Raising quail for release into the wild - Ask Extension
My wife says she remembers hearing about an Extension program that would provide fertilized quail eggs to people if they promised to release the quail...
Knowledgebase
Raising quail for release into the wild #875053
Asked June 28, 2024, 12:38 AM EDT
My wife says she remembers hearing about an Extension program that would provide fertilized quail eggs to people if they promised to release the quail into the wild after they hatched. I've heard that Oregon's quail population is declining, so this looks like a great way to help. We had lots of quail on the farm when I was growing up in Lebanon, so now that I'm retired in Sweet Home, I would like to have some of them around here too. Do you guys have such a program?
Linn County Oregon
Expert Response
Thank you for your concern and desire to support native Oregon wildlife. I have no knowledge of a program such as you mention. Declines in wildlife and fish populations are usually closely linked to changes in habitat abundance/accessibility or habitat quality, so most modern wildlife management focuses there rather than just augmenting numbers of animals.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is the agency mandated to manage and enforce regulations around native wildlife and fish species and their habitats. Current OR law https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_498.052 prohibits release of any (even native) animal into the wild without a permit, so your best move is to go ahead and call ODFW and ask to speak with a game bird biologist. The headquarters can be reached at either of these numbers:
Main Phone<personal data hidden> or (800) 720-ODFW [6339]
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is the agency mandated to manage and enforce regulations around native wildlife and fish species and their habitats. Current OR law https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_498.052 prohibits release of any (even native) animal into the wild without a permit, so your best move is to go ahead and call ODFW and ask to speak with a game bird biologist. The headquarters can be reached at either of these numbers:
Main Phone<personal data hidden> or (800) 720-ODFW [6339]
Thanks very much for your response. The day after I sent the question, I noticed that we have a pair of California quail living here in our five acres of forest in Sweet Home. Maybe we can encourage them to stay and be fruitful.
From: ask=<personal data hidden> <ask=<personal data hidden>> on behalf of Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2024 12:37
To: Harold Lines <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Raising quail for release into the wild (#0144971)
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2024 12:37
To: Harold Lines <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Raising quail for release into the wild (#0144971)
