The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reminds bobcat trappers that recreational and commercial bobcat trapping is no longer allowed in California.
 
At a meeting in Fortuna on Aug. 5, the California Fish and Game Commission adopted regulations to ban bobcat trapping statewide.

On Nov. 13, the Office of Administrative Law approved those regulations to be effective Nov. 20.
 
As a result of the new regulations, related to hunting and trapping of bobcat (Section 478 of Title 14, California Code of Regulations): It shall be unlawful to trap any bobcat, or attempt to do so, or to sell or export any bobcat or part of any bobcat taken in the State of California.
 
Any holder of a trapping license who traps a bobcat shall immediately release the bobcat to the wild unharmed.

Also beginning Nov. 20, CDFW will no longer mark bobcat pelts for personal use or issue shipping tags for commercial sale of bobcat pelts taken in California.