​Did you know that about 75% of all flowering plant species need the help of animals to move pollen grains for fertilization? Pollination is an essential process in sustaining a functioning ecosystem. The work of pollination is shared by a variety of different pollinators including bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, bats, ants, wasps, and some small mammals.
 
Irvine Ranch Conservancy works consistently to protect and restore the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. IRC grows more than 50 native plant species on the Native Seed Farm in Irvine, attracting a variety of local pollinators. We use the seed grown at the Native Seed Farm for restoration projects across the Landmarks, where pollinators play their role to help these native species thrive in the wild. Even with the hard work of IRC staff and volunteers, local pollinators can still use your help to keep our native wildlands thriving. 

There is a little-seen but very special mammal living on the Landmarks. This animal comes out mostly at night, hunting for fauna and flora to eat, and is one of the few creatures of its kind with the ability to climb trees. During the day, it sleeps in a den it has made from a hollow tree, stump, burrow or cave. Some might be tempted to describe this animal as cute!
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The gray fox was once the most common fox in the United States, widely spread through both eastern and western states. Thought the red fox is now more dominant in the East, gray foxes can still be found in large numbers in the West, particularly in Pacific states like California. Though they’re seldom seen, there are gray foxes living across the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, hiding from the sun during the day and hunting at night. The gray fox is distinguishable from other foxes by its markings. Its underside is white, with a gray coat fading into red, and a distinctive black stripe down its tail.

It’s winter on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks! While many U.S. states are experiencing snow, Orange County residents get to enjoy comfortable temperatures year-round thanks to our Mediterranean climate. And we’re not the only ones who take advantage of our favorable winter weather.
 
During wintertime, the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks experience a substantial increase in bird activity due to seasonal migrations. These migrations are in response to changing weather and availability of food and nesting locations. Winter rains rejuvenate and bring life to the Landmarks, providing an abundance of food and shelter for local and migratory birds.

​Most of us know ants as tiny pests that we’d rather not have in our kitchens, but these amazing little insects have an outsize role to play in nature. The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks are home to several native ant species that play an important role in the ecosystem. These tiny arthropods turn over and aerate soil, allowing oxygen and water to reach plant roots. Their movements aid in seed dispersal, contributing to the growth of new plants. Ants are also food for many larger animals on the Landmarks, such as beetles and spiders.

​Mountain lions are rarely seen by humans, but they loom large in the imagination of many outdoor enthusiasts. It’s not just their size – with healthy males weighing up to 220 pounds, they’re the second-largest big cat in the Americas. And it’s not just their incredible range – found from the Yukon to the very tip of South America, they are the widest-ranging terrestrial mammals in the Western Hemisphere. They are adaptive, making their home in a wide variety of habitats, from deserts to forests to wetlands. Their widespread presence means they are known by many names, such as puma, cougar, and catamount. Combine their size and range with their striking features and noted elusiveness and you’ve got a mysterious, majestic animal that inspires awe, despite the pains it takes to stay away from humans.

​While the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks are known for beautiful outdoor settings and diverse flora and fauna, they are also the native habitat and home for many local wildlife species throughout the Orange County region. By working alongside landowners including OC Parks, the City of Irvine and City of Newport Beach, Irvine Ranch Conservancy constantly strives to accommodate the needs of wildlife while also considering the recreational needs of the public.
 
One of the key programs the Conservancy uses to observe various native animal species is the Wildlife Monitoring Project. This project employs camouflaged cameras throughout the Landmarks to gain close looks at our native wildlife, including rare and protected birds and mammals. Heat and motion trigger sensors in the cameras, which then allow Conservancy staff and volunteers to gather images that indicate the health, movement, and distribution of wildlife. These data inform the work of staff and the landowners to protect important species, but the images also provide the public ways to explore the Landmarks.

​From lizards and mice to tarantulas and bats, the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks are filled with a variety of native creatures, including several rare species. While many of these critters are known for their creepy appearance, they are in fact an important part of the ecosystem and are often more afraid of us than we are of them! The Halloween season brings the perfect opportunity to re-think the reputation of some of these extraordinary creatures. See if you can get a glimpse of a tarantula or a bat colony while enjoying the crisp fall air on a hike or bike ride. Keep in mind that the open spaces are a natural habitat. If you come across an animal, do your part to ensure your safety and protect the environment by maintaining a long viewing distance.
 
During the fall, tarantulas can be spotted all throughout the trails. A member of the spider family, tarantulas have eight legs, which are much larger, thicker and hairier than most other spiders that live in the United States. Although tarantulas are sometimes seen as creepy, they are not aggressive and can easily be admired from a distance. Just don’t get too close or touch them – an aggravated tarantula’s bite, while not lethal, releases an inflammatory amount of venom. It’s best to leave these creatures in peace so they can play their important role in the ecosystem: tarantulas help keep things in balance by eating large insects and small vertebrates like lizards and mice.

