California Brings Back Statewide Wildlife Coexistence Program After 2024 Funding Lapse
The state has revived the California Wildlife Coexistence Program, a statewide service for handling run-ins between people and wild animals, after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1135 on Tuesday, September 29. The program sits inside the Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and is meant to help residents, ranchers and communities prevent conflicts with wildlife without killing the animals. The earlier version lost its funding and ended in 2024.
The law was written by Sen. Catherine Blakespear, D-Encinitas, whose office says it takes effect on Jan. 1, 2027. That office also says she helped secure $5 million in this year's state budget for the effort. Defenders of Wildlife, which co-sponsored the bill with the National Wildlife Federation, says it passed both chambers of the Legisl...