Experience a Virtual Wildlife Takeover November 1 to Catch a Glimpse of Native Species on the Landmarks.

Looking for a little wildlife this fall? Hikers, bikers, and equestrians have the chance to spot diverse species by registering for programs on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, and on November 1 animal lovers can find 24 hours of fauna during Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s virtual “Wildlife Takeover.” Learn about the different species of wildlife on the open spaces by following Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks’ Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages where creatures of all species and sizes will be celebrated every hour!
 
“Fall and winter months are ideal for exploring the lands, and if you’re lucky you can spot wildlife in person during a program,” commented Dave Raetz, Irvine Ranch Conservancy Deputy Director. “From mule deer to migratory birds to arachnids, there’s an incredibly diverse community of native species on the Landmarks. We’re excited to launch our first-ever virtual Wildlife Takeover on social media where you’re guaranteed to see these amazing creatures.

​Explore the Landmarks during activities on the open spaces and learn how the community can help prevent wildfires by joining the Orange County Fire Watch.
 
As fall sets in across southern California, dry weather, high temperatures, and Santa Ana winds increase the risk of wildfires on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. The recent Canyon Fire 2 spread across 9,000 acres of parks and open spaces in Orange County, but with the work of the Orange County Fire Authority and firefighters from across the state the fires have been 100% contained. Irvine Ranch Conservancy invites the community to continue to enjoy the open spaces by registering for fitness or interpretive programs, or help care for the lands by joining a stewardship activity or through the Orange County Fire Watch.
 
On October 9th 2017 a wildfire started near the intersection of the 91 freeway and 241 toll road and continued to spread through Anaheim Hills and East Orange reaching, reaching various parts of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and OC Parks. The coastal sage scrub and chaparral in the area, which dried out after the long summer months, left the plants and brush with very little moisture and contributed to the rapid movement of the fire. Though the fire has been contained, some parks and open spaces remain closed to the public.

Explore the Flora on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and discover rare and native species this Fall

The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks stretch from the mountains to the sea, spanning Fremont Canyon to Crystal Cove State Park. Throughout the open spaces is an array of regional plant life, also known as flora. From the Tecate Cypress to majestic coast live oaks, the Landmarks are home to many rare and native species that provide food and shelter for the surrounding wildlife. Fall for flora on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks this season by registering for a program on the open spaces, and discover one of the world’s biodiversity “hot spots.”

The flora found on the Landmarks are an integral part of what makes the open spaces a biological wonder. In addition to native grasslands and live oak woodlands, the Landmarks house one of the largest populations of healthy coastal sage scrub. Sometimes called “soft chaparral” due to its soft, drought-deciduous leaves, this Mediterranean-type shrub is highly threatened in California and can be seen throughout the Landmarks. The Landmarks are also home to native wildflowers, including lupine, poppies, chocolate lilies, and prickly pear cactus.

Birds make nests in all kinds of places out of all types of materials. But some birds, like the coastal cactus wren, are picky.

The Southern California native cactus wren prefers to construct their nests in old-growth prickly pear cactus and cholla cactus—both of which provide spiky protection from predators.
 
However, recent fires and past land uses including cattle ranching have eliminated much of the mature cactus the birds rely on to nest, which has in turn threatened the local cactus wren population.
 
On the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, groups including the non-profit Natural Communities Coalition, the city of Irvine and the Irvine Ranch Conservancy have been working together since 2013 to expand the wren’s habitat, by connecting isolated patches of prickly pear cactus with each other to over time create a larger, contiguous habitat for the coastal cactus wren. One such project includes the Mule Deer Restoration site, located in the Shady Canyon area of the City of Irvine’s Open Space Preserve. So far, 4,500 prickly pear cactus pads and more than 20 larger, mature cactuses have been planted across more than 2 acres of habitat. Now it looks like those efforts are starting to pay off, as the first signs of cactus wren nests are showing up.

Restoring degraded landscapes is a challenge, but the results can have a significant positive impact on native plants and wildlife. 

Five years ago, the 1,200-acre Agua Chinon canyon was filled with non-native species like pampas grass, castor bean and mustard weed, which invaded after numerous fires and years of cattle grazing. In 2013, the Irvine Ranch Conservancy with support from OC Waste & Recycling and OC Transportation Authority (OCTA) developed the Agua Chinon Restoration Project–an effort to revitalize the land in the Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve. The goals remain to remove invasive species, plant native species, and bring OC Parks’ Agua Chinon back to a thriving ecosystem for wildlife and a true destination for hikers. Now after five years of restoration work, Agua Chinon boasts enhanced habitat including oak and willow trees, elderberry, mule fat, and other native riparian plant life and associated wildlife.

Staying on designated trails is important to protecting the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

It can happen quickly. One person or group walks off a designated trail, tramples native grasses and vegetation, and leaves an informal path that others are more likely to follow.
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“It’s a compounding problem,” says Jill Sprance, Field Operations Manager at the Irvine Ranch Conservancy. “Unmarked or social trails are bad because they fragment habitat, kill plants, and get worse as more people use them.”

Additionally, social trails are often formed in direct lines up or down hillsides—instead of the typical switchback pattern of designated trails—which allows water to run straight downhill and cause harmful rutting and erosion. With the help of Trail Crew volunteers, the Irvine Ranch Conservancy Field Operations Team uses a range of tactics to remove unauthorized trails including planting cactus, shrubs, and grasses to cover the trail and roping off unauthorized trails. Recent trail rehabilitation efforts have been completed in the City of Irvine’s Bommer Canyon in the Irvine Open Space Preserve, and Changala’s Pass along Loma Ridge, which is part of the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve too.
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One key to making sure you’re on a designated trail is to look for signs. “If you think you’re on a trail, but there’s no sign designating it as a trail, it’s not a trail,” Sprance says. “No sign equals no trail.”

​There are many opportunities for members of the public to volunteer on social trail restoration efforts this fall and winter. For more information on upcoming stewardship programs, visit www.LetsGoOutside.org/activities.