California Fish and Wildlife requires rehabilitators to hold a state permit before keeping injured native wildlife. Santa Ana residents finding hurt birds or mammals should contact OC Animal Care or a permitted facility rather than attempting to nurse the animal at home.
California Code of Regulations Title 14 section 679 governs wildlife rehabilitation, and only individuals holding a CDFW Memorandum of Understanding or wildlife rehabilitation permit may possess injured native wildlife beyond brief transport. Santa Ana residents who find injured raptors, songbirds, opossums, or other native species should call OC Animal Care or transport the animal to a permitted facility such as the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach. Casual home rehab is illegal and almost always fatal to the animal because of stress, improper diet, and zoonotic risk to the family. Rehabbers also need vet supervision and adequate caging space.
Possessing native wildlife without a permit is a misdemeanor with fines up to 1000 dollars and possible animal seizure by CDFW wardens, plus civil exposure for any zoonotic disease spread.
Santa Ana, CA
Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and California Fish and Game Code sections 3503 and 3503.5 protect nests of nearly all native birds. Santa Ana property own...
Santa Ana, CA
Santa Ana restricts the keeping of wild, exotic, dangerous, or non-domestic animals under SAMC Chapter 5. Permits are required for any exotic or wild animal,...
Santa Ana, CA
Santa Ana discourages the feeding of wildlife including coyotes, pigeons, and other non-domestic animals on public and private property. Feeding wildlife tha...
See how other cities in Orange County handle wildlife rescue permits.
See how Santa Ana's wildlife rescue permits rules stack up against other locations.
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