Celebrate the American Lion this Independence Day weekend at the Folsom Zoo!

On Saturday, July 3rd, MLF Sacramento Volunteer Coordinator Lyn Whitcomb and her volunteer crew will be hosting an educational booth about mountain lions at the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary (Sacramento-area, California).  Visitors will have a chance to see lions up close and learn about MLF’s efforts to protect wild mountain lions and their habitat.  Bring the family for a fun day at the zoo and be sure to stop by the lion enclosure to say hi.

Interested in volunteering with MLF at this event?  Send an email to outreach@mountainlion.org for more details.

See you there!

Folsom Zoo Sanctuary

403 Stafford Street, Folsom, CA 95630

Saturday, July 3rd, Gates open at 9:00am

see admission fees

MLF has assisted pet and livestock owners all over the county with building lion-proof small livestock enclosures.  This simple measure of building a pen (many are completed in a day) and tucking animals safely inside at night, helps keep both domestic and wild animals safe.  The following pens have been used to protect, goats, sheep, pigs and pet dogs.  Over the years, thousands of blue prints and assembly directions have been downloaded from the MLF website.  To learn more about how to build one, click here.

Taylorsville, California

Wolf Creek and Indian Valley 4-H Club members and the Mountain Lion Foundation celebrated 4-H’s 100th birthday by completing the first livestock pen designed specifically to protect goats and other domestic animals from mountain lions. The enclosure, built for the Howe family’s goats, is part of a demonstration project designed by the Mountain Lion Foundation to help humans and mountain lions be better neighbors.

“I’m glad our goats Lady and Mr. Freeze will be safe from lions,” said Shelby Howe, a 10-year-old 4-H member. “I like mountain lions – I just don’t want to feed them.” Shelby presented his 4-H project focusing on safeguarding goats from mountain lions at the Plumas County Fair that August.

Taylorsville, California

Jessica and Nathan no longer have to worry about the female lion that repeatedly guides her kittens down Wolf Creek, between their two backyards, across a busy highway and through the trailer court across the street. Every year parents and the local Fish and Game Warden advise elementary children to be aware of the mother lion and her kittens, who frequent the creek which runs below the Main Street bridge and through town. Most children in the area will tell you they know just what to do when they see one.

Valley Springs, California

While eating breakfast one morning, the Jorrick family noticed a mountain lion lounging in the tree just outside their kitchen window, not far from their unprotected goats.  The Jorrick’s property was home to more than a dozen Jenny Lind 4H club members’ project pygmy goats.  The club then decided it was time to build a lion-proof small livestock enclosure to protect their animals.  With a little help from MLF, the goats are now safe and sound in their pen at night.

Felton, California

When invited to participate in the MLF Living with Lions Ranchers’ Assistance Program, the Felton 4-H Club was eager to join this pro-active movement. This program provides groups with knowledge and understanding to make responsible decisions in their livestock management, and also includes a one-day workshop to build a predator-proof small livestock enclosure.

Although their livestock had not suffered from mountain lion depredation, over the years there had been many mountain lion sightings in the surrounding San Lorenzo Valley.

Indian Valley, California – Revisited

Shelby Howe, whose goats were the recipient of Mountain Lion Foundation’s very first pen, continues to spread the word about their efficacy. In 2005, Shelby won an award for his exhibit at the Plumas County Fair which showed the steps to take BEFORE getting a goat.

Even when it is not possible to know how many lions still roam because of these efforts, MLF will work with communities to build not just lion proof pens but to build a future for lions in the rural West. Local residents continue to raise the bar for best management practices.

Salem, Oregon

Pat and George Copa love their rare and valuable Pygoras, but still appreciate the wild predators that live just outside their Verdant Vistas farm in Oregon. The solution to keeping their Pygoras (Pygmy-Angora crossbreeds) safe and living peacefully with coyotes and mountain lions: an MLF-designed predator-proof pen. The first one in Oregon, too! During the day, the animals roam the yard with their guard llamas but from dusk ’til dawn they are secured in the new pen. MLF sponsored the build to serve as a demonstration for locals in this rural area, but plans are available for free at mountainlion.org and can be built for around $500 with supplies from your local hardware store.

