a bobcat management plan to inform and coordinate management decisions regarding bobcat populations, before opening a bobcat hunting season (Sec. 6). 

• Requires the bobcat management plan to use credible science and utilize an ecosystem-based approach, and must be submitted by the Department to the Fish and Game Commission and the state legislature with the following (Sec. 6):

• A current statewide bobcat population estimate based on the best available science;

• An assessment of the overall health of the statewide bobcat population;

• A comprehensive strategy to manage bobcat populations and their habitats throughout the state using principles of adaptive management, including but not limited to, an assessment of the effects of climate change such as droughts and wildfires, rodenticides, and human development on the state’s bobcats, the bobcats’ prey, and the bobcats' habitats; 

• An investigation of efficacious non-lethal solutions to prevent bobcat predation on livestock, primarily chickens or other domestic animals that the Department of Food and Agriculture deems needing widespread protections from bobcats; and

• Recommendations for regulatory or statutory changes necessary to implement the bobcat management plan.

• Specifies that the previously-mentioned comprehensive strategy to utilize the principles of adaptive management and incorporate recommendations for monitoring (Sec. 6).

• Requires the Commission to do all of the following before opening a bobcat hunting season in any area (Sec. 5):

• Consider the potential impacts of a bobcat hunting season, including, bobcat populations, bobcats’ wild prey, disease abatement, and the control of invasive species;

• Require the implementation of efficacious, non-lethal management strategies to address public safety and livestock conflicts related to bobcats;

• Adopt the bobcat management plan developed by the Department;

• Consider state residents’ values in regards to trophy hunting; and

• Assess the costs to the Department and Commission associated with bobcat hunting, including the administrative, implementation, and enforcement costs. 

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits the hunting of bobcats.

Highlights:

• Requires that the Department of Fish and Wildlife, in consultation with other relevant state agencies, local governments, federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, landowners, and scientific entities, develop, upon appropriation by the state legislature, a bobcat management plan to inform and coordinate management decisions regarding bobcat populations, before opening a bobcat hunting season (Sec. 6). 

• Requires the bobcat management plan to use credible science and utilize an ecosystem-based approach, and must be submitted by the Department to the Fish and Game Commission and the state legislature with the following (Sec. 6):

• A current statewide bobcat population estimate based on the best available science;

• An assessment of the overall health of the statewide bobcat population;

• A comprehensive strategy to manage bobcat populations and their habitats throughout the state using principles of adaptive management, including but not limited to, an assessment of the effects of climate change such as droughts and wildfires, rodenticides, and human development on the state’s bobcats, the bobcats’ prey, and the bobcats' habitats; 

• An investigation of efficacious non-lethal solutions to prevent bobcat predation on livestock, primarily chickens or other domestic animals that the Department of Food and Agriculture deems needing widespread protections from bobcats; and

• Recommendations for regulatory or statutory changes necessary to implement the bobcat management plan.

• Requires the Commission to do all of the following before opening a bobcat hunting season in any area (Sec. 5):

• Consider the potential impacts of a bobcat hunting season, including, bobcat populations, bobcats’ wild prey, disease abatement, and the control of invasive species;

• Require the implementation of efficacious, non-lethal management strategies to address public safety and livestock conflicts related to bobcats;

• Adopt the bobcat management plan developed by the Department;

• Consider state residents’ values in regards to trophy hunting; and

• Assess the costs to the Department and Commission associated with bobcat hunting, including the administrative, implementation, and enforcement costs.

Full Bill Text