Laura Richardson

Existing law classifies "black and brown or cinnamon bears (genus Euarctos) " as a game mammal for purposes of managing, taking, or hunting that species. Existing law makes it unlawful to take a bear using a firearm, trap, or bow and arrow without first procuring a tag authorizing the taking. Existing law also makes it unlawful for a person to take a bear with an iron or steel-jawed or any type of metal-jawed traps. In any part of a district within the Counties of San Bernardino and Riverside, existing law authorizes the taking of bears at any time with traps within a good and substantial fence surrounding beehives, as specified.

This bill would exclude grizzly bear from the application of the above-described provisions.

Existing law establishes the Department of Fish and Wildlife in the Natural Resources Agency. Under existing law, the department has jurisdiction over the conservation, protection, and management of fish, wildlife, native plants, and habitat necessary for biologically sustainable populations of those species.

This bill would require the department to develop and make publicly available a roadmap that evaluates whether, and under what conditions, reintroduction of the grizzly bear is feasible and advisable, and the extent to which the ecological functions once provided by the grizzly bear may be restored through human-mediated landscape restoration, including through reintroduction of the species. The bill would also require the department, by June 30, 2030, to submit the roadmap document to relevant budget and policy committees of the Legislature, the Legislative Analyst's Office, and the Fish and Game Commission. The bill would prohibit reintroduction of the grizzly bear in the state until the department or others have carried out various actions, including, among other things, completion of the roadmap, determinations, based on the best available science, that establishment of a self-sustaining grizzly population in the state is biologically viable, and a consultation with California Native American tribes and engagement with communities, as specified. The bill would make implementation of these provisions contingent upon an appropriation, except as specified.