Tarantulas are everywhere! These large arachnids can be spotted on trails all over the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks in the late summer and early autumn months. Tarantulas are not aggressive animals and they will happily let you admire them from a distance, so long as they can go about their business. Tarantulas are part of the large and diverse spider family, and thus have eight legs, but they are much larger and thicker than most other spiders that live in the United States. Tarantulas ambush their prey on the ground and are known to eat small vertebrates like lizards and mice as well as large insects and other spiders.

Many of the raptors seen throughout the developed parts of Orange County were likely born and raised on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.  With plenty of quiet places to nest, and an abundance of food in the springtime, it’s no wonder many raptors decide to raise their young here.  However, nesting season can be a stressful time for raptor families, and they are easily spooked by human activity. 

Red-tailed hawks are some of the most stunning wildlife sights on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Widespread throughout North America, these raptors are frequently spotted throughout Orange County, perched atop telephone poles, tall buildings, trees or circling the skies.

Irvine Ranch Conservancy is dedicated to offering an array of programs and activities that enable the local community to experience the diverse species that can be found throughout the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. One of those programs being the launch of a citizen science event, BioBlitz. The Conservancy proudly hosted this inaugural family-friendly  event on Sunday, April 28, 2019 near the Library of Canyons, located in Black Star Canyon Wilderness Park.
 
A BioBlitz focuses on observing and identifying various species in a specific area over a short period of time to provide a “snapshot” of species diversity. This citizen science event also develops baseline data for the Conservancy and local community that can be used to observe change over time.

​The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks are home to a diverse group of plants and animals, including over 15 raptor species that can be found nesting in trees, cliffs, and even on the ground. With the spring season in full effect, the Conservancy has partnered with internationally acclaimed Raptor biologist Peter H. Bloom to locate and monitor raptor nests throughout the Landmarks while also documenting egg laying, incubation, hatching and fledging.
 
While many of the raptors spotted throughout Orange County are likely born and raised on the Landmarks, the Red-Tailed Hawk is the most abundant raptor species, mainly found in willows, oaks, eucalyptus, sycamores, cliffs and power towers. Other raptor species and nesters on the Landmarks include the Cooper’s Hawk, Golden Eagle, Barn Owl, Red-Shouldered Hawk and more.

What do food, wildflowers, and modern medicine have in common? They all rely, to varying degrees, on pollinators for their success. Pollinators are an essential part of the ecosystems in Orange County. In addition to pollinating locally grown crops like avocados, oranges and strawberries, they are necessary for the reproduction of almost all the wildflowers that are on display this Spring on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Pollinators are estimated to be responsible for at least a third of human food production and are crucial to the survival of flowering plants all over the world.
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Mary Nolan, a volunteer with Irvine Ranch Conservancy since 2015, leads programs at the Conservancy’s one-of-a-kind Native Seed Farm to teach the public more about pollination. Mary explains that the work of pollination is shared by bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, bats, birds and even the wind! Mary says pollination occurs when its practitioners “visit flowers to drink nectar or feed off of pollen and transport pollen grains as they move from spot to spot.” This ensures proliferation of the species. While pollination is often a byproduct of an animal’s natural feeding behavior on a flower, it is an incredibly important process that affects the entire food chain.

Gopher snakes (Pituophis catenifer) are found in many different parts of North America, ranging from deserts, wide-open grasslands, and coastal areas. They are so named for their taste for gophers and other small mammals and play an important role in rodent population control. Adults range from 3-8 feet in length and typically live from 12-15 years. Thankfully, gopher snakes are not a threatened species and maintain strong numbers across California.

​Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s wildlife monitoring cameras help experts study local animals and habitats on the Landmarks
 
Whether we know it or not, the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks are home to a large and diverse population of wildlife habitats. On any given day, animals such as deer, mountain lions, bobcats, gray foxes, coyotes, owls, hawks and more are roaming the Landmarks. Irvine Ranch Conservancy experts are able to keep a close watch on these species and their natural habitats with the help of wildlife monitoring cameras.
 
In order to help monitor the health, movements, and populations of wildlife on the Landmarks, Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff has strategically placed a network of heat and motion-triggered remote cameras throughout the wildlands. These camera traps are serviced every two weeks by trained volunteers, who then collect the memory cards to be sorted and observed for unusual activity, injured or ill wildlife, and any trends or seasonal cycles.

In the fall, birds really do "fly south for the winter." Luckily the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks are far enough south that a large variety of migratory birds make their way here each year and stay for the winter.  After spending the spring and summer further north, they return to ride out the cold months in Southern California’s balmy Mediterranean climate.
 
According to The Cornell University Lab of Ornithology, "birds migrate to move from areas of low or decreasing resources to areas of high or increasing resources. The two primary resources being sought are food and nesting locations."

Great egrets are members of the heron family. With white plumage, sharp yellow bills and legs made for wading, they make their homes in warmer climates close to water. They are often found spearing fish in marshy areas, but are also powerful fliers, achieving speeds of up to 25 miles an hour in flight.

