California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)

01. Findings

As a state government entity, CDFW does not publish a commercial vendor security posture or third-party compliance certifications [10]. The provided sources contain no evidence of data breaches, system outages, or cybersecurity incidents [11]. Commercial security certifications and subprocessor disclosures are absent due to insufficient public data [12]. Security assessments for government agencies generally rely on state-level IT standards rather than public vendor disclosures [13].

02. Events

No notable public events recorded for this evaluation.

Deterministic outside-in checks run directly against the vendor's domain - not inferred from press or marketing pages.

Last observed: Aug 19, 2026, 11:08 PM

• TLS certificate

  Certificate expires in 197 days

  infoPass

• Security headers

  4/6 security headers present

  mediumFail

• Email authentication (SPF / DMARC)

04. Company

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is a state agency tasked with managing California's fish, wildlife, and plant resources alongside their supporting habitats [1]. Its mission balances ecological conservation with public access and enjoyment of natural resources [2]. Operating under the California Natural Resources Agency, the department employs over 3,300 staff members dedicated to conservation, law enforcement, and habitat restoration [3]. The agency is currently led by Director Meghan Hertel, who oversees statewide biodiversity goals and sustainable outdoor recreation programs [4]. CDFW also manages regulatory frameworks and public outreach initiatives to ensure long-term ecological health [5].

05. Product

The R3 (Recruit, Retain, Reactivate) initiative is a collaborative program designed to increase statewide hunting and fishing participation by addressing barriers to outdoor recreation [6]. The initiative leverages data-driven insights and social science research to refine outreach strategies and improve public engagement [7]. CDFW partners with NGOs, industry groups, and state agencies to transform obstacles into opportunities for diverse communities [8]. The program also supports educational resources, such as online fishing clinics and youth engagement tools, to foster long-term participation in outdoor activities [9].

06. Recent News

Recent updates highlight CDFW's efforts to address financial challenges stemming from declining hunting and fishing license sales, alongside a backlog of deferred maintenance [14]. Governor Gavin Newsom's budget proposal seeks to permanently increase the department's funding to support ongoing conservation and outreach efforts [15]. The agency continues to expand the R3 initiative to boost hunter and angler recruitment through data-informed strategies [16]. Additional news covers the graduation of new wildlife officers and updates on habitat conservation programs across the state [17].

08. Vendor response

Content in this section is vendor-supplied and does not alter Vendorisk.ai's risk tier or evaluation.

09. Assessment history

1. 8/19/2026, 11:08:07 PM · Low · 18

Risk delta is hidden until two stored snapshots can be compared.

10. Targeted questions

11. Sources

1. [1] CDFW manages fish, wildlife, plant resources and habitats California Department of Fish and Wildlife Home Page
2. [2] Mission balances ecological conservation with public access California Department of Fish and Wildlife Home Page
3. [3] Employs over 3,300 staff Board Members
4. [4] Led by Director Meghan Hertel Board Members
5. [5] Manages regulatory frameworks and public outreach Hunting and Fishing: Recruit. Retain. Reactivate.
6. [6] R3 initiative increases hunting and fishing participation Hunting and Fishing: Recruit. Retain. Reactivate.
7. [7] Leverages data-driven insights and social science Leadership Accountability Report
8. [8] Partners with NGOs and industry groups Hunting and Fishing: Recruit. Retain. Reactivate.
9. [9] Supports educational resources and online clinics