Amador County, California

In a note to MLF, Janice wrote:
A couple of years ago, my friend Cathy said that you had published the plans for the lion proof goat enclosure.  I had lost all of my goats to a lion several years prior, and had decided that I could no longer have goats because of the risk of losing them.  I was thrilled to think that I could once again have pet goats and that they would be safe.  As you can see we made some changes to your plan.  Our goat fort is 18′x24′ and has an area to store hay and other goat things.  I have been very happy with our goat fort and my goats seem to be happy too.  Janice

Woodland Hills, California

During the Farm Walk, Canoga Park High School FFA volunteers built this livestock pen at Pierce College. Due to heavy development in southern California, mountain lion habitat in the region has become mostly isolated patches.  Learning to coexist with wildlife and protect their dispersal corridors is especially important.  MLF Southern California Field Representative, Christa Kermode, along with all the other hard workers display their pen for the locals. Nice work everyone!

South Dakota

In South Dakota, volunteers work with MLF and the Black Hills Mountain Lion Foundation to create a predator proof enclosure for fiber goats and sheep. In addition to the pen, volunteers also retrofitted an adjacent barn to house livestock safe from cougars, coyotes and pet dogs.  A chain link fence and secure roof are key!

Residents in South Dakota do not have to protect their animals from wildlife, and can kill any mountain lion that wanders through their property.  These two buildings will show the community there are easy was to coexist, and killing a lion is not necessary.

Naples, Florida

Not even Tropical Storm Barry could dampen the enthusiasm of these predator proof pen builders in Naples, Florida – although the downpours certainly dampened pretty much everything else! At one point, the wind was so strong, the crew decided to hold off putting the roof tarp on until the storm had passed.

Regardless, the local volunteers finished two pens on Saturday and now Rege and Al are keeping their goats safe. Just down the road, Rebecca is protecting her canine companions. Due to excellent media coverage, people all over the region now have access to MLF’s easy instructions for building their own pens.

Naples, Florida

The day after the two builds in Naples, most of the crew came back to brave the steaming heat while building a demonstration pen at the Collier County Extension! All told, County Commissioner Henry Coletta, along with volunteers from the Mountain Lion Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Parks Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Collier County Extension Service and Friends of the Panther Refuge joined 4-H kids and families for an educational, fun and animal-friendly weekend. Special thanks for the Florida office of Defenders of Wildlife for organizing and sponsoring the event to Protect People, Pets, Livestock and the federally endangered Florida Panthers!

For more information on protecting pets and livestock, or how to build a lion-proof pen, visit MountainLion.org.

What purpose do the mountain lion and other major predators serve?  These animals are at the top of the food chain.  They do not provide food for other, larger creatures.  They do not carry pollen, or provide us with oxygen, as do some insects and plants.  With a shrug, we respond with words recalled form high school biology:  Predators contribute to the balance of nature.

But balance is not enough.  An empty scale will balance.

The value of predators, large and small, is complex and commonly misunderstood.  Predators, even those at the very top of the food chain, play a vital role in sustaining other animals and plants within their range.  Consider this real world illustration of that principle.

When the Panama Canal was dug, a new lake rose in Central America.  As waters rose, a hillside, rich with wildlife, was isolated as the surrounding lowlands flooded.  The Smithsonian Institution recognized the value of this unique island, where research might demonstrate the effects of isolating small pieces of habitat.

Cougars soon disappeared from the new island.  This was no surprise, since lions require such a large territory for even a single animal.  Over the years, a catastrophic series of local extinctions occurred. By 1970, forty-five species of birds had disappeared from the island.

Scientists Joyhn Terborgh and Blair Winter hypothesized that surging populations of mesopredators (carnivores one step down from the largest and most dominant), over-populated because they were no longer subject to predation by, or in competition with, large carnivores.  With so many additional animals feeding upon bird eggs and nestlings, bird populations plummeted.

In addition, the number of plant varieties found on the island diminished, and soon it became difficult to find young saplings of the canopy trees.  Again, researchers traced the changes back to the loss of large predators.  Populations of herbivores exploded, and fell upon the flora of the island with a vengeance, tugging up young saplings for their tender leaves, devouring all of the individuals of whole species that had inhabited small niches.

