These assertions are supported by data from California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) as well as anecdotal evidence from biologists with the Los Padres National Forest and University of California Davis.

Indeed, deer populations have dropped precipitously—by more than 300,000 statewide since 1990—and interviews by the Sun found scientists in unanimous agreement on the effect of habitat loss and human encroachment on fauna.

http://www.santamariasun.com/cover/16741/down-for-the-count-drought-development-and-encroachment-could-be-responsible-for-dwindling-deer-population/

California voters banned mountain lion hunting three decades ago, but the shooting never stopped.

http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/article182397016.html

Local wildlife rescuers say they are alarmed at the increasing number of sick bobcats being found in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.

The bobcats are suffering from notoedric mange, a parasitic skin disease caused by exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides, or rat poisons.

http://www.kion546.com/news/bobcats-in-santa-cruz-monterey-counties-dying-from-rat-poison/649017313

The congressman who said he “would love to invalidate” the Endangered Species Act is closing in on his goal.

Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) recently shepherded five bills out of the Natural Resources Committee he chairs that would dismantle the law piece by piece. Many Republicans on the panel say the proposals are necessary changes that would modernize the 1973 law. Democrats and conservationists say the bills would whittle away the law’s ability to save wildlife from extinction.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/11/05/powerful-lawmaker-wants-to-invalidate-the-endangered-species-act-hes-getting-close/?tid=sm_fb&utm_term=.41723d41caad

California authorities are investigating the fatal shooting of a protected southern sea otter that had been rescued and returned to the ocean last year.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife said Tuesday that the dead otter was found floating in Morro Bay in September and a necropsy determined it was killed with a pellet gun.

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/environment/article183274496.html

A daring and high-risk plan to prevent the extinction of Mexico’s vaquita porpoise by capturing the animals and holding them under human care has been suspended following the death of an adult female last weekend.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/border-baja-california/sd-me-vaquita-next-20171108-story.html

The Marine Mammal Center is reporting 24 confirmed cases of leptospirosis in California sea lions and veterinarians warn the bacterial infection can make your pet sick too.

Monterey County veterinarians have treated 11 sea lions suffering for leptospirosis but only half have survived.

http://www.ksbw.com/article/california-sea-lions-suffering-leptospirosis-outbreak/13513519

A mountain lion slinking around the Diamond Heights area of San Francisco was cornered by a game warden and shot with a tranquilizer gun Friday behind a housing complex.

http://m.sfgate.com/news/article/Mountain-lion-spotted-cornered-in-San-Francisco-12348041.php

Question: My daughter and I have a huge interest in our local wildlife. We live in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains.

http://www.lakeconews.com/index.php/news/recreation/53063-california-outdoors-purpose-and-frequencies-of-wildlife-tracking-collars-squid-jigs-hearing-conditions

It's the return of wild pigs!

https://patch.com/california/sanramon/destructive-wild-pigs-are-back-san-ramon