Poway’s Wild Residents at Risk
Threatened/Imperiled
California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica)
Length: 4.3 inches (11 cm)
Weight: 0.2 – 0.3 ounces (5 -7 gm)
Wingspan: 5.5 inches (14 cm)
The California Gnatcatcher was listed as threatened in 1993. It’s habitat of coastal sage scrub has been supplanted by developments. Despite being listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act for over 20 years, this vulnerable little bird continues to struggle to survive.
This petite bird can be found flicking its long, narrow black tail as it hops throughout the scrub. The male is distinguished by his black cap, and the female by her gray head, thin white eye-ring, and brown-washed sides. It is often solitary but joins with other birds in winter flocks. It likes to clean its feathers using water collected on leaves from rain or coastal fog.
The California Gnatcatcher is found only in coastal sage scrub. This is a habitat of low shrubs (mostly 3-6' tall), generally dominated by California sagebrush, buckwheat and salvia. It is also home to other specialized animals and plants.
The California Gnatcatcher flits through shrubs and low trees, foraging for insects, sometimes hovering to pick a snack off the foliage. This bird feeds on a wide variety of small insects, including true bugs, beetles, caterpillars, scale insects, wasps, ants, flies, moths and small grasshoppers. It also eats some spiders, and may sometimes eat small berries.
These birds will lay 3-5 eggs, usually 4. They are bluish white, finely dotted with reddish brown. Both parents incubate the eggs for about 14 days. On hot days, adults may stand on the nest and shade the eggs. The chicks are also fed by both parents. About 15-16 days after hatching, the nestlings leave the nest.
Roadrunner who came to visit board member Jeff Schmidt
Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
Weight: 8 to 24 ounces
Length: 20 to 24 inches
Height: up to 12 inches
Family: Cuckoo (Cuculidae)
The Greater Roadrunner, also known as the Chaparral Cock, is a large, black-and-white ground bird with mottled plumage and a distinctive bushy blue-black head crest that blends well with dusty shrubs. When open, its rounded wings reveal a white crescent. It has strong feet, with 2 forward toes and 2 behind, a long, white-tipped tail and an oversized bill. It makes a series of 6 to 8 low, dovelike coos dropping in pitch, as well as a clacking sound by rolling its bill together when it vocalizes. This bird can be found in coastal sage scrub, chaparral or other dry types of brush. It also lives in the desert where it will reduce its activity 50% during the hot midday.
The Greater Roadrunner usually gets around by walking or running.It can outrace a human, up to 17 miles per hour. When they run, they hold their lean frames nearly parallel to the ground and rudder with their long tails. It will fly if it senses danger or is just traveling downhill, but can keep its large body airborne for only a few seconds.
The Greater Roadrunner feeds almost exclusively on other animals, including insects, scorpions, lizards, snakes, rodents and other birds. In winter, when its prey is scarce, up to 10% of its diet may be replaced by plants. Because of its extreme quickness, the roadrunner is able to snatch humming birds and dragonflies from midair. This lightning speed also makes the roadrunner one of the few animals that can prey upon rattlesnakes. Using its wings like a matador's cape, it snaps up a coiled rattlesnake by the head, then repeatedly slams it against the ground till dead.It then swallows its prey whole, but is often unable to gulp down the entire length at one time. This does not stop the roadrunner from getting on with its day. It will continue to meander about with the snake dangling from its mouth, swallowing another inch or two as the snake is slowly digested.
When spring arrives, the male roadrunner offers choice morsels to a female as an inducement to mating. He usually dances around her while she begs for food. He mates with her briefly, then gives her the morsel. Both parents collect small sticks to build a shallow, saucer-like nest, which the female constructs in a bush, cactus or small tree. She then lays from 2 to 12 white eggs over a period of 3 days, which results in staggered hatching. Incubation lasts from 18-20 days and is done by either parent, though preferably the male, because the nocturnally incubating males maintain normal body temperature. The first hatchlings often crowd out the late-arriving runts, which are sometimes eaten by the parents. Usually only 3 or 4 young fledge from the nest after a period of about 18 days. These remain near the adults for up to 2 more weeks before dispersing to the surrounding habitat.