What about the middle-sized mammals in their new, and relatively “safe” situation. Without large predators to cull the weaker, older, and disease prone animals, several generations are born and pass on less hardy genes.  But when food becomes scarce as a result of prey extinctions and over-populations, some species, despite their increased numbers, find themselves at a genetic disadvantage, unable to compete, subject to epidemics, and prey to more viable or adaptable species.  As the ecosystem crashes, these middle species, too, may disappear.

In the approach to environmental conservation known as “rewilding,” large predators like the mountain lion are counted as “keystone” species.  In summarizing The Role of Top Carnivores in Regulating Terrestrial Ecosystems, leading biologists John Terborgh, et.al. conclude that “our current knowledge about the natural processes that maintain biodiversity suggests a crucial and irreplaceable regulatory role of top predators.  The absence of top predators appears to lead inexorably to ecosystem simplification accompanied by a rush of extinctions.”

Eventually, nature balances.  But on a scale of diversity, balance without predators carries much less weight.  Fewer species occupy fewer ecological niches.  It is a balanced environment, but a much poorer one, severely degraded by the cascading losses, right down to the birds and flowers, caused by missing carnivores.

Humans in the ecosystem tend not to perceive themselves as interdependent with the natural environment.  Regardless, natural substances, derived from a diverse planetary flora and fauna, form the basis for much of our science, agriculture and industry.  Natural systems contribute to the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the foods we consume.  We turn to natural landscapes for recreation and renewal.

Large carnivores have a tremendous symbolic value:  they personify the wild.  Humans have been gifted with a special ability to appreciate diversity beyond mere survival.  We value wilderness aesthetically.  We mourn the loss of the grizzly and the wolf, and memorialize them on flags and t-shirts.

And yet, even in California where cougars are protected, wild cougars are killed in relentless pursuit of public safety and protection of domestic animals.  Their range is fenced off with policies as rigid and pointed as any barbed wire.

At some point we must take the time to reflect on the worth of wildness.  At what price can we imagine a world entirely empty of natural threats, a “safe” suburban Serengeti?

Perhaps it is in this realm of human and carnivore interactions that the concept of re-wilding has the greatest value.  For example, the vast territories required by carnivores force biologists, land use planners, and government decision-makers to take the larger view, to preserve bigger tracts of land, to connect reserves by corridors, and thus to limit urban and suburban sprawl.

A more progressive approach to addressing environmental problems will recognize the value of mountain lions, and will make a commitment, not only to their survival, but to their dominance upon our remaining natural landscape.

To learn more about coexisting with wildlife, see the Mountain Lion Facts page at MountainLion.org.

THE ANIMAL RESCUE TEAM, INC. is the only wildlife facility permitted by the California Department of Fish & Game to rescue and rehabilitate large mammals between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.  Located in the Santa Ynez Valley, A.R.T. runs a 24/7 animal rescue hot line where the S.B. County Sheriff’s Department, various Fire Departments, Humane Societies and Animal Services, as well as caring citizens, call to report wild or domestic animals who have been injured, orphaned, abused or displaced.   They are the only animal rescue facility equipped with an Animal Ambulance on the Central Coast which allows them to respond 24/7 to animals in crisis.  A.R.T. also has a 14’ trailer that attaches to their Animal Ambulance to help with evacuations.  During the recent Jesusita Fire, A.R.T. rescued over 200 animals, wild and domestic.  A.R.T. focuses on large mammal rescue, although raptors, birds and reptiles are never turned away. Domestic animals are also occasionally fostered until a loving forever home can be found.

In April 2009, a volunteer and A.R.T Director Julia Di Sieno rescued 2 starving orphaned mountain lion cubs wandering around the small city of Solvang for 5 days. They were very successful in sedating the cubs, with their Vet standing by to immediately reverse the drugs, as well as provide necessary care. An hour after the safe capture, the cubs were ripped away from A.R.T. staff, tossed into the back of an open pick truck, and paraded around for 2 days. California DFG attempted to prosecute them for saving the cubs. However, the case was too controversial, with a lot of public outrage. No charges were filed. The A.R.T. simply saved 2 state protected animals, that were seen daily without mom for 5 days.

