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Living with Wildlife &
Urban Edge Effects The Puente Hills is surrounded by roughly 25 perimeter miles of urban edge, nearly all of which consists of residential development. This presents challenges to both the plants and animals living within the natural areas, as well as to the people living in communities adjacent to the Puente Hills. Plants and animals living within natural areas are subject to impacts by “edge effects” from the surrounding urban areas, as well as from authorized recreational activities and unauthorized access to the natural areas. On the urban side of the urban/wildland interface, people may experience visits from wildlife. Co-existence between humans and wildlife is the key to living near and preserving this unique area. Co-existing with Wildlife  Living in harmony with your wild neighbors helps to soften the urban influence on the wildlife that lives in the adjacent natural areas. With increasing urban development and consequently diminishing native habitat, wildlife are losing places to roam, forage and peacefully exist. Healthy wildlife populations are necessary for healthy ecosystems, which in turn create cleaner air and watersheds, among many other benefits. Please contact us for a copy of the DVD, "Living on the Urban Edge: The Coexistence of People and Wildlife."
People living adjacent to or in the vicinity of natural areas will commonly receive unexpected visits from wildlife seeking food, water, and/or shelter. The smaller wildlife, such as rodents, raccoons, and skunks often go unnoticed; whereas larger mammals such as coyotes often draw the attention of humans. Regardless, the presence of unwanted wildlife in urban yards is usually due to one or more factors caused by the residents themselves, in some instances knowingly. Wildlife is attracted to food, water, and/or shelter in urban yards; whether these sources of attraction are provided intentionally or unintentionally. Food sources may include fruit lying on the ground beneath trees; fruit and vegetable gardens without proper fencing to prevent access; compost piles; garbage; food for domestic pets being left outside on a regular basis (particularly at night); and domestic pets themselves. Water sources include pet bowls, fountains, bird baths, ponds, and swimming pools. The following measures are highly recommended to reduce the likelihood of unwanted visits by wildlife:
Please visit the following links for more information on coexisting with wildlife:
Coyotes
Coyotes are one of the most adaptable animals, occurring in every habitat type (including urban areas) throughout North America. Through the feeding of coyotes, and/or an unwillingness to follow measures to discourage coyotes from entering residential areas, humans find coyotes amongst them, yet may blame the coyotes for being present in the first place. Coyotes are not the serious threat that some people make them out to be. Coyotes play an important role in the ecosystem, helping to keep populations of rodents and other small mammals under control. Coyotes are by nature fearful of humans, however they readily lose their fear of humans when people intentionally (or unintentionally) provide food/water or shelter for them, or otherwise do not try to deter them from visiting. Eliminating sources that attract coyotes can go a long way in addressing the situation. Eliminating coyotes by lethal means only perpetuates the population as they will reproduce to "make-up” for the lost individual, oftentimes resulting in more coyotes than before.
For more information on coyotes,
Mountain Lions
Mountain lion sightings are not common, but occasionally people may catch a fleeting glimpse of this awe-inspiring top predator in the hills. The mere presence of a mountain lion in the Preserve is not something to cause fear; rather, it is a sign that our native ecosystem is functioning properly. CA Department of Fish and Game statistics show that in the last 100 years, only 14 fatal cougar attacks occurred on the entire North American continent. In that time, more than 15,000 people were killed by lightning; 4,000 by bees; 10,000 by deer; 1,300 by rattlesnakes. Mountain lions eat deer almost exclusively, and occasionally other smaller wildlife, and are generally not considered a danger to people. They are secretive and typically avoid contact with people – if you do happen to see one, consider yourself lucky! While there have been no reports of aggressive or threatening behaviors toward humans in the Preserve, it is still a good idea to be cautious, keeping the following guidelines in mind: Ø Hike with a partner or a dog Ø Keep small children close Ø Do not run if you see a lion. If the lion does not run or walk away, hold up your arms or a stick to make yourself appear larger, and yell or make repeated loud noises Ø In the highly unlikely event that you are attacked, FIGHT BACK (do not “play dead”) For more information on mountain lions,
Invasive Plants milk thistle black mustard One challenge facing conservation land managers is controlling the spread of non-native, invasive plants into natural areas from adjacent urban areas. Invasive plants are those that evolved in one region of the globe, are moved by humans to another region where they flourish, crowding out native vegetation and the wildlife that feeds on it. Some invasives can even change ecosystem processes such as hydrology, fire regimes, and soil chemistry. Invasive plants have a competitive advantage because they are no longer controlled by their natural predators, and can quickly spread out of control. In California, approximately 3% of the plant species growing in the wild are considered invasive, but they inhabit a much greater proportion of the landscape. Invasive plants are problematic because they displace native plants and wildlife, increase wildfire and flood danger, consume valuable water needed by native plants and wildlife, and degrade recreational opportunities. The Habitat Authority actively restores habitats that have been degraded through the introduction of non-native plants. These include plants such as castor bean, tree tobacco, pepper trees, eucalyptus trees, mustard, thistles, and non-native grasses. In order to control the future spread of
invasive plants into natural areas, residents living adjacent
natural areas are highly encouraged to landscape with native
vegetation, or non-invasive exotic species. The Habitat
Authority is available to advise individuals on appropriate
plants to include in landscaping. In addition, for more
information on invasive plants, please visit the website of the
California Invasive Plant Council:
http://www.cal-ipc.org/ Fire
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