Roadrunner crossing Tooth Rock Road
Trail cam photo of a bobcat on Twin Peaks
Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
The bobcat is the most common wildcat in North America. These medium-sized cats, about the size of a cocker spaniel, range from 8 to 33 pounds and 25 to 42 inches long, not including the tail. Males are larger than females. Bobcats are most easily identified by their stubby tail that gives them their name. It has a "bobbed" look and only measures 4.3 to 7.5 inches long.
Bobcats primarily live a solitary life. The size of their range varies depending on the availability of prey. Females typically have territories of 6 square miles, while males' territories span about 25 square miles and may overlap with one or more female bobcats' home ranges. Bobcats are elusive and are rarely seen. They find cover wherever they are, in scrubland, forests, swamps, or even residential areas. They keep other bobcats out of their territory through scent marking with urine, feces, and anal gland secretions.
Bobcats have various dens in their territory. The main one is called a natal den. This is usually a cave or rock shelter, but bobcats sometimes choose hollowed-out trees, fallen trees, abandoned beaver lodges or earthen burrows. Bobcats keep extra dens scattered across their territory, using them for cover or to keep kittens close by while hunting. These dens may consist of rock ledges, brush piles or even stumps. Bobcats spray urine at the entrances of shelters to ward off intruders.
Female bobcats deliver litters of one to six kittens. After birth, the young stay in the den for the first two months. The mother starts bringing prey to the kittens at the end of the first month. Once the kittens emerge from the den, mom shows them how to hunt while still providing them with food. After 11 months, mom kicks the kids out of her territory.
Bobcats run at speeds of up to 30 mph, though usually only for short distances while attempting to capture prey. Their hunting running gait is another way that bobcats live up to their name: they sometimes run like a rabbit, placing their hind feet in the same place as their front feet. This style of running creates a bobbing appearance. Bobcats can tackle large prey such as deer, but subsist mostly on rodents and rabbits.
This photo of a bobcat kitten was taken by one of our board members, Jeff Schmidt.
One morning while Jeff was running on Van Dam Peak, he heard this meowing, and thought it was a domestic kitten. He stopped to listen for it, and a bobcat kitten came out onto the trial right up to him. Jeff tried to shoo it away - he was really worried it might get run over by bikers. He coaxed it back into the brush but as he was leaving, it came back out to follow. Jeff tried again. Finally the kitten stayed put.
Jeff was so worried about the little guy he came back later that day to check on it, and once again, “Bobby” came right back out to greet Jeff. Jeff saw no signs of the mother bobcat (they will leave their kittens alone for quite a long time, but Bobby wasn't staying where Mom put him). Jeff decided to call for help, as Bobby might be motherless, and his behavior was dangerous.
Two gals from Project Wildlife came to check out the situation. And once again Bobby came right out to them. One of the volunteers picked him up with a towel, and Bobby cuddled right into her like a baby. Since his behavior wasn't normal, they took him back to the facility to care for him until he was old enough to be released into the wild. It takes about 4 months to get a bobcat kitten weaned and big enough for release. However, they were unable to wean him from human contact. He is now in a sanctuary up north.
Bobby, just before they sent him to the sanctuary.
Photo taken on Tooth Rock trails
Coyote (Canis latrans)
Coyotes are California natives. They are grayish brown to yellowish gray on the upper parts, with a white throat and belly. The long tail, which is half the body length, is bottle shaped with a black tip. Coyotes can run at speeds up to 40 miles per hour and can jump horizontal distances of 13 feet. They are distinguished from domesticated dogs by their pointed, erect ears and downward-pointing tail, which they hold below their back when running. They can live up to 10 years in the wild.
Coyotes can have a widely varying diet. They eat primarily small mammals, such as rodents and rabbits. They also eat fish, frogs, and occasionally birds, snakes, large insects, and other large invertebrates. While coyotes are basically carnivorous, they also eat fruit and grass. Coyotes are less likely to form packs than wolves, so they usually hunt individually, in pairs or in small family groups.
Coyotes are nocturnal predators but can occasionally be seen during daylight. Sightings are most common around dusk or dawn. Coyotes have three distinct sounds that they use to communicate with each other: squeaks, distress calls, and howls. Barking is not common.
Coyotes mate between late January and March. Once the female chooses a partner, they may remain paired for a number of years. They have the pups in about 60 to 63 days. Litter size ranges from 1 to 19 pups (the average litter size is 6 pups). Coyotes usually breed once each year.