For more info, please visit the A.R.T website.

In Dec of 2008, Animal Rescue Team, Inc. was chosen as a recipient of the Santa Barbara News Press Holiday Fund, which allowed for the construction of eight large mammal enclosures.  They are currently working with California Dept. of Fish and Game to obtain temporary holding permits for bears and mountain lions.  With the expansion of human population and building growth continuing into wildlife habitat as seen in recent decades, Californians are seeing more and more native wildlife being pushed into urban areas and conflicts have inevitably occurred.  The result nearly always ends in tragedy – for the animal.  The Animal Rescue Team, Inc. aims to provide a viable alternative to the usual response/tragic ending.  They are staffed with trained personnel, equipped with all the necessary tranquilizer guns, cages, secure transport trailer and other equipment needed to sedate a bear or mountain lion, then transport the animal safely to their large mammal cages to ‘sleep it off’ until it is ready to be rereleased back into the wild where it belongs.  A.R.T. believes this would be a better way of handling the situation than; a) killing the animal, or b) sending it to a zoo.  The preservation of native California wildlife requires more than habitat protection.  The need for hands-on care and rapid response to aid injured and threatened wild animals is the vital missing piece of environmental stewardship that the Animal Rescue Team, Inc. is determined to provide for native wildlife in the Tri-County area.

It is only through charitable donations and the generosity of volunteers that A.R.T. will continue to serve the animals and residents of the community.  The generosity of South Coast residents and businesses is key to A.R.T.’s continued success and will better allow A.R.T. to expand to accommodate the growing needs of abandoned or injured wildlife.

Pictured left: A.R.T Executive Director, Julia Di Sieno, shows off her new mountain lion cub tattoo – a special tribute to the rescued cubs.

A.R.T. is currently in search of dedicated volunteers to help out with hard rescues and feedings. If you are interested, please contact Julia at info@animalrescueteam.net or visit them at www.animalrescueteam.net

OVERVIEW
Launched in mid-2008, the Bay Area Puma Project (BAPP) is the first major study of mountain lions in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Felidae Conservation Fund, UC Santa Cruz, and the California Department of Fish and Game have teamed up for a 10-year research and conservation effort to increase our understanding of our native apex predator. Using innovative GPS-accelerometer collars, coupled with extensive outreach and education, BAPP seeks not only to study the Bay Area’s puma population, but also to build public interest and support for protecting this keystone species in its natural habitat, and thereby help ensure healthy and sustainable ecosystems.

CURRENT STATUS
• Loss and fragmentation of critical habitat
• Disappearance of puma movement corridors
• Compromised genetic diversity of population
• More frequent human-puma encounters
• More pumas killed crossing roads
• Livestock and pet casualties growing
• Depredation permits increasing
• Tensions building in local communities

The mountain lion is known by many names (puma, cougar, panther, catamount, shadow cat, ghost cat, screamer). Though it has the largest home range of any land animal, it has historically tended to avoid people. However, with persistent human population growth, especially in the Bay Area, human-puma conflict is on the rise.

As puma habitat and movement corridors are increasingly invaded by human development, more sightings and encounters with pumas are inevitable. Pumas are being killed more often by cars and depredation permits (issued when livestock or pets are attacked), and increasing news reports of puma encounters are driving growing public concern. With human encroachment continuing to degrade wildlife habitat, it is vital to address these issues before it’s too late. People must learn to co-exist with all species, in complete ecosystems, in order for the natural world to sustain for future generations.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
• Track, carefully capture and tag pumas for monitoring
• Generate GPS-accelerometer data on locations and body motions
• Analyze puma interactions with both the natural and human world
• Evaluate puma behavioral response to increased human activity
• Generate maps and animations showing key habitats and corridors

Previously, even basic facts about the Bay Area’s puma population were unknown. BAPP research will produce unprecedented understanding about this furtive species, including range, density, movement, feeding patterns, and the effects of human development, such as roads, on puma populations. Working with landowners and state agencies, BAPP scientists are using custom GPS-accelerometer collars to track and record pumas and their activities in 3D on a continual basis.

