Cal. Fish & Game Code § 4004
Trapping Provisions
Redline — January 1, 2011 → current.View current text →
Current — January 1, 2023
As of January 1, 2011
It is unlawful to do any of the following:
It is unlawful to do any of the following:
(a) Use a trap with saw-toothed or spiked jaws.
(a) Use a steel-jawed leghold trap, or use any trap with saw-toothed or spiked jaws.
(b) Use or sell leghold steel-jawed traps with a spread of 512 inches or larger without offset jaws.
(c) Use steel-jawed traps larger than size 112 or with a spread larger than 478 inches for taking muskrat.
(b) Set or maintain a trap that does not bear a number or other identifying mark as provided in this subdivision. If the trap is set pursuant to Section 4152 or 4180, it shall bear an identifying mark in a manner specified by the department. In all other cases, the trap shall bear a number or other identifying mark registered to the department, or, in the case of a federal, state, county, or city agency, bear the name of that agency. No registration fee shall be charged pursuant to this subdivision.
(c) Fail to visit and remove all animals from traps at least once daily. If the trapping is done pursuant to Section 4152 or 4180, the inspection and removal shall be done by the person who sets the trap, the owner of the land where the trap is set, or an agent of either.
(d) (1) Use a conibear trap that is larger than 6 inches by 6 inches, unless partially or wholly submerged in water.
(g) Set or maintain steel leghold traps within 30 feet of bait placed in a manner or position so that it may be seen by any soaring bird. As used in this subdivision, “bait” includes any bait composed of mammal, bird, or fish flesh, fur, hide, entrails, or feathers.
(h) Set or maintain steel leghold traps with a spread of 512 inches or larger without a tension device.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a lawfully set conibear trap that is 10 inches by 10 inches or less may be set pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 465.5 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, unless prohibited by the department as a permit condition.
(e) When any conibear trap is set on publicly owned land or land expressly open to public use, fail to post signs at each entrance and exit to the property indicating the presence of conibear traps and at least four additional signs within a radius of 50 feet of each trap, one in each cardinal direction, with lettering that is a minimum of three inches high stating: “Danger! Traps Set For Wildlife. Keep Out.” Signs required to be posted by this subdivision shall be maintained and checked daily.
(f) Kill any trapped mammal in accordance with this section by intentional drowning, injection with any chemical not sold for the purpose of euthanizing animals, or thoracic compression, commonly known as chest crushing. This subdivision does not apply to the use of a lawfully set conibear trap that is set partially or wholly submerged in water to trap beaver or muskrat, or the use of a lawfully set colony trap that is set in water to trap muskrat.
Official source: California Legislative Information. Reproduced from public-domain California statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.