Woman caught poaching endangered abalone, hiding it in her pants: Officials

A woman in California was caught red-handed poaching an endangered species and hiding it in her pants, according to wildlife officials.

A wildlife officer, using a spotting scope at Van Damme State Park in Northern California, witnessed the woman, accompanied by a man, in the intertidal zone taking purple sea urchins, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The woman then "discreetly" concealed what appeared to be an abalone -- an endangered sea snail -- in her pants, wildlife officials said.

The officer left his observation point, contacted the pair in the parking lot and performed a license and catch inspection, California DWF said.

The woman then turned over a small abalone from her pants. The officer suspected it was not the only one, so he requested assistance from a female wildlife officer to conduct a search, according to officials.

The suspect then voluntarily relinquished a second abalone, also from her pants, according to California DFW.

No additional abalone were found.

The woman was cited for illegally taking two abalone, officials said.

The man who accompanied her was found in compliance, but he did not possess any abalone, according to California DWF.

All seven of the abalone species that live on the West Coast of the U.S. are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

It is illegal to take or possess any abalone species in California.

All recreational and commercial fishing of red abalone is closed statewide in California through at least April 11, 2036, following a drastic decline in the species due to marine heatwaves and the 2014 kelp forest collapse, according to the commission.

Under state law, abalone poaching can carry penalties of up to $40,000 in fines and one year in jail.

ABC News has reached out to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for further comment.