By analyzing the data and creating maps and animations, we can better understand the dynamics of the puma population, the critical role they play in maintaining the health and balance of the ecosystem, and the challenges this keystone species faces while traversing an ever more fragmented landscape. The insights gained from this research will enable us to develop new conservation and land use strategies to minimize human-puma conflict, and foster a healthy co-existence between humans and pumas in the region.

OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
• Local community meetings and involvement
• Classroom presentations and field trips
• Interactive online experiences

A key focus of BAPP is to build public understanding about pumas and ecosystems, and the effect of human activities on the natural world. In meetings with local communities, the BAPP team dispels fears and reassures residents by replacing myths with facts, and by helping people stay informed on the project and its findings.

In presentations and on field trips with Bay Area students, many of whom were raised in suburban settings with little or no connection to nature, learning about BAPP’s local wildlife science gives students a deeper appreciation for their environment, and encourages their commitment to creating a world that people and wildlife can share peacefully.

The Internet age has created entirely new avenues for projects like BAPP to reach young people. By offering a mobile game, an interactive web portal, and social networking activities, BAPP is reaching out to young people in their native digital tongue.

CONSERVATION GOALS
• Protection of movement corridors
• Permanent habitat preservation
• Increased awareness and support

BAPP’s primary goal is to convince local communities and policy makers of the importance of preserving wild pumas within the ecosystems of the Bay Area. If movement corridors are protected, healthy populations of the puma will sustain and ecosystems will remain in natural balance. And by permanently securing critical habitat, we can ensure that viable puma populations will persist, with minimal human encroachment.

One of the most important aspects of BAPP is raising awareness and support in the surrounding communities. BAPP is initiating a public dialog regarding pumas, Bay Area wildlife, and the fragile ecological balance that is rapidly vanishing. With better understanding, we can create a future where people appreciate the significance of protecting this treasure of biodiversity we take for granted.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
• Request an Event •
If you’re in a school or community organization, and you want your group
to learn more about pumas and BAPP, email info@felidaefund.org with  your suggestion for an event or presentation. We will arrange for a BAPP team member to visit your group and teach about pumas and the project.

• Offer to Volunteer •
We have a wide range of volunteer opportunities for motivated people who care about our local habitats and species. You can help us with events, create informational materials, develop technology, and much more. If you’re interested, send email to info@felidaefund.org and tell us about yourself.

• Spread the Word •
Another great way to help is to spread the word. We have a Facebook Group facebook.com/felidaefund and a Facebook Cause causes.com/felidaefund with the latest news and events. By joining these, and telling your friends, you can stay informed and help us preserve local pumas and their habitats!

• Make a Donation •
BAPP’s funding comes largely from concerned individuals, corporations and small foundations. The best way to make a donation is visit our site at www.felidaefund.org and select from a range of options for supporting the project, from our online donation page to our Adopt-A-Puma program.

To Learn More or Get Involved, visit www.BAPP.org and www.FelidaeFund.org

Twenty years ago, California voters passed Proposition 117–the Mountain Lion Initiative. It was also known as the “People’s Initiative” because it was the first statewide initiative in California to qualify for the ballot strictly through the efforts of unpaid volunteers.

Proposition 117:

• Changed the classification of mountain lions in California from game mammals to “Specially Protected Mammals,”

• Banned the practice of killing mountain lions in California for fun, and

• Directed the California State legislature to allocate a minimum of $30 million annually for thirty years towards the acquisition of critical habitat for all of the state’s wildlife.

While some might consider Proposition 117 as a complete reversal of positions–California had been responsible for the greatest number of lions slaughtered in the country (12,461) during its 57-year “Bounty Period”–in fact it was just the culmination of a shifting value system which can be traced back almost eighteen-years earlier when Governor Ronald Regan placed a moratorium on the trophy hunting of lions in California.

When the annual renewal of the moratorium was blocked by the legislature in 1986, concerned activists gathered to form the Mountain Lion Preservation Foundation-the forbearer of MLF–and the fight to save mountain lions was on!

A quote from a San Francisco Chronicle Editorial possibly best expresses the attitude of MLF and many other Californians at that time.

“Few of us in this state have actually seen a mountain lion. But the knowledge they are there, spectral and feral, gives meaning to the remote land we must save.”

