National Park Service Capture Black Bear in the Santa Monica Mountains for Studies on April 23rd

On April 23, National Park Service biologists captured and radio-collared a 210-pound black bear in a natural area of the western Santa Monica Mountains south of the 101 Freeway. Photos here.

The male bear, dubbed BB-12, is estimated to be about 3-4 years old. Biologists performed a full workup on the bear, including collecting biological samples, taking various body measurements, attaching an ear tag, conducting a physical exam, and fitting a GPS radio-collar around its neck.

Though there have been bear sightings over the years, this is the first time biologists have captured and radio-collared a bear in the Santa Monica Mountains. The nearest population of black bears is in the Santa Susana Mountains, north of the 118 Freeway. Although bears have occasionally been documented in the Simi Hills, south of 118, and even in the Santa Monica Mountains, south of the 101 Freeway, there is no evidence of a breeding population in either area.

“He appears to be the only bear here in the Santa Monica Mountains, and he’s likely been here for almost two years based on our remote camera data,” said Jeff Sikich, the lead field biologist of the park’s two-decade mountain lion study. “This seems to be our first resident bear in the 20 years we have conducted mountain lion research in the area. It will be interesting to see how he shares the landscape with our other resident large carnivores.”

In July 2021, a young black bear was spotted lumbering along Reino Road in Newbury Park. Since then, images of a bear have been seen on wildlife trail cameras in half of the Santa Monica Mountains - from Malibu Creek State Park to the range’s western border in Point Mugu State Park. Biologists say BB-12 may be the same bear.

Though there have been bear sightings over the years, this is the first time biologists have captured and radio-collared a bear in the Santa Monica Mountains. The nearest population of black bears is in the Santa Susana Mountains, north of the 118 Freeway. Although bears have occasionally been documented in the Simi Hills, south of 118, and even in the Santa Monica Mountains, south of the 101 Freeway, there is no evidence of a breeding population in either area.

Bears are omnivores and can live between 15 and 25 years. They will eat whatever is available, primarily fruits, nuts, roots, and insects. They will also eat small animals, up to and including deer, if they can get them, human food (such as in cars or at campsites), pet food, unsecured trash, and consume dead animals they find.

“As this bear gets older and is looking to mate, it might attempt to move back north and cross the freeway again,” Sikich said. “There is no evidence of an existing population here in the Santa Monica Mountains, and therefore likely no females. With the radio-collar, we can track its movements and hopefully know where it may attempt to cross the freeway. This can help us better understand habitat connectivity for wildlife in the area.”

Bear sightings have been rare in the Santa Monica Mountains. In the early 2000’s, a bear carcass was discovered under a landslide in Malibu Creek State Park. In 2016, a bear was documented three times over three months on wildlife trail cameras in the central portion of the mountains but then never detected again.

Other black bears have occasionally been spotted through the years north of the 101 Freeway in the Simi Hills. Previous news reports include a bear spotted near Westlake High School in 2006 and one that was killed by a vehicle on the northbound 101 Freeway near Lindero Canyon Blvd.

The nearest population of black bears is in the Santa Susana Mountains. Grizzly bears formerly roamed the entire state but became extinct in the early 1900’s. Black bears, however, are not native to Southern California.

In the 1930s, about 30 bears from Yosemite National Park were translocated into the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains. From there, their population grew and expanded, biologists say.

Black bears rarely become aggressive when encountered, and attacks on people are uncommon. If you encounter a bear while hiking, keep a safe distance and slowly back away. Let the bear know you are there. Make yourself look bigger by lifting and waving your arms and making noise by yelling, clapping your hands, using noisemakers, or whistling.

DO NOT run and do not make eye contact. Let the bear leave the area on its own. If a bear makes contact, fight back.

