Wildlife

The District does not control or handle wildlife. For issues with wildlife, please contact the Peninsula Humane Society or California Fish and Wildlife. If you’ve found a wild animal that appears to be sick, injured, or orphaned, please visit Peninsula Humane Society's page. If you’ve found a dead wild animal, you can report it on CDFW's website. If you’re interested in reporting another kind of wildlife incident, please visit CDFW's wildlife incident reporting page.

Wildlife Identification & Info

Many kinds of wild animals are found in San Mateo County, and most will occasionally enter urban and suburban neighborhoods in search of food, water, or shelter. These are a few of the species that may cause problems for residents of San Mateo County.

A plump and furry raccoon sits on its back legs looking towards the camera. It has grey fur on its body, with black and white fur on its face.

If You Care, Don't Share!

1. Wild animals don’t need your help.
Wild animals may show up looking for a handout, but they don’t really need help from humans to find food. Their natural diet is healthiest for them, and ‘human food’ can even make them sick.

What You Can Do: Wildlife

Wild animals are a natural part of the environment in San Mateo County. It is normal for these animals to pass through properties as they go about their lives among the humans who have moved into their habitat. Some species may even be protected by law.

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