Although banning the trophy hunting of mountain lions was in itself a huge accomplishment, Proposition 117 possibly contributed more to ensure the long term survival of lions in California through the habitat acquisition element of the initiative. Mountain lions are a keystone species requiring large tracts of land and dispersal corridors. Without the habitat aspect of Proposition 117, it would have been only a matter of time before irreplaceable mountain lion territory was developed and the species killed off for coming into contact with humans. By ensuring sufficient habitat for lions, Californians were also protecting land for thousands of other species. To date, Prop 117 has protected well over 2 million acres for wildlife in California.

Mountain lions may no longer be killed for fun, but they are still far from safe. Around one hundred cougars are killed every year in California for conflicts with pets and livestock. Most of these encounters could have easily been prevented by the owners bringing their pets indoors at night or securing livestock in covered pens after dark. However, protecting domestic animals is not mandatory and lions continue to pay the price for this oversight.

There is also no requirement for changing animal husbandry practices or limiting the number of lions an individual can have killed for depredation of pets or livestock. While MLF has tried to help repeat-permit-requestors safeguard their animals, this has been a difficult task due to confidentiality restrictions.

The California Department of Fish & Game is the agency responsible for managing the state’s mountain lion population. However, twenty-years after the passage of Proposition 117, they still have not written a management plan or provided adequate guidelines for how to handle lion encounters. For whatever unspoken reason, the Department refuses to officially relocate lions that accidentally wander into populated areas, and as a rule, declines to work with the wildlife rescue organizations trained specifically for such instances. While a few wardens have shown tolerance and allowed lost lions to wander back into wilderness areas, the majority appear to believe that because an encounter with a lion could potentially be dangerous, the cat must be killed.

Although California’s mountain lion legislation is a milestone towards protecting the American lion across the West, it surely does not indicate we have successfully learned to coexist with the species. There still is plenty of work to be done to conserve wild habitat, protect domestic animals, teach people about wildlife, and prevent the unnecessary killing of our American lion.  The fight is far from over.

For more information about mountain lions and their status in your state, visit: www.MountainLion.org

The Nature of Wildworks provides lifetime care for non-releasable wildlife including three mountain lions. Our organization has been a proud partner with the biologists of the National Park Service for many years. Biologists have come to the Wildworks facility to test scent lures on our resident mountain lions. By testing what works in a captive situation, the biologists are more readily able to utilize these lures in wild cat research.

The following events are open to the public; free of charge (some locations may have a fee for parking.)

The Nature of Wildworks will be providing our entertaining and educational presentations at the locations below; the programs are usually an hour in length and encompass information about native species and habitat. We also strive to educate attendees about the need not to disturb nature and wildlife as well as how to safely co-exist with wildlife that may wander into neighborhoods.

CARBON CANYON FIRE SAFE COUNCIL OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, June 12, 2010 ~ 10am to 3pm

Western Hills Park: Carbon Canyon Road at Canon Lane in Chino Hills

This event, sponsored by Hills for Everyone, is open to the public and will be held at the Carbon Canyon Fire Station. The Nature of Wildworks will be bringing many of our native wildlife ambassadors to this event to meet the public and to provide information about native species and California habitat. Our presentation and the meet and greet will be from 11:30am to 1pm. We will also have information regarding our three resident mountain lions.

KIDS CLUB EVENTS

The Commons in Calabasas

Tuesday, June 15, 2010 ~ 6:00 pm

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Lakes in Thousand Oaks

Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010 ~ 11:00 am

The Nature of Wildworks will be providing our entertaining and educational presentation for a children’s group at the locations listed above. The programs are open to the public and the information will be presented in a format suitable for the younger children.

SUMMER CAMPFIRE PROGRAMS

Leo Carrillo State Park

Saturdays: June 19, July 3 & Aug 14

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Malibu Creek State Park

Saturdays: July 17 & Aug 23

The Nature of Wildworks will provide an entertaining and educational live wildlife program including birds, mammals and reptiles. The event is free and open to the public. (Parking fee may apply) These programs begin at 7:30 pm and are sponsored by the State Parks and the Malibu Creek Docents.