NPS biologists say they are excited to add this bear, as a new species, to its wildlife study in the Santa Monica Mountains. They expect it will help provide new insights on how wildlife utilizes this urban, fragmented landscape.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) is the largest urban national park in the country, encompassing more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A unit of the National Park Service, it comprises a seamless network of local, state and federal parks interwoven with private lands and communities. As one of only five Mediterranean ecosystems in the world, SMMNRA preserves the rich biological diversity of more than 450 animal species and 26 distinct plant communities. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/samo.    

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Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History to Reopen Its Permanent Mineral Exhibit on April 22nd

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is reopening its permanent mineral exhibit and once more inviting the public to marvel at astonishing rocks and crystals.

Over 100 specimens handpicked by Dibblee Curator of Earth Science Jonathan Hoffman, Ph.D., are on view in the small hall off the Museum’s central courtyard. Fan favorites like the fluorescent minerals and Emerald-City-like malachite spires have returned, accompanied by new picks from the Museum’s collection. The new permanent exhibit also features three stunning specimens donated to the Museum at the close of last summer’s temporary mineral extravaganza, Rare Earth.

All the specimens are now situated in a new interpretive and design context that puts the emphasis on their geologic origin and surprisingly lively nature. The exhibit takes a cue from the deep time perspective of research by Robert Hazen, Ph.D., and other prominent mineralogists. The title wall leads with the startling fact that the solar system began with only 60 minerals, whereas over 6,000 are known on Earth today, thanks to the dynamic conditions on our planet.

The room’s new vibe leans away from the glass-case-in-a-store feeling of older mineral exhibits. Organic forms and panoramas mask the cases, evoking the fact that minerals come from our planet’s landscapes, not jewelry stores. Dr. Hoffman and the rest of the Museum’s exhibit team hope to instill a greater appreciation not only for minerals, but for the lively natural forces that generate them.

As Hoffman notes, “Minerals are often beautiful, but their origin stories are just as impressive. We hope visitors will appreciate how minerals demonstrate the dynamic nature of chemistry—how minerals form, how they change over time, how organisms interact with them, and the roles they play in our society.”

The mineral exhibit opens April 22 and is included in Museum admission. Members are always admitted free. More information at sbnature.org/minerals

About the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Powered by Science. Inspired by Nature. Founded in 1916, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History inspires a thirst for discovery and a passion for the natural world. The Museum seeks to connect people to nature for the betterment of both, and prides itself on being naturally different. For more information, visit sbnature.org.

Statement from National Park Service in Remembrance of Mountain Lion P-22

The National Park Service joins its partners, friends, and community members here in Los Angeles, and around the world, in remembering mountain lion P-22. 

(Note: Today, Saturday, December 17, 2022, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced that P-22 was compassionately euthanized today following complete health evaluation tests. After these tests, CDFW obtained a clear picture of the mountain lion’s medical condition and overall health. He had several severe injuries and chronic health problems. Based on these factors, compassionate euthanasia under general anesthesia was unanimously recommended by the medical team at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and CDFW officials made the decision to do so today. See complete press release at https://wildlife.ca.gov/News/mountain-lion-p-22-compassionately-euthanized-following-complete-health-evaluation-results.)

Mountain lion P-22 was more than just a celebrity cat. He was also a critical part of a long-term research study and a valuable ambassador for the cause of connectivity and for wildlife in the Santa Monica Mountains and beyond. 

He was one of the oldest mountain lions in a study that the National Park Service has been conducting since 2002 and one of its most interesting. When he was captured and collared in March 2012 by National Park Service biologists, he was estimated to be about two years old. 

Likely born in the Santa Monica Mountains as the son of adult male P-1, he somehow found his way to his tiny, nine-square-mile home in Griffith Park, separated from the Santa Monicas by the 101 and 405, two of the busiest freeways in the world. Defying expectations, he persisted for more than 10 years in the smallest home range that has ever been recorded for an adult male mountain lion. 

Although he made frequent appearances on the streets of the Hollywood Hills and even, more recently, of the Silver Lake neighborhood, he was also clearly a wild cat, doing so mostly late at night, and subsisting largely on natural prey such as deer and coyotes. 

In the end, he found his way into many Angelenos' hearts and home surveillance camera footage. 

