Question: I have some ducks that I would like to find a good home for but am not sure where to start.

They have been pets and I don’t want to eat them or risk giving them to someone else who will eat them. I’d like to release them into the wild and am hoping you can advise where I can do this.

I’m willing to donate them someplace as long as I know they won’t get eaten. (Mike)

Answer: I understand you are seeking a good home for your pets, but releasing domestic animals into the wild is a bad plan and often has disastrous results.

Typically, domestic animals depend on humans for food and are ill-equipped to take care of themselves in the wild. When released to the wild, many end up starving to death or falling prey to any number of predators.

If the animals do survive, they typically become a nuisance in their new home and may cause damage because they tend to seek out people for food.

Domestic animals also compete for resources with wildlife, and in some cases may breed with their wild counterparts which reduces the genetic fitness of wildlife populations.

There is also a real possibility of introducing domestic diseases to wildlife that have no immunity. This may cause die-offs, sometimes quite massive ones.

In addition to all of this, it is also against the law. Any person who willfully abandons an animal is guilty of a misdemeanor under California Penal Code, section 597s.

You might try posting a notice at a local farm or agricultural store because many of these stores regularly sell domestic ducklings. You could also search for petting zoos or small city zoos to see if they may be interested in giving them a good home.

If that doesn't work out, try advertising on the Internet. You might also check with local schools and ask friends.

Bottom line … you have a number of options to explore in your quest to find a new home for your feathered friends, but releasing them to the wild should not be one of the them.

Selling abalone jewelry

Question: I’ve recently been to a few beaches where I’ve found red abalone shells that have washed up on the shore. I’ve collected a few shell fragments and have made jewelry from them. Friends of mine have shown the items to others and now they want me to make them items as well.

My questions is ... Is it illegal for me to collect red abalone shells, and then make jewelry, then sell them to friends, and so forth?

I’ve gotten mixed answers from the Web and have tried to navigate your Web site. I have seen no definitive answer. (Matt R.)

Answer: You may give the shells away or use them for personal use, but shells collected under the authority of sport fishing license cannot be legally bought, sold, traded or bartered.

People often ask what they can do with their old abalone shells. We get requests for shells from Native American tribes who use them for ceremonial purposes. Shells can be donated directly to a Native American tribe, or they can be given to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and we will distribute them to Native Americans when we get requests.

Deer decoys

Question: I know that baiting for big game is illegal in California, but what about using deer decoys to attract deer to a certain location when deer hunting? (Matt W.)

Answer: Yes, decoys are legal to use while deer hunting in California. However, decoys that employ any recorded or electrically amplified bird or mammal call or sound are illegal to use for big game.

Transporting smoked/canned fish

Question: We have a vacation house on the North Coast where we spend a lot of time ocean fishing and enjoy smoking and/or canning our fish.

How can we legally transport this processed fish back to our home in the valley? (Jim S., Redding)

Answer: As long as you possess only the legal limit and the fish were taken legally, transporting these fish as smoked or canned is not a problem.

Regardless of whether they are fresh, frozen or otherwise preserved, no more than one possession limit may be possessed by any one person (CCR Title 14, section 1.17).

Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

UKIAH, Calif. – The racing action consisted of another two night show at Ukiah Speedway, with the race weekend starting off with the Go-Karts running on Friday night.

In the 250 Division it was Ren Eberhart who set the fast time with a 9.578 lap time, and that placed him at the rear of the main event.

Colby Furia jumped out to the early lead but got caught up in an early race caution, sending him to the rear. On the restart Eberhart jumped out to the lead, didn't look back and took the main event win.

In the 500 division Matt Black set the fast time at a 9.741, placing him at the rear of the main event.

Johnny Small, starting in the front row, jumped out to the lead, followed by Chris Annas. Small held the lead until he was forced to pit with mechanical problems.

On the restart it was Annas who took the lead, but the guy who was on the move from the rear of the field was Chance Hawkins, who took the lead on lap No. 20, going on to take the win of the main event.

In the Beginning Box Stocks Kylei Keown set the fast time, which placed her in the rear of the field.

On the drop of the green Blaine Baxter jumped out to the lead, but it was Cole Brown who was working his way up through the field, making the pass for the lead on lap 11, taking another win for the 2013 racing season.

In the Box Stock division it was Kaiden Butler setting the fast time with a 10.525, starting him at the back of the pack.

Kera Tellstrom jumped out to the early lead followed by Kimberly Sorrels. Butler was making his way to the front, making the pass for first on lap No. 9, but he lost the lead to Tellstrom.

At the drop of the checkers it was Sorrels who made the pass for the lead and went on to take the main event win.

The racing action continued on Saturday night where the Legend division saw some out of town driver’s show up to the race night.

Scott Sabol jumped out to the lead after the cars shuffled back and forth on the first two laps. Sabol held the lead for a while until being passed by Luis Tyrell, who went on to win the main event.

In the Modified division Alex Andrew started on the pole of the race with Taylor on the outside with Andrews jumping to the early lead. Andrews was able to hold off many challenges by Taylor until Taylor took the lead.