MOUNTAINS RESTORATION TRUST

Discovery Nature Camp

Monday, July 19, 2010 ~ 12:00 pm

Wildworks will provide our animal ambassadors for a program at the Masson House. This program is nature experience for children provided by Mountains Restoration Trust. (Fee for Camp applies)

A DATE WITH NATURE

Saturday, October 9, 2010 ~ 2pm to 6pm

Campo Amantes at Rancho Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano

The Donna O’Neil Land Conservancy is hosting this special event in Orange County with a presentation of Wildworks native species. Please check our website: www.natureofwildworks.org/programs/calendar.html for the exact time of our presentation. After our 1 hour presentation we will be available for up close meet-and-greet. The event will be from 2pm to 6pm and the exact time of the Wildworks presentation will be posted on our website (see above) as we get closer to this event date.

Levels of carbon dioxide have varied only between 180 and 300 parts per million over the last 800,000 years, until recent decades. The last time the modern atmospheric CO2 level of 387 parts per million was sustained occurred 15-20 million years ago.

The global warming tipping point has typically been defined as temperature increases above 2°C from pre-industrial levels or a 450 parts per million atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases. The year 2050 is the date commonly set by scientists to achieve the GHG emission reductions necessary for climate stabilization. The emission reduction scenario set by California Assembly Bill 32 and Executive Order 5-3-05, whereby emissions are reduced to 1990 levels by 2020 and then to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, is consistent with a GHG stabilization scenario in the +/- 450 ppm range.

California Historical & Projected July Temperature Increases 1961-2099

California’s oak woodlands provide habitat for nearly half of the 632 terrestrial vertebrates found in the state but they are under threat from development and climate change. Acorns are a key resource for 40 different wildlife species such as deer, squirrels, turkeys, jays, quail and bear. Standing dead trees are an important habitat resource in oak woodlands for animals including raptors, bats, salamanders, and lizards. Coarse woody tree material lying on the ground, particularly large logs, are a very important wildlife habitat element because they retain moisture in a relatively dry ecosystem. Oak woodlands near riparian resources like creeks, rivers or lakes support the greatest number of wildlife species.

Based on the latest University of California figures, it has been estimated that since 1990 California has converted 325,000 acres of oak woodlands habitat to non-forest use. The peer-reviewed publication Oaks 2040 found that up to 750,000 acres of oak resources are at risk of conversion by 2040 and calculates that in addition to habitat loss, “up to 33 million tons of sequestered carbon are at risk of entering the atmosphere should development processes eliminate these oak woodlands and forests, and their associated carbon pools.”

A recent scientific study found that, ‘‘California’s native plant species are so vulnerable to global climate change that two-thirds of them could suffer 80 percent reduction in their geographic range by the end of the 21st century.” University of California research examining the effects of California temperature increases on blue and valley oaks “found that the areas of the state where the climate is suitable for these species to grow will shift northward and could shrink to nearly half their current size as a result of global warming.”

Potential modern (light blue and brown) and future (brown and green) distributions of

blue oak and valley oak in California

Thus, the more oak woodlands are converted to non-forest use, the greater the rise in California temperatures and the greater the temperature increases, the faster oaks will disappear from the California landscape. Wildlife species dependent on oak woodlands habitat attributes will have no alternative but to migrate with the oak forests or perish.

California Wildlife Foundation/California Oaks Project

Oakland, CA 94612

www.californiawildlifefoundation.org

www.californiaoaks.org

Things are about to get wild at Effie Yeaw Nature Center!

Peter Gros, co-host of the original Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, along with some of his animal friends will stop by for two appearance on:

Monday,   June 7           8:45-9:15 a.m.    &     9:30-10 a.m.

Mr. Gros will talk with those in attendance about what they can do to protect the natural world and the animals that share it with us. A serval, python, civet, ocelot, ring-tail lemur, fennec fox and a few creepy crawly creatures will help him deliver his message.  Live animals from the Nature Center and some fascinating natural history biofacts will also be on display.

Tickets for this event are $2.50 per person.

For more information, please call (916) 489-4918.

For more information about Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, visit www.wildkingdom.com

Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Ancil Hoffman County Park

(Entrance at California Ave. and Tarshes Drive)

Carmichael, CA 95608