Park biologists aim to understand and conserve the species that live in and around the park for generations to come. Although P-22 is now physically gone, scientists will be analyzing his data for years to come. 

This animal's life and safe passage to Griffith Park are a testament to both the challenges and the possibilities for wildlife in Los Angeles. He showed us what mountain lions must do to survive in our urban landscape, as he dispersed through it to find a remaining island of habitat. 

He also showed us what they are capable of: surviving and co-existing with millions of people in a city as dense and sprawling as Los Angeles. 

Goodbye, P-22. Your scientific legacy will live on. 

$27 Million State Homekey Grant to Help Fund the Creation of 77 Permanent Supportive Housing Units

A month ago, the City of Thousand Oaks, in partnership with Shangri-La Industries and Step Up on Second Street announced an award of $27 million to permanently convert the Quality Inn & Suites at 12 Conejo Boulevard into 77 units of supportive housing for the chronically homeless.

The state’s Homekey program has offered a rare opportunity to leverage substantial resources to meet this challenge in our community. With unanimous support from City Council and the County Board of Supervisors to apply for the funds, an extensive, compelling application was submitted to the state for consideration. After a lengthy and thorough review process, the Governor’s Office announced the City of Thousand Oaks as a recipient of its Homekey Round 2 awards.

The multi-agency effort included a contribution of $1.8 million from the City’s Housing Successor Fund Budget, $6.6 million from the County of Ventura and the waiver of $852,875 in Quimby Fees by the Conejo Valley Recreation & Park District to support the project.

To learn more about the City’s ongoing and multifaceted efforts to address homelessness and find project updates, please visit www.toaks.org/homekey.

Groundbreaking for the the project will take place at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, September 28, 2022.

Back in the 1960s, the Quality Inn & Suites was the Hyatt Lodge. See then and now pictures and more information at THIS LINK.

Trailhead Improvement Project at Cheeseboro Canyon September 19, 2022 to Early Summer 2023

The National Park Service has awarded a contract to AMA Diversified Construction Group, a company based out of Torrance, to revitalize the trailhead parking lot at Cheeseboro Canyon in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA). The project will include site grading; the installation of potable water and storm drainage utilities; new gravel-paved roadways and lots; a pedestrian pathway; and a new vault toilet.

“This project will make a big difference for thousands of hikers, cyclists, and equestrians who recreate in this area year-round,” said Jody Lyle, acting superintendent for SMMNRA. “It will also provide better storm water protection for our Agoura Hills neighbors who live near the trailhead.”

The project is slated to begin on Sept. 19, 2022, with expected completion by early summer next year. Construction will occur four days a week—Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. No regular work will be performed on Fridays, weekends, and federal holidays unless there’s a weather delay or unforeseen situation. With fire season right around the corner, park officials will monitor fire weather forecasts and take necessary precautions during red flag days.

The entire area around the existing parking lot (see accompanying map) will be closed during construction. Hikers, cyclists, and equestrians can still access the greater Cheeseboro and Palo Comado trail system via the Lower Cheeseboro Canyon Trail leaving from a temporary parking lot just south of the construction area. Several short trail sections (totaling approximately one mile) will be closed during construction.

This project combines federal dollars with private funds from the National Park Foundation, the Santa Monica Mountains Fund, and the Clifford Holmes estate. Holmes, a property ranch manager for actor Bob Hope, left his estate to this project after he died in the 1980s.

For general questions about the project, contact Ana Beatriz Cholo, the park’s public information officer, at ana_cholo@nps.gov.

California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks Announces It Is Closing Its Doors on June 19th

Note from the California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks (CMATO) today:

With great sadness, the Board of Directors of the California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks (CMATO) announces that as a result of significant revenue losses brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Museum will close its doors on June 19 after nearly ten years of operation.

Founded in 2008, CMATO's mission is to engage, educate and enrich the lives of our visitors and our community through the visual arts. The Museum has presented acclaimed exhibitions, delivered hundreds of educational programs for adults, families and seniors, and welcomed thousands of visitors since opening its first physical space in 2015.

