Scientific stakeholders who collect wildlife in their fieldwork in California and rely on scientific collecting permits from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are invited to a virtual forum on Friday, May 23 at 3 p.m. (Pacific Time).
"This forum is an opportunity to hear updates, ask questions, and contribute to an ongoing effort to improve the scientific collecting permit (SCP) process," organizers said. "Over the past several months, CDFW staff and a small group of researchers have been in dialogue about ways to improve the process. We’re now expanding the conversation to include a broader group of stakeholders. The discussion will be moderated by Shannon Bennett (California Academy of Sciences), Trina Roberts (Los Angeles County Natural History Museum), and Michelle Koo (Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley)."
To register, access this site.
According to the CDFW website, "Fish and Game Code (FGC) sections 1002, 1002.5 and 1003 authorize CDFW to issue permits for the take or possession of wildlife, including mammals, birds and the nests and eggs thereof, reptiles, amphibians, fish, certain plants and invertebrates for scientific, educational, and propagation purposes. The Department currently implements this authority through Section 650, Title 14, California Code of Regulations (CCR), by issuing Scientific Collecting Permits (SCP) to take or possess wildlife for such purposes."
Current Situation (May 2025)
- The CDFW Scientific Collecting Permit system is experiencing challenges issuing and renewing collecting permits in a reasonably timely manner; some applications and renewals have been ‘pending’ in the system for several years.
- CDFW has implemented an informal interim authorization system (email renewals), but this stopgap measure has its own set of complications.
- California Institute for Biodiversity, California Academy of Sciences, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, UC Berkeley MVZ, and others have compiled a suite of recommendations and met with CDFW to discuss a way forward.
Organizers said that CDFW "has requested more detail and a broader survey of users to provide detailed recommendations—particularly around improvements to the portal and related instructional materials, as they are working with a contractor to update the system. They have received feedback from the Western Section of the Wildlife Society."
As an aside: Not everyone knows that it is illegal to collect and rear monarchs in California without a SCP. "Yes, a Scientific Collecting Permit is required to handle wild monarchs in California including for educational purposes. It is unlawful to collect, remove from the wild and/or captively rear monarchs in California without an SCP, per California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, section 650(a)(opens in new tab). (See website)
For more information, contact CDFW at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Contact)