 Wildlife Resources  California's varied topography and climate supports a large diversity of habitats, plant, and animal species.
California has more species than any other state in the United States and also has the greatest number of endemic species, those that occur nowhere else in the world.
The state’s diverse natural communities provide a wide variety of habitat conditions for wildlife. The state’s wildlife species include:
 84 species of reptiles (30 percent of the total number found in the United States)
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 51 species of amphibians (22 percent of U.S. species)
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 67 species of freshwater fish (8 percent of U.S. species)
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 433 species of birds (47 percent of U.S. species)
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 197 mammal species (47 percent of U.S. species)
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Seventeen species of mammals, 17 species of amphibians, and 20 species of freshwater fish live here and nowhere else.
 California Wildlife: Conservation Challenges,
was developed in consultation with wildlife professionals, stakeholders, and the public, focuses the stresses affecting wildlife and the additional actions
needed to maintain its diversity and abundance in the future. Download the full report here (large 18 MB PDF file).
Or you can access individual chapters by clicking the sections below and selecting a chapter
State and Federally Listed Endangered and Threatened Animals of California
| State-listed as Endangered |
45 |
| State listed as Threatened |
34 |
| State listed as Rare – old designation, all animals reclassified to Threatened on 1/1/85 |
0 |
| Federally listed as Endangered (20.8% of all U.S. listed endangered animals as of 2/03/09) |
89 |
| Federally listed as Threatened (24.5% of all U.S. listed threatened animals as of 2/03/09) |
39 |
| State candidate (Endangered) |
2 |
| State Candidate (Threatened) |
1 |
| State Candidate (Delisting) |
1 |
| Federally proposed (Endangered) |
1 |
| Federally proposed (Threatened) |
1 |
| Federally proposed (Delisting) |
1 |
|
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| Total number of animals listed (includes subspecies & population segments) |
157 |
| Total number of candidate/proposed animals for listing |
5 |
| Number of animals State listed only |
30 |
| Number of animals Federally listed only |
75 |
| Number of animals listed under both State & Federal Acts |
52 |
Download the full list
Fully Protected Animals
In the 1960's the state made an initial effort to classify species as "Fully Protected" and provide additional protection to those animals that were rare or faced possible extinction.
Lists were created for fish, mammals. amphibians and reptiles, birds and mammals. Please note that most fully protected species have also been listed as threatened or endangered species under the more recent endangered species laws and regulations.
View the Lists on the CA Fish and Game site
Species Mapping Resources
The California Fish and Game Department is serving up on-line GIS mapping resources that will ena-ble you to view species ranges, occourances, and habitats.
The California Natural Diversity Database Quick Viewer tool provides you with a list of all CNDDB elements (species or natural communities)
that have been documented by the CNDDB to occur on the selected USGS 7.5' topographic quad.
Check out California herps, an illustrated atlas that documents the diverse reptile and amphibian fauna found in California.
California Snakes
California Lizards
California Turtles
California Frogs
California Salamanders
California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System
The life history accounts and range maps represent updated versions of the species information found in the three-volume set "California's Wildlife" edited by Zeiner, D.C. et al 1988-1990.
There are also accounts for 48 more species here than in the original publication, bringing the total up to 694. The information was prepared under contract with the best available experts for various taxonomic groups.
Check out the Life History Accounts and Range Maps
The Wildlife Species Matrix
The Matrix provides the ability to query for species listings by species status, taxonomic group, habitat type and geographic region. Using these elements provided below, viewers can create informative queries by combining multiple selection criteria.
Go to the Matrix
Species & Vegetation - Species Explorer
With the Species Explorer you can search for or browse species from the highest level categories to all the way down to specific organisms.
Browse species
from the highest level categories to the specific taxon or taxon subgroup.
Search species
by entering in search terms and optionally limiting your search to a particular
broad category of species or those species that are associated with a particular
application.
The Department of Fish and Game manages over 700 state owned properties throughout California.
These properties represent every major ecosystem in the state providing habitat for a rich diversity of fish, wildlife, and plant species.
The Lands Program is responsible for managing California's wildlife areas and ecological reserves.
Local Wildlife Areas:
Do you enjoy the splendor of wildlife, breathtaking scenery, and natural surroundings? If so, a visit to any one of the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) wildlife areas is a must. Few Californians are aware of these natural resource treasures that provide homes for more than 1,275 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, including many that are listed as threatened and endangered. These DFG gems are virtual islands of habitat that serve as magnets to both wildlife and human visitors with excellent wildlife viewing, fishing and hunting opportunities.
