Anyone caring for injured native wildlife in Los Angeles must hold a California Department of Fish and Wildlife Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit under Fish and Game Code §1020. LA Animal Services and LA County DACC coordinate intake; CDFW-permitted facilities like California Wildlife Center and Pasadena Humane handle most cases.
California Fish and Game Code §1020 and 14 CCR §679 require a Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit from CDFW before any person possesses, treats, or transports injured or orphaned native wildlife. Permits demand veterinary supervision, species-specific facility standards, training documentation, and annual reports. In Los Angeles, LA Animal Services and LA County Department of Animal Care and Control field intake calls and transfer animals to permitted facilities including California Wildlife Center in Calabasas and Pasadena Humane. Federally protected species (eagles, migratory birds) require additional USFWS permits under the MBTA. Untrained residents must not attempt rehabilitation; even temporary holding violates state law.
Possessing native wildlife without a permit is a misdemeanor under Fish and Game Code §12000 with fines up to $1,000 and six months jail per violation. Federally protected species add MBTA penalties up to $15,000 per animal.
Los Angeles, CA
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Los Angeles, CA
LAMC 53.38 requires a permit from the Department of Animal Services to keep any wild, exotic, dangerous, or non-domestic animal or reptile. Keeping such anim...
Los Angeles, CA
LAMC 53.06.5 prohibits feeding non-domesticated mammalian predators including coyotes, bears, and mountain lions. Feeding creates public safety hazards by ha...
See how Los Angeles's wildlife rescue permits rules stack up against other locations.
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