Governor Signs Legislation Creating Wildlife Coexistence Program

NOTE: Photo courtesy of the Governor's Office.

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed legislation by Sen. Catherine S. Blakespear, D-Encinitas, to establish a statewide program promoting coexistence with wildlife and codify a wolf-livestock coexistence and compensation program. The legislation will help prevent conflict with wildlife that can hurt or kill people and animals or damage property. 

“I thank the Governor for signing SB 1135, which meaningfully addresses human and wildlife conflict by using thoughtful, proactive strategies that are non-lethal. We have now re-established a wildlife coexistence program in California, so we can better protect communities, people and animals that call our state home.”

 – Senator Catherine S. Blakespear

WHY IT MATTERS

Over the last five years, wildlife incident reports logged by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) increased by 31 percent and calls, emails and field contacts rose by 58 percent. Recent headlines have illustrated the problem, with stories of a bear living under a Los Angeles home, wolves becoming habituated to livestock in Northern California and a mountain lion showing up in a San Francisco park. 

Wildlife coexistence programs educate and support community and property owner efforts to reduce and remove attractants like trash and food. The programs help people keep a safe distance, implement methods proven to actively deter conflicts and promote wild animals’ instincts to stay wild.

BACKGROUND

SB 1135 re-establishes a statewide wildlife coexistence program that ended in 2024 after three years when funding for it expired. Among other things, the program deployed trained regional human-wildlife conflict staff around the state. 

In an Assembly informational hearing in January, agency and department leaders acknowledged that the absence of this effort is being felt acutely across urban, suburban and rural California. 

Sen. Blakespear joined Gov. Newsom on Tuesday for a signing ceremony for the bill held at the 30X30 Partnership 2026 Summit at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Sen. Blakespear also fought for, and helped secure in this year’s state budget, $5 million to fund the wildlife co-existence program.  

The legislation was sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation and the Defenders of Wildlife and takes effect on Jan. 1, 2027. 

SENATOR BLAKESPEAR’S RECORD

• In 2025, Sen. Blakespear passed legislation (SB 427) that extended funding to acquire, restore and enhance wildlife habitats across the state. 
• In 2025, Sen. Blakespear fought to overturn budget cuts that would have eliminated hundreds of positions from CDFW and undermined state efforts to conserve land and habitat.
• On Jan. 1 this year, Sen. Blakespear’s legislation (SB 1053) banning single-use plastic bags from being provided at grocery store checkouts took effect. The new law helps reduce the enormous stream of plastic waste that enters the environment, polluting soil and water and killing animals. 

Sen. Blakespear represents Senate District 38, which covers northern San Diego County and southern Orange County. To learn more about the district and Sen. Blakespear, visit her Senate website.