From: "Wildlife Areas - California's Little Known Treasures" by Greg Slusser © 2001 View ArticleWildlife Areas - North Central RegionServing Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lake, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties
Local Ecological Reserves:
California’s ecological reserves not only protect special species and habitats, but also offer great opportunities for people to get out and enjoy nature with fishing, canoeing, photography, wildlife watching and more.Ecological Reserves - North Central RegionServing Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lake, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties
Wildlife Professionals
 Add Wildlife Professionals in Yuba County
Rondal Snodgrass - Arcata, CA Mark D. Collins - Arcata, CA Robert Berman - Benicia, CA Michael Goodner - Burney, CA Keith Crummer - Chester, CA Kevin Spafford - Chico, CA James Able - Eureka, CA Lance Morgan - Glen Ellen, CA Thomas Gaman - Inverness, CA Jeremy Sokulsky - Lake Tahoe, CA Timothy English - McCloud, CA Roger Sternberg - Mendocino, CA Elizabeth Byers - Mill Valley, CA Elizabeth Wroblicka - Napa , CA Catherine Hickey - Petaluma, CA Ducks Unlimited - Rancho Cordova, CA Lansing Thornton - Redding, CA Glenn Zane - Redding, CA Kaila Dettman - Redding, CA Kaila Dettman - Redding, CA Chad Aakre - Rocklin, CA Chad Aakre - Rocklin, CA Chad Aakre - Rocklin, CA Olen Zirkle - Rocklin, CA Bill Martin - Rocklin, CA Wildlands - Rocklin, CA Wildlands - Rocklin, CA Danielle Wilson - Sacramento, CA Karin Winters - Sacramento, CA Pete Dangermond - Sacramento, CA William Keye - Sacramento, CA Russell Kobayashi - Sacramento, CA James Broadway - San Rafael, CA Joan Vilms - Santa Rosa, CA Bonnie Burchill - Santa Rosa, CA John Williams - Santa Rosa, CA Kevin Knowles - Sausalito, CA Raymond Moritz - Sausalito, CA Stevee Duber - Sierra City, CA Walter R. Auerbach, P.E. - Tahoe City, CA Steven Frisch - Truckee, CA
Mark Hansen - , CA Roger Funston - Bakersfield, CA Harry Pollack - Berkeley, CA Nancy Willet - Berkeley, CA Wildlands, Central California Region - Clovis, CA Wildlands, Central California Region - Clovis, CA Julie Fontaine - Fallbrook, CA Theresa Kiehn - Modesto, CA Donna Fletcher - Oakland, CA Markus B. Niebanck - Oakland, CA Laura Alber - Oakland, CA Christopher Hipkin - Oakland, CA Markus Niebanck - Oakland, CA Anne Heissenbuttel - Pine Grove, CA John Heissenbuttel - Pine Grove, CA Laura Lafler - Pt. Richmond, CA Rick Abelson - Redondo Beach, CA Larry Orman - San Francisco, CA David Canny - San Francisco, CA Frederic Happy - San Francisco, CA Steve Kohlmann, Ph.D., CWB - San Ramon, CA Steve Kohlmann, Ph.D., CWB - San Ramon, CA Steve Kohlmann, Ph.D., CWB - San Ramon, CA Scott E. Franklin - Santa Clarita, CA Olivia Boyce-Abel - Santa Cruz, CA Brian Rueger - Springville, CA Stephen Svete , AICP - Ventura, CA
California's Bioregions
Due to the diversity of California’s landscapes, the state has classified ten land-based bioregions, areas of California with similar physical, biological, and cultural features. The boundaries were identified in 1988 as a product of long deliberations among members of the state’s Interagency Natural Areas Coordinating Committee. They were later adopted by the California Biodiversity Council, formed in 1991 to improve coordination and cooperation amongst 38 federal, state and local agencies and organizations involved with resource management and protection.
By following nature’s boundaries, with due attention to socio-political elements, the coordination of conservation strategies on all levels can be improved. The bioregional approach helps to educate and encourage the participation of landowners, businesses, civic leaders, environmentalists, academics, and others in local conservation efforts and planning. Listed in the following bioregional sections are examples of conservation initiatives which generally follow three basic tenants essential to solutions on any scale: 1) inclusive partnerships, 2) private sector engagement, and 3) management of ecosystems.
Many of the state’s bioregions face similar threats due to increasing population growth and urban development. How this affects each region depends on the complex make-up of physical, social, economic, and natural features of that region. No two regions are alike and solutions to regional problems are rarely the same. Though there are regional similarities, the underlying site-specific solution is as unique as the people who inhabit each region.
Interestingly, today’s bioregional boundaries are in close alignment with the state’s natural settlement patterns dating to the mid-19th century, long before urban development projects had obscured the direct convergence between human activities and the natural order. Early settlers, heavily dependent on water sources, sustainable forests and fisheries and on subsistence agriculture, showed great respect for natural systems and lived and worked within their contours. It is our hope that the bioregional perspective will assist today’s communities to this same end.
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