Taylor was then forced to pit with mechanical problems. On the restart it was Potts who took the lead and went on to win the main event.

The Pro-4’s were back in town and it was Murrell who jumped out to the first lap lead before being passed by Nick King. Sorrels eventually passed King to hold the lead until being over taken by Barba, who went on to win the main event.

In the Mini Stocks it was James Stillman who took the fast time and went on to take the heat race and main event wins as well.

In the Bomber division it was a full field of cars. Brian White started on the poll and jumped out to the early lead. He was able to hold off the challenge of a lot of drivers until Tim Buzzard Jr. made a pass for the lead.

After an early race caution it was Bradley Bracket who took the lead from Buzzard. Gino Buchignani then took the lead on lap No. 24. After a few more cautions at the drop of the checkers it was Mike Collins taking the main event win.

The racing action continues this next weekend as part of the Redwood Empire Fair at Ukiah Speedway, with the continuation of the 2013 Lakeport Ukiah Fair Bomber Challenge on Sunday.

For complete event details please visit www.redwoodempirefair.com .

The next full night of racing action continues at Ukiah Speedway on Friday, Aug. 9, at the dirt track and on Saturday, Aug. 10, at the asphalt track.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – It was another double-header weekend at Lakeport Speedway Saturday, July 20, and Sunday, July 21, and weather was hot, which left the drivers with a very hot track to deal with at the races.

The racing action kicked off with the Bandoleros taking to the track with a new driver in the field making her first start on asphalt.  

Kylie Keown started on the inside of the front row and at the drop of the green flag Frankie Pickrell jumped out to the early race lead.  

The drivers battled back and forth for laps as they ran around the short quarter mile at the Lake County Fair Grounds. At the checkers it was Pickrell taking another win on the season and Dylan Washburn taking the second spot.

In the Coors Light Extreme Asphalt Outlaws it was Kevin Bracket who started on the pole with Shelby Helm starting on the outside pole.  

Helm took the early lead while the drivers behind him battled for the third place spot. He was making away with the lead as Kyle Tellstrom was moving his way up through the field.  

A single race caution flew for debris in turn number two, and at the restart Helm was able to retain the lead to go on to take a victory for the 2013 season followed by Tellstrom and Taylor.  

In the Volvo Rents Mini Stocks it was Mike Peterson who jumped out to the early lead but Stillman was working his way up through the field to take the lead early in the race. Stillman went on to take another victory followed by Peterson.

In the legend main event Mark Miller jumped out to the early lead followed by Bill Kistenmacher. Kistenmacher took the lead not far into the race, but Jodi Snider was on her way towards the front to make the pass for the lead on lap number 16. Snider went on to take her first win in the legend division followed by Kistenmacher.

At the start of the first main event of the night Jr. Jammer Driver Derek Jones was interviewed by the speedway reporter about his last night at the speedway before going into the Army to serve his country.  

The speedway staff wants to take this time again to thank him for his choice to serve our country as well as thank all those that have gone before him and paid the ultimate price to protect our freedom.

The Jammer main had more cautions then normal as the gremlins were out and causing more accidents then speedway staff could count.  

Jones and Young was working their way up through the field and at the fall of the checkers it was Jones taking the win for the JR jammer and Wayne Young for the pro jammers.

For the second day of the double header weekend it was time for another go-kart race at Delbert’s Memorial Raceway.

In the 125/250 Ren Eberhart went on to take the wins in the main and the heat race. In the 500 division it was battle after battle for the lead with Tes Mellor having a hard day of keeping her kart on the track, but not once did she ever give up. At the drop of the checkers it was Eberhart that took home the victory.  

In the Beg Box stock division Cole Brown worked his way up through the field to expand his point lead and taking another victory for the weekend.  

In the Box Stock division it was a swapping of the lead from driver to driver, but after a spin on the last lap after the white flag had dropped it was Daniels that took the win.

The racing action continues this next weekend at Ukiah Speedway with the Bombers, Modifieds, Mini Stocks, Legends and the Pro 4 Modifieds.

The racing action starts at 5:30 p.m. with the gates opening at 3:30 p.m.

For complete event details visit www.ukiahspeedway.com and make sure to like the speedway on Facebook.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The HVL Men’s Niners Golf Club held a two-man team (3X3X3 format) tournament on Thursday, July 25th.

The results were:

• “A” Flight: The team of Jim Brown/Jim Wilson took first with combined net, 28. Fred Figg/Jeff Markham was second, 30. The teams of Joe Vallee/Paul Bertlin, Don Dornbush/Jim Stratton, and Bill Brewster/Randy Brown tied for third, 31.
• “B” Flight: Jim Hodges/Jay Hodges was first with the lowest net of the round, 25. Ed Carver/Don Holland was second, 28. The teams of Mike Casolo/Phil Tyler, Dennis Day/Dick Kistner, and Olie Smith/Bob Costello tied for third, 30.

Closest to the Par 3 Pins were Fredd Figg and Paul Bertlin.

Chip-ins were had by Jay Hodges and Paul Harvey.

