July features several special events and regularly scheduled activities through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Bat Talk and Walk at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area are offered on various days and times, at 45211 County Road 32 B, Davis. Each year, from June through September, the Yolo Basin Foundation offers “Bat Talk and Walk” tours. The tour begins with a 45-minute indoor presentation on bat natural history, after which attendees are shuttled to the outdoor viewing area to witness firsthand the spectacular aerial performance of the Mexican free-tailed bats. Pre-registration is required at http://yolobasin.org. For more information, contact Corky Quirk at cquirk@yolobasin.org.
Join in the Ecological Reserve Tours at Elkhorn Slough, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville. Volunteers lead walks every Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 11 a.m. Binoculars and bird books are available for the public to borrow at no cost. The visitor center and main overlook are fully accessible. The day use permit fee is $4.12 per person, ages 16 and older (permits may be purchased onsite). Groups of five or more should notify staff that they are coming and groups of 10 or more can request a separate tour. For more information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/lands/places-to-visit/elkhorn-slough-er.
Guided Wetland Tours, by reservation, can be scheduled at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley. A wildlife naturalist will lead your group, school or organization through the diverse wetlands of the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. General information includes wildlife identification, behavior patterns and conservation efforts. Your experience can be catered to include requested information, along a half-mile, walking route. The minimum group size is 18 people. For more information, call (530) 846-7505 or email lori.dieter@wildlife.ca.gov.
July 6 – Free Fishing Day. One of two Free Fishing Days being offered by CDFW in 2019 is scheduled July 6 (the other is Aug. 31). While all fishing regulations – such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, report card requirements, fishing hours and stream closures – remain in effect, anyone can fish without purchasing a fishing license on Free Fishing Days. For more information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/fishing/free-fishing-days.
July 8 – Last Day of Staff Consultation Period for the 2019 Proposal Solicitation Notice for the Stream Flow Enhancement Program. The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) is preparing to release the 2019 Proposal Solicitation Notice for the Stream Flow Enhancement Program. Potential applicants are encouraged to take advantage of the WCB staff consultation period through July 8. View the consultation announcement or go to the WCB Stream Flow Enhancement Program webpage for more information.
July 10 – Pre-Application Workshop for 2019 Wetlands Restoration for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grants, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. via Skype. The first of two online Pre-Application Workshops to walk applicants through how to apply to the proposal solicitation notice for these grants. Workshop attendance is encouraged but not required. Pre-applications for the grant are due Aug. 13. See CDFW’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program webpage for the Skype link and more details. The second workshop will be offered on July 31 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
July 11-12 – Global Learning to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Elementary School Teacher Workshop at Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville. A free workshop for kindergarten through sixth grade educators focused on environmental education. The GLOBE program brings students, teachers and scientists across the world together to investigate the natural world. Participants will receive new lesson plan ideas, investigative tools and access to the GLOBE database. Teachers can register online at www.elkhornslough.org/education-program/teacher-development or contact Virginia Guhin at virginia.guhin@wildlife.ca.gov or (831) 728-2822.
July 18 – Conservation Lecture Series Webcast, “The Perfect Storm: Multiple Climate Stressors Push Kelp Forest Beyond Tipping Point in Northern California,” 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Presented by CDFW’s Dr. Laura Rogers-Bennett. Register online at www.wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/lectures or contact Whitney Albright, whitney.albright@wildlife.ca.gov, with questions.
July 24 – Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Access Permit Application Deadline for Elk Hunting Opportunities. An $11 non-refundable application fee (plus handling fees) is charged for each hunt choice. For more information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/share.
July 27 – Sunset Saturday at Elkhorn Slough Reserve, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville. Participants can enjoy a sunset on the Slough, with the reserve open to the public until 8 p.m. All visitors must check in at the Visitor Center before entering the trails. For more information, contact Ariel Hunter at ariel.hunter@wildlife.ca.gov.