Coyotes sleep above ground either in the open or in the bush. However, pups are reared in dens. Coyotes are capable of digging their own dens, but they often enlarge the burrows of woodchucks or badgers instead.
Photo taken on Meadowbrook Ecological Reserve at the seasonal pond.
Proposed Threatened/Imperiled
Western Spadefoot Toad (Spea hammondii)
This species is listed as special concern under the Endangered Species Act, but as of December 2023, the Department of Fish and Wildlife have proposed to upgrade its status to threatened.
The Western Spadefoot Toad is a small, stout-bodied toad with a length of 1.5 - 2.5 inches from snout to vent, with short legs and warty skin that is greenish, brown, cream, or gray above, often with 4 irregular light stripes and dark blotches on the back, and reddish spots at tips of skin tubercles, and unmarked and whitish below. A glossy black spade like wedge or teardrop is present on each hind foot which they use for digging. These toads are nocturnal, and live almost entirely on land, entering water only to breed. Their call is a short loud trill, like a quick snore, lasting less than one second. They have a skin secretion which smells like peanuts and is probably used to deter predators. Exposure to them can cause humans a runny nose and watery eyes.
The Western Spadefoot’s reproductive cycle is similar to that of most frogs and toads. However, these toads also have to wait for the formation of temporary shallow rain pools to in order to breed. This typically occurs from October to May. But the Western Spadefoot is opportunistic, capable of breeding at any time if conditions are favorable. Pools must last for at least 30 days for eggs to hatch and tadpoles to grow up.
After a heavy enough rainfall, adults emerge from their underground burrows and move to the pool. The loud calls of the first male to enter the pool quickly attract other males and females. Males and females pair up in the water where the female lays her eggs as the male fertilizes them externally. Females lay 300 to 500 eggs in irregular groups of 10 to 42 eggs, which are attached to underwater vegetation or detritus. Eggs hatch very quickly, typically in 3 or 4 days, but they may hatch anywhere from a little over half a day to 6 days later. The eggs hatch into tadpoles which feed in the water and eventually grow four legs, lose their tails, and emerge onto land where they disperse into the surrounding territory.
The Western Spadefoot is able to inhabit hot dry environments by burrowing underground using the hardened spades on its hind feet. They are rarely seen, spending most of their lives buried underground in earth-filled burrows, active for only a short period each year, depending on rainfall. During dry years, pools may not form at all, so the toads stay underground in a hibernated like state until there is enough rain to fill the pools.
Western Spadefoot toads prefer open areas with sandy or gravelly soils, in a variety of habitats including coastal sage scrub, chaparral, sandy washes, and lowlands. They eat a variety of bugs such as beetles, larval, moths, crickets, flies, ants, and earthworms. They need to consume enough food in several weeks to survive the long period of underground dormancy.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife have listed the Western Spadefoot as a species of special concern, recognizing their dramatic decline, but has failed to afford them any legal protection. Since the 1950s they have lost more than 80% of their habitats. The toads, which are completely terrestrial except when breeding, depend on the existence of vernal rain pools and slow-moving streams, both of which have declined due to urban development and agricultural practices.
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Special Concern
Coast or Blainville’s Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma blainvillii)
This species is listed as special concern (CNDDB 7/2024).
Horned lizards are commonly called horny toads. There are however many different types of horned toads.
The Coast horned lizard has a body length of up to 4 inches (excluding the tail). It appears rough and spiky but is actually smooth-skinned, aside from the sharp spikes along its sides, back and head. It is a flat, less rounded horned lizard. This lizard depends far more on its appearance for survival than speed or agility. Its mottled coloration of large and small patches and bands of various shades of brown, black, cream, and yellow allow it to blend into its environment almost to the point of invisibility. The Coast horned lizard is slow-moving, tending to run short distances, then hiding by blending in to the surroundings.
When the Coast horned lizard is threatened, it will first freeze and hope its camouflage will protect it. If attacked, it will run a short distance, stop suddenly, lay flat, and once again count on its coloration for protection. If grabbed, the horned lizard has a unique defense for repelling its attacker; It can actually squirt a quick stream of blood from the corner of its eyes with the hope of distracting or startling the predator and escaping. The Coast horned lizard is the only known horned toad that has this ability.
The Coast horned lizard is active during the daytime, and can often be seen basking on roads, trails or low rocks in the morning or afternoon. It is typically found in open sandy areas in deserts, chaparral, grassland, often near ant hills.