The great egret is considered a wildlife conservation success story. During the 19th century, large numbers of egrets were killed for the showy feathers they grow during mating season. The damage this caused to the great egret population has been reversed over time due to strong conservation efforts, including those mounted by the Audubon society, which was originally established to combat the practice of poaching birds for their feathers. Fittingly, the Audubon Society chose the great egret to be its symbol. Today, the great egret is no longer endangered, and can be found in many different parts of the world. We are lucky to have strong numbers of great egrets who call the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks home.
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You can celebrate the good health of the great egret population by joining birdwatching programs offered through the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, or by joining any program that takes you out on the land. Great egrets are just one of many bird species who share the land in Orange County’s backyard. 

​Catch a glimpse of spectacular creatures on the Landmarks
 
While there are many creatures on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks that could be considered spooky, wildlife including reptiles, arachnids, and birds of prey are an important part of the ecosystem – and oftentimes they’re more afraid of humans than we are of them! The open spaces are home to many rare and native species, and the fall season offers an ideal opportunity to enjoy the local lands and possibly spot a not-so-scary creature on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.
 
First and foremost, it’s important for visitors to understand that the open spaces are a natural habitat and should be treated with reverence. Long distance viewing of plants and wildlife isn’t just a safety precaution: it’s meant to protect the environment and those enjoying the trails. During the fall season, visitors to the lands have an opportunity to catch a glimpse of fantastic wildlife, including tarantulas during their mating season, snakes sunbathing on trails or an owl looking for its next meal.

​If you’ve enjoyed a hike or bike ride through any of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, there’s a good chance you’ve traced the same path as a bobcat! Named for their short tails, these medium-sized felines are also recognized by their spotted coats and distinctive, black-tipped ears. They are a vital part of the local food chain, primarily hunting birds and small mammals like mice, rabbits and squirrels.

Amongst the most commonly seen wildlife on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, the Mule Deer gets its  name from the large ‘mule-like’ ears that help them listen for danger. Generally living up to 11 years in the wild, they feed primarily on high quality grasses and shrubs, preferring to eat at dawn and dusk. They typically flee at the first sign of danger, relying on their speed, stealth, and agility to outrun predators such as Mountain Lions and Coyotes. However, if cornered they will defend themselves, so please be cautious and respect their space if you come across one in the wild. 

Full grown males, called bucks, grow a new set of antlers every year so they can spar with other bucks for the right to mate with females, called does.  Each doe can have up to three babies, called fawns, although most only give birth to one or two offspring at a time.

Mule Deer are not considered endangered, but they are still an important part of our local ecosystem and worthy of our protection.  Next time you're out on the land, keep an eye out for these beautiful mammals!

Register for a stewardship program to help fight invasive species and follow the Landmarks’ social media on June 26 to watch butterflies thrive on the local lands.
 
Summer is officially here! Native plants continue to bloom on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks in the summer sun and butterflies can be spotted nearby. As native plant life thrives, so does the local butterfly community. Nature enthusiasts can discover how native plants help the butterfly community prosper during the first-ever Butterfly Social Media Takeover on the Landmarks’ social media channels on June 26.

Join a program on the Native Seed Farm and learn how to help pollinators thrive.
 
Birds, bats, bees, butterflies and beetles are just a few creatures that belong to a very special group of wildlife: pollinators. Although small in size, these pollinators make a big impact on the world around them. Nature lovers are encouraged to discover the positive effects pollinators have on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and beyond by joining a Native Seed Farm program during National Pollinator Week, June 18-24.

​​Pollination is the first step in the process that produces seeds, fruits, and the next generation of plants.  Over ten years ago, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved the designation of “National Pollinator Week,” marking a necessary step towards addressing the issue of declining pollinator populations. Without the actions of pollinators, agriculture, food supply, and habitats could decline.

Discover the rare and celebrated natural resources of Orange County by registering for a program on the Landmarks this summer
 
The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks are home to biological treasures and unique landscapes that stretch from the mountains to the sea. Nearly 40,000 acres of preserved and protected lands comprise the Landmarks, and include expansive open spaces known as “biodiversity hotspots.” Outdoor enthusiasts of all ages can register for a program on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks to connect with the great outdoors while enjoying some of nature’s rarest habitats. 

The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks are home to diverse natural communities and native species and welcome visitors to the lands daily. Recreational programs encourage outdoor activity and help the public build a relationship with the lands, and stewardship programs welcome volunteers to help restore the Landmarks for future generations to enjoy. Yet with human presence comes unavoidable impacts to the ​open spaces, whether recreating on the trails or restoring natural resources during stewardships.

Ensure butterflies thrive on the Landmarks by participating in stewardship programs
 
As we approach March and new blooms start to sprout on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, visitors are more likely to spot one of nature’s most fascinating insects, the butterfly. Known for their metamorphosis, butterflies inspire awe and wonder among park visitors. By joining stewardship programs to help increase the native plant population, volunteers can do their part to ensure butterflies prosper on the Landmarks this spring.