Sixty men (30 teams) participated in the day’s events.

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Recreation managers on the Mendocino National Forest are seeking comments on a proposal to install a yurt at one campsite at the Sycamore Grove Campground, located within the Lake Red Bluff Recreation Area. 

The campsite currently has electricity and potable water hookups and fee is $25 per night. The proposed fee increase for the campsite with yurt is $40 per night.

Sycamore Grove Campground is a 30-unit campground which provides tent and RV camping adjacent to the Sacramento River.

Ten of the campsites within the campground provide electric hook-ups. The forest is proposing installing a yurt within one of the existing campsites with electric and potable water hookups.

The yurt would be available for rental on a first-come-first-served basis or by reservation through the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS) at 877-444-6777 or at www.recreation.gov . The NRRS charges a $9 reservation fee.

Yurts are becoming increasingly popular at campgrounds throughout the West. They provide a secure, comfortable, weatherproof tent-cabin experience, complete with beds to accommodate up to five people. Yurts are canvas sided with windows, a locking door, vented roof, lights and electricity. Fire rings and picnic tables will be provided within the campsite.

“We are excited about the opportunity to provide this unique camping experience on the Mendocino National Forest,” said Grindstone District Ranger Eduardo Olmedo. “By offering yurts at Lake Red Bluff Recreation Area, we hope to encourage people from all walks of life, all ages, and with all levels of camping experience to come out and enjoy camping on the National Forest.”

In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act which allows the Forest Service to keep 95 percent of the fees collected at certain recreation sites and use these funds locally to operate, maintain and improve these sites.

Fees collected from the yurt rental will fund operations and maintenance and could be used to expand the yurt program in the future based on popularity and public demand for this type of recreation opportunity.

This fee proposal will be presented before a citizen’s advisory committee, called the California Recreation Resource Advisory Committee, or RRAC. Committee members represent a broad array of recreation interest groups.

The public is welcome to attend and comment at all advisory committee meetings. More information about the RRAC, including meeting dates and locations can be found at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/r5/recreation/racs .

If this fee proposal is approved, it is anticipated that the yurt would become available for overnight rental in the spring 2014.

For more information, or to comment on this proposal, please contact Grindstone Ranger District Recreation Manager Randy Jero at 530-934-1269 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Comments may also be submitted by mail to: Mendocino National Forest, 825 N. Humboldt Ave., Willows, CA 95988.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Open tournament – held on Wednesday, July 17 – hosted 24 juniors played in 18 matches throughout the day.

The officially sanctioned United States Tennis Association junior tournament was held at Gard Street courts in a one-day event and referred by Russell Groh of Fairfield.

Players hailed from the Bay Area and surrounding areas, as well as Lake County.

The Konocti Junior Tennis League sponsored the event.

In the boys 12 event, Nitin Kancharla defeated his brother Sachin Kancharla in a close, three-set match with the scores of 2-6, 7-6, (3), 10-2 for the third set tiebreaker.

In boys 16 singles open match, Evan Vercellini played Derek Wadsworth from Napa and Derek Wadsworth defeated Evan Vercellini 6-0; 4-6; 1-0(7).

In boys 16 singles (Novice) Christopher King, the No. 1 seed  (Hidden Valley) defeated Bailey Elkington from Lakeport 6-2. 6-0. King then played Cassidy Parker from Middletown and Parker won, 6-4. 6-3.

In the third/fourth place match Bailey and Christian Nikolov, also from Hidden Valley, played with Nikolov defeating Bailey 6-4, 6-3.

In the boys 18 novice event, Kyle Schmidt of Kelseyville defeated Francisco Perez from Napa 6-4, 6-3, and Max Lehman (Kelseyville) defeated Robert Amante (Hidden Valley) 7-6, 7-5. In the playoff match, Perez defeated Lehman 4-6, 6-4,1-0 (4).

In the boys 18 open event, Richard Rhinehart (No. 1 seed) of Walnut Creek defeated Gavin Brazelton from Napa 6-0, 6-1. Also, James Cole, (No. 2 seed) played Cesar Chowell of Napa and Cole won 6-2. 6-1. In the third/fourth playoff, Rinehart won over Cole 6-1. 6-4.

In the girls’ 16 novice event, Ariana Diaz (Hidden Valley) played Claire Vargas of Kelseyville in a three-set match that resulted in these scores: (2-6), 6-3, and a 12-10 tiebreaker set.

In girls 18 singles, Sarah Tracy of Napa played Taylor James of Orinda and Tracy won with scores of 7-5, 6-3 and 10-8 in the 3rd set tiebreak.

The boys 18 doubles saw Cesar Chowell and Jaime Hill, both from Napa, against their teammates who are also from Napa, Sarah Tracy and Evan Vercellini. The teams had a great match that was fun to watch and Tracy and Vercellini won, 6-2, 7-6, 7-2.

In boys doubles action, the team of Parker/ Elkington took on Lehman/ Schmidt. Lehman/Schmidt defeated Elkington/Parker, 8-3.

The players all enjoyed the tournament and had a great day.