Hadwick’s bill to protect Californians acting in self-defense during dangerous wildlife encounters gains support

Assemblymember Heather Hadwick has introduced Assembly Bill 1722 to ensure Californians are not penalized for acting in legitimate self-defense during dangerous encounters with endangered species.

Under current law, the California Endangered Species Act prohibits the “take” of a listed species (including actions such as pursuing, capturing or killing) without clear exceptions for situations involving immediate threats to human safety. As a result, individuals who act to protect themselves or others from bodily harm may still face civil, administrative or even criminal penalties.

AB 1722 establishes a clear, good-faith self-defense protection under CESA, aligning California law more closely with the federal Endangered Species Act, which already recognizes such a defense. The bill ensures that individuals who act reasonably to protect themselves, their families, or others from harm are not subject to prosecution.

“Coexistence does not mean helplessness,” said Assemblymember Hadwick. “AB 1722 makes clear that no Californian should be punished for protecting human life. We can uphold strong wildlife protections while also recognizing the fundamental right to self-defense.”

Law enforcement officials warn that the lack of clarity in current law creates significant public safety risks during emergency situations. Local agencies are increasingly called to respond to dangerous human-wildlife encounters yet are often required to wait for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to determine whether an incident meets their organization’s definition of a public safety threat. That determination can take hours or even days, resulting in delayed, fragmented responses when urgency is critical.

AB 1722 recognizes public safety in these situations must be defined more broadly.

Prolonged predator presence near homes, schools, and working ranches creates real and cumulative risks that extend beyond a single incident. Therefore, self-defense in the interest of public safety against a wild animal is not limited to an immediate physical attack, but also includes protecting human health, safety, and community well-being. AB 1722 addresses these concerns by ensuring local law enforcement can act immediately to protect their communities from human-wildlife conflicts, regardless of a species’ endangered status.

Sierra County Sheriff Mike Fisher remarking on the introduction of AB 1722 said, “public safety is not limited to crime, it includes protecting human health and safety from any real risk of harm. When apex predators are repeatedly present near homes, livestock, and areas where people live and recreate, the issue extends beyond wildlife management and becomes a public safety concern. Where there is a foreseeable risk of harm, we have a responsibility to act before someone is injured.”

Sierra County has declared a local state of emergency due to escalating gray wolf attacks on livestock in California’s Sierra Valley, a concern shared across rural counties, where officers and residents alike must navigate dangerous encounters without clear legal protections.

Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue agrees, adding, “Californians must have an unequivocal right to defend themselves from physical harm, irrespective of the legal or conservation status of the animal involved. Unfortunately, the California Endangered Species Act currently lacks the necessary safeguards and clarity to ensure the public can protect themselves in the event of an attack by a protected species.”

Sheriff LaRue emphasized that AB 1722 is not a blanket permit to kill, but a balanced approach that supports coexistence while protecting public safety and community health.

“AB 1722 would not undermine conservation goals; rather, it would clarify that no individual should face criminal prosecution or civil action for taking reasonable and responsible measures to protect themselves or their families from imminent harm,” LaRue continued. “I thank Assemblywoman Hadwick for sponsoring this critical legislation to ensure that California conservation policies are grounded in practical reality.”

For California’s agricultural community, the stakes are just as high, as ranchers work to protect not only themselves, but their families and livelihoods.

Plumas County cattle rancher Rick Roberti commented on AB 1722, reflecting on the spike in gray wolf attacks on his cattle, saying, “this bill will help protect ranchers from facing prosecution and costly litigation in the event they kill a wolf while protecting themselves or others from an imminent threat.”

Repeated predator activity in populated areas may result in broader, long-term impacts on community health and safety, with livestock producers experiencing heightened stress and adverse effects on both their mental and physical health. AB 1722 aims to provide relief to rural communities on the front lines.

Nevertheless, AB 1722 maintains the integrity of California’s endangered species protections while establishing a narrowly tailored avenue in self-defense situations from perspective of public safety. The measure does not weaken conservation laws but ensures they are applied in a way that recognizes human safety as a top priority.

About Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick Assemblywoman Heqther Hadwick represents the 1st Assembly District, which includes portions of Amador, El Dorado, and Placer counties, along with Lassen, Alpine, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, and Siskiyou counties.