Local Habitat Restoration Funded by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund

A unique partnership is driving habitat restoration efforts to support the Coastal Cactus Wren, a California state species on the decline. Irvine Ranch Conservancy (IRC) has joined forces with Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund to continue to advance habitat restoration within the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. 

The collaboration took root with the opening of a new Bass Pro Shops store in Irvine. Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund supports conservation initiatives across North America and is fully funded through the generous support of Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s customers who decide to “round-up” their purchase to support conservation. The $10,000 grant from the Outdoor Fund will support IRC’s habitat restoration and enhancement work. These funds play a crucial role in IRC’s mission to cultivate a healthy, biodiverse ecosystem in Orange County’s wildlands.

“IRC is excited to receive this grant from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund. Protecting, restoring and enhancing the land we manage is key to our mission and made possible by donations and grants like this,” said Michael O’Connell, President & Chief Executive Officer. “We are so proud of the community partners we have here in Orange County, and we are excited to put these funds to good use.”.

All activities are conducted under the direction of IRC staff, and the funds will be utilized to support the restoration of cactus scrub vegetation, which is essential nesting habitat for the threatened Coastal Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus). Coastal Cactus Wren is of special concern due to its declining numbers in southern California due to habitat loss and direct impacts from catastrophic wildfires.

The project officially began in October 2024, focusing on two sites: one in Agua Chinon, part of OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon, and the other in Chino Hills State Park. These locations were carefully chosen to ensure the long-term success of planted cactus, with a special priority on south-facing slopes and shallow soils where weed pressures are lower. Notably, both sites are already associated with larger long-term habitat restoration projects.

At Agua Chinon, the grant allowed a 0.1-acre expansion of a riparian restoration project into adjacent uplands, introducing prickly-pear cactus (Opuntia littoralis) into beds of moistened, compost-amended soils. Meanwhile, cactus shrub restoration in Chino Hills State Park consists of two cactus patches totaling 0.58 acres. This grant has allowed a five-year acceleration of restoration activities in ongoing work funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

With a significant portion of the grant funds yet to be utilized, IRC is excited to continue its collaboration with the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund to advance the restoration of cactus scrub vegetation. In the coming months, IRC will continue planting, irrigation and weed control activities at these sites.