Airports: wildlife.

Existing law regulates the taking or possession of birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, and reptiles. Under existing law, the Department of Fish and Game performs various functions with regards to the taking of fish and game. Existing law generally provides that a violation of fish and game laws is a crime. This bill would provide that the taking of birds by a public use airport certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration operating in the state pursuant to a federal depredation permit, does not violate state fish and game laws if the taking is in compliance with that permit and the taking occurs on land owned or leased by the airport that is not habitat mitigation or conservation land, and there is no taking of a fully protected, candidate, threatened, or endangered species. The bill would specify that a taking is only authorized to relieve or prevent injurious situations affecting public safety and can only be performed as part of an integrated wildlife management program that emphasizes nonlethal management techniques. The bill would require the airport to provide to the department all federal depredation permits and all federal reports required pursuant to any federal depredation permit or wildlife hazard management plan, or both, and to provide the department reasonable access to ensure compliance. The bill would require the department to seek reimbursement from the airport for the reasonable costs associated with activities resulting from any violations of these provisions.