Sadly, we are not alone in facing this operational distress. We know from the American Alliance of Museums that many museums continue to face substantial financial losses following the pandemic, and that thousands of smaller museums, long under resourced, are at risk for permanent closure.

This is a deep disappointment to all of us who cherish CMATO, our mission and who share our belief that access to art, in all of its forms, is essential to a thriving community. The Museum has been a gathering place for the community for many years, allowing us to examine our shared humanity, to voice and to express, and to bring people and ideas together.

We hope CMATO's lasting impact will live on through the creativity of families, children, teachers, artists, and all who have been touched by what our founders believed: that CMATO exists for the enjoyment, education and benefit of all.

Peter Strauss Ranch to Reopen to the Public on Monday, June 6, 2022

The grounds of Peter Strauss Ranch will reopen to the public on Monday, June 6 in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The public is invited to park on-site, picnic and hike through the beautiful oak woodlands. The site will be open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset.

After suffering significant damage from the November 2018 Woolsey Fire, Peter Strauss Ranch remained closed for two essential activities. The National Park Service (NPS) completed multiple soil lifts to remove hazardous materials after the fire. The site served as a staging area for the County of Los Angeles to reconstruct the Mulholland Highway bridge over Triunfo Canyon Creek. With the completion of both projects this spring, the site is ready for public access.

Beyond Peter Strauss Ranch, the Woolsey Fire damaged 112 miles of trails and 88 percent of federal park land in the Santa Monica Mountains. Thirty structures and outbuildings were also destroyed. NPS staff worked hard in the weeks and months following the fire to reopen trails, clear roads, stabilize hillsides, repair culverts and conduct surveys.

Named for Emmy Award-winning actor Peter Strauss, the last owner of the property, the ranch was originally purchased in 1923 by Harry Miller. The historic ranch house, built in 1926 and completed a year later, was destroyed during the Woolsey Fire. Visitors can still discover an Italian terrazzo tile concert area where country legends Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson performed in the 1950s. There is also the relic of an enormous outdoor swimming pool from the property’s Lake Enchanto period, which lasted between 1939 to 1965.

Peter Strauss Ranch is located at 30000 Mulholland Hwy, Agoura Hills.

For more information about the long-term plans for the recovery of Peter Strauss Ranch, read the draft Environmental Assessment (EA).

Groundbreaking of Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Agoura Hills on Friday, April 22nd

Press release from the National Park Service is below. The groundbreaking event at 10am on Friday can be viewed via livestream at savelacougars.org/groundbreaking as well as at King Gillette Ranch. 26800 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas. Additionally, a Crossing Celebration will take place after the livestream from 11:30 a.m. to 2: 30 p.m. at King Gillette Ranch, including food and carnival games.

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Twenty-five years of research by National Park Service (NPS) biologists and collaborators have documented the effects of habitat fragmentation and pointed to the importance of connectivity in the region, culminating in the wildlife overpass that is breaking ground this week in Liberty Canyon. Mountain lion study photo and video album here.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for Friday, April 22. The new crossing will re-connect an entire ecosystem that has long been fragmented by an almost impenetrable barrier for wildlife – the 101 Freeway's 10 lanes and more than 300,000 vehicles a day.

Organizations and institutions like the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Caltrans, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, among many others, were instrumental in discovering a solution to remedy this conservation crisis.

"Our partners have taken our science and worked to change this corner of the world," said David Szymanski, superintendent of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA), a unit of the NPS. "They have bought critical lands, designed and built public works, raised funds, and developed the protections that give wildlife a chance of surviving into the future."

Since 1996, NPS biologists have researched carnivores and other local wildlife in the Santa Monica Mountains and the surrounding region. The project began right in the Liberty Canyon area, with the tracking of bobcats and coyotes, and it expanded to include mountain lions in 2002.Overall, the research has focused on urbanization and habitat fragmentation in wildlife communities.

"It's super