Animals and Wildlife

Learn more about common farm, garden, and household pest control:

Insects
Ants Bed Bugs Cockroaches
Mosquitos Termites  

Fish and Wildlife Advisory Commission (FWAC)

Wildlife Services: Assisting in the management of wildlife through education. 

California Animal Response Emergency Support (CDFA CARES) Multi-Hazard Farm-Ranch Emergency Plan Guide

New World Screwworm (NWS)

The New World Screwworm (NWS) is a fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of animals. It can affect livestock, pets, wildlife, and even people, causing painful and sometimes fatal wounds.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is increasing outreach after recent detections in Oaxaca, Mexico. The public is encouraged to stay alert, especially those near the U.S.-Mexico border or who work with animals.

Local public health authorities, CDFA, and the California Department of Public Health are also conducting extensive outreach with local veterinarians to ensure their awareness and report suspected cases and take appropriate actions if they find a case of NWS.

If you notice maggots in a wound or animals with draining, foul-smelling sores, report it right away. Early detection is key to preventing NWS from spreading. Report suspected cases to CDFA Sick Animal Hotline: (866) 922-BIRD (2473). 

Learn More by visiting CDFA's Animal Health Branch.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly called bird flu, is a contagious and often fatal disease found in some populations of wild waterfowl that can infect chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese, and guinea fowl, as well as a wide variety of other domesticated and wild birds. 

  • Wash your hands before and after handling your birds. This includes when handling birds from coop to coop. 
  • Prevent contact between domestic and wild birds by bringing your birds into an enclosure that is covered.
  • If you have bodies of water on your property, such as ponds or ditches, consider draining them to avoid attracting wild birds, and keep your domestic birds away from this potentially contaminated water. 
  • Wash and disinfect boots and equipment when moving between coops. 
  • Clean and disinfect equipment and other supplies between uses. 
  • Clean and disinfect your shoes and vehicle tires after visiting feedstores and other places frequented by other poultry owners or wild bird hunters. 
  • Avoid visiting places where wild birds congregate, such as lakes and ponds.  

Please report any unusual or suspicious numbers of sick or dead domestic birds immediately to the CDFA Sick Bird Hotline at (866) 922-2473, as well as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Monitor your birds for the following symptoms: trouble breathing; clear, runny discharge from nose, mouth, and eyes; lethargy or lack of energy; loss of appetite; drinking less; swollen eyes, head, wattles, or combs; discolored or bruised comb, wattles, or legs; stumbling, falling, or twisted neck; or sudden death. 

For more information, please visit CDFA's Avian Health Program and Avian Influenza webpage, as well as the following documents for poultry producers:

HPAI in Dairy Cattle

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is investigating the possible introduction of HPAI dairy farms in the Central Valley. With HPAI detected in other dairies throughout the U.S., CDFA has been engaged with the County of San Diego as well as local farms and ranches, veterinarians, and other agencies to develop response plans and monitor for HPAI in poultry and livestock in the region. CDFA has created a dedicated HPAI in Livestock webpage that will continue to evolve as more info and resources are available, including:

  • CDFA Cattle Import Order
  • Federal Testing Order
  • Requirements and Recommendations for HPAI in Livestock
  • Sampling Protocol
  • CAHFS Lab Submission form
  • Owner Hauler Statement
  • Biosecurity Templates and Information
  • Milk Safety
  • Dairy Worker Safety
     

Stay Informed

For the latest updates on California domestic poultry, follow on social media at CDFA Animal Health Branch Facebook and AnimalHealthBranch_CDFA Instagram. 

For more information and updates on wild bird detections in California, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.  

More information on avian influenza and how to protect flocks through biosecurity measures can be found on the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD)

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a  viral hemorrhagic disease that can affect both domesticated and wild rabbits.

The disease has an incubation period of 1-5 days and may cause rabbits to die suddenly without showing any outward signs of illness. In some cases, rabbits may show fever, loss of appetite, lethargy, spasms, difficulty breathing, blue-colored lips or mucous membranes, or bleeding from body cavities.

Rabbit owners should immediately contact the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Animal Health and Food Safety Services’ Animal Health Division at (916) 900-5002 to report dead rabbits or rabbits with the noted symptoms.

To report dead wild rabbits or hares, please call the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Investigations Lab at (916) 358-2790 or report online.

Learn more about RHD:

Virulent Newcastle Disease (VND)

Virulent Newcastle disease is a highly contagious and fatal disease of poultry and other birds.

Bird owners should immediately contact the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) hotline at 866-922-BIRD (2473) if they spot symptoms in their birds including: coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, tremors, twisting of the neck, and sudden death.

To see current areas affected, please visit the Map of VND Detections.

For more information and updates on VND and how to protect your flock, please visit the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Animal Health and Food Safety Services, Animal Health Branch website.