The Coast horned lizard’s primary food is native ants, such as species of harvester and carpenter ants. It does on occasion eat other arthropods like beetles, crickets, and spiders, but 80-90 percent of its diet is indigenous ants. The introduction of Argentine ants (which have replaced native species) in areas once inhabited by Coast horned lizards has been one cause of their diminished numbers. These introduced ant species are not palatable to the lizard.
The Coastal horned lizard is generally seen in our coast range and the Central Valley from spring through fall, hibernating in burrows underground in cold weather. Found in Coastal Sage Scrub, chaparral, mixed oak, and grey pine forest, sandy loam soil, and gravelly areas, these lizards need a mixture of open space and shrubbery with soil in which they can easily dig.
They breed in spring, with the female laying a small clutch of eggs (average 8-12) in a burrow she excavates. Newborns hatch in late summer or early fall and are miniatures of their parents, about the size of a quarter.
Imperiled
Belding's Orange-throated Whiptail (Aspidoscelis hyperythra beldingi)
The Orange-throated whiptail lizard is listed as imperiled. (CNDDB Special Animals List 7/2024).
This lizard lives in Coastal Sage Scrub and Chaparral. Its habitat has been destroyed for development and what’s left is highly fragmented. It inhabits only about 25% of its former range.
The Orange-throated whiptail is a slim-bodied lizard with a long slender tail, a pointed snout, and large symmetrical head plates. Its body length is 2 - 2 3/4 inches snout to vent. Scales on the back are small and rough, and scales on the tail are ridged. Its back is unspotted and black, dark brown, or grayish with 6 or fewer pale yellow or whitish stripes. The throat and often the chest are orange, turning brighter orange during breeding season. The belly is pale blue-gray or whitish with large, smooth, rectangular scales in 8 lengthwise rows. Juveniles have bright blue tails which fades to gray as they become adults.
The Orange-throated whiptail is wary and very active during the day, moving with abrupt stops and starts, and side-to-side head movement while it flicks its tongue. It typically forages near cover, and is capable of quick bursts of speed into heavy brush or holes. The whiptail is often seen digging energetically while foraging for spiders, scorpions, centipedes, termites and other small insects.
The Orange-throated whiptail male defends its territory against other males with a threat display - arching the back, twitching the tail tip, and pointing the snout at the ground. The whiptail mates in late spring or early summer, laying eggs in June-July. Hatching in about 2 months.
Vulnerable
Coastal Western Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris stejnegeri)
Length: 2.3 – 5 inches from snout to vent
Length including tail: up to 13 inches
The Coastal Whiptail Lizard is listed as vulnerable (CNDDB special Animals listing 7/2024).
It can be found in a wide variety of habitat including coastal sage scrub, chaparral, riparian areas, woodlands, and rocky areas. Due to habitat loss and fragmentation from development and wildfires this lizard is in danger.
The Coastal Whiptail Lizard has a slim body and long tail. The back and sides are grey, tan, or brown, marked with dark spots or bars or mottling, which is often very sharply defined. Dark marks on the side don't form vertical bars. Usually 8 poorly-defined light brown stripes are present, but stripes on the side are less well-defined. The throat is pale with large black spots. Often there are reddish patches on the sides of the belly. The tail tip is dark or bluish.
The Coastal Whiptail Lizard is a high-temperature specialist that emerges to begin foraging in late morning as the air temperature rises. This lizard forages for small invertebrates, especially spiders, scorpions, centipedes, termites, and small lizards. It is Wary and very active, moving with abrupt stops and starts, side-to-side head movement, and tongue flicking. It is often seen digging rapidly when foraging. The lizard moves with a distinctive gait, taking a step, halting briefly, then moving again in rapid succession.
The Coastal Whiptail Lizard’s reproduction takes place in spring and summer. Hatchlings begin to appear in late July and August.
Vulnerable
Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber)
Red Diamond Rattlesnake is listed as vulnerable (CNDDB 7/2024).
The Red Diamond Rattlesnake is a heavy-bodied, tan, brick-red, reddish or pinkish-brown rattlesnake with a length of 2-3 feet. It has a large triangular head, a thin neck, and a heat-sensing pit on each side of the head between the eyes and nostrils. It has diamond-shaped blotches along the length of its back. The tail is ringed with alternating bands of black and white or gray, ending in a rattle. Two light stripes occur on the sides of the head, and the venter is light colored and unmarked. Its head is sharply angular and twice the width of its neck, with elliptical pupils. There are light-colored stripes that start on either side of its eye, extending diagonally downwards. It has hinged fangs and the snake tucks them up into its mouth when they don’t need them. The fangs are hollow and attached to venom glands that sit behind the snake’s eyes. If one of its fangs breaks, it grows back.
The Red Diamond Rattlesnake’s rattles are nested scales that are added to with each shed. They aren’t a way to tell a snake’s age because they often break. They can rattle their tales 80 – 100 times a second. Some Scientists believe that rattlesnakes evolved their rattle in the Great Plains region of North America to prevent being stepped on by bison.
The Red Diamond Rattlesnake in the cold winter months spends most of its time underground in dens located in rock crevices, animal burrows, or under shrubs or cacti. Several individuals may share in these dens. It may reuse a den site over multiple years. In the spring, they emerge to warm up, fatten up and find a mate.
The Red Diamond Rattlesnake Mates from April to May (sometimes with den mates), and births occur in September. An average of eight young are live-born after a gestation period of 141–173 days. It can live for 15 or 16 years.
The Red diamondback rattlesnake feeds on various animals such as mice, rats, rabbits, lizards, and other snakes. These ambush predators spend much of their time waiting for prey to come to them. They like finding a promising spot to wait and may spend many hours waiting for prey. This is when they’re most often found by someone. On the rare occasion that a red diamondback rattlesnake bites someone, it’s usually because someone stepped on, handled, or otherwise startled the snake.
The Red diamondback rattlesnake, like other pit vipers, is venomous. However, bites are relatively rare, and its venom isn’t as dangerous as other species. It often delivers a large quantity in each bite. A single bite can deliver three times the dose that can kill a fully grown human. Its venom toxicity increases as it matures. However, an adult is less likely to inject a full dose as a juvenile would, because they don’t plan on eating that person. They simply want to be left alone. This relatively mild-mannered snake may look angry, but it rarely bites humans. It’s far more likely to hide and try to remain unnoticed! However, if cornered, it will put up a defensive display that includes coiling, rattling, and striking.
The red diamondback rattlesnake’s preferred habitat, coastal scrub brush, has dramatically reduced over the years due to residential and commercial development. The California Department of Fish and Game considers them a Species of Special Concern because of habitat loss especially in San Diego County.
Threatened/Critically Imperiled
Hermes Copper Butterfly (Lycaena hermes)
This species is listed as critically imperiled (CNDDB 7/2024)
The Hermes copper butterfly has a wingspan between one and 1.25 inches. The upperside forewings are brown with yellow, brown-spotted centers; upperside hindwings are also brown and have a small tail with yellow within it. Underside forewings and hindwings are yellow with brownish spots. Hermes copper butterfly is dependent for survival on its spiny redberry host plant, found in California coastal sage scrub and chaparral vegetation communities. But for unknown reasons, the butterfly is restricted to only a small portion of the redberry range. It generally appears to utilize redberry stands growing in deeper, well-drained soils of canyon bottoms and north-facing hillsides, with host and nectar plants intermixed or in close proximity.
The Hermes copper butterfly ranges over 150 miles, from the vicinity of Fallbrook in northern San Diego County south to near Santo Tomás in Baja California, Mexico. The butterfly occupied many coastal areas prior to development. This butterfly doesn’t seem to migrate.
Hermes copper butterfly male will perch to watch for females. Eggs are laid singly on stems of the host plant. Winter dormancy, occurs during the egg stage. Larvae hatch and mature through five stages over about 14 days, with larvae feeding on the leaves of the redberry host. Mature larvae are about 13 millimeters and are an apple-green color, with a mid-dorsal band of darker green bordered by yellowish green.
The transformation occurs at the base of the redberry over a period of 10 to 14 days. The Hermes copper butterfly larvae eat redberry leaves; adults primarily eat the nectar of the buckwheat plant, but have also been observed nectaring on chamise, golden yarrow, slender sunflower, poison oak, and short-podded mustard.
The Hermes copper butterfly is threatened by urban development, overly frequent wildfire and prescribed fire, and global climate change. Only 15 populations of the Hermes copper are known to remain in existence in the United States following the large San Diego County fires of 2003. Three other populations in Baja California are presumed extinct, but their actual status is unknown.