AB 1722 (2026): Endangered Species Self-Defense Exception

What the Bill Would Do

AB 1722 would amend the California Endangered Species Act (Fish and Game Code section 2080 et seq.) by adding Section 2080.8 to create an explicit exception allowing the take of an endangered or threatened species when necessary for self-defense or the defense of another person ^[1]. Under existing Fish and Game Code section 86, "take" is defined to mean "hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill." The current statute prohibits the take of any listed species without specific authorization, with no general self-defense carve-out.

Sponsors

The bill was authored by Assembly Member Heather Hadwick (R), with bipartisan committee support to date.

Current Status

AB 1722 was introduced on February 5, 2026 and referred to the Assembly Committees on Water, Parks, and Wildlife and Judiciary. On March 19, 2026, author's amendments were adopted and the bill was re-referred to the Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife on March 23, 2026. In April 2026, the policy committee passed AB 1722 on a unanimous 10-0 vote, advancing it for further consideration. The bill's next procedural step is review by the Assembly Judiciary Committee, and if it passes there, referral to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for fiscal review ^[2].

Why This Matters: Gray Wolf and Other Listed Predators

Several large predators present in California are protected as endangered or threatened. The gray wolf is listed as endangered under both federal and California state law, and a recovering wolf population has expanded into Northern California counties since 2011. Mountain lions are not listed under the California Endangered Species Act, but they are a "specially protected mammal" under Fish and Game Code section 4800 with their own non-self-defense restrictions. The California condor, San Joaquin kit fox, and other listed species are unlikely to present a self-defense scenario, but the broad statutory prohibition on "take" of any listed species technically applies to any killing of a protected animal regardless of circumstance.

Context

This bill sits at the intersection of wildlife conservation and self-defense rights. The federal Endangered Species Act provides a self-defense exception under 16 U.S.C. section 1540(b)(3), but California state law does not explicitly mirror that exception. Residents in rural and rural-urban interface areas, particularly Northern California counties with established wolf packs, have raised concerns about legal exposure if they kill a protected predator while defending themselves, a family member, or livestock. AB 1722 would create a defined legal pathway by adding a self-defense exception to the state act, while leaving California's broader take prohibitions intact for non-self-defense scenarios.

What to Watch

The unanimous 10-0 policy-committee vote suggests broad bipartisan support, but a Judiciary Committee review may add procedural conditions, reporting requirements, or a narrower scope (such as imminent threat language). Watch for amendments that distinguish defense of person from defense of property or livestock, since those carry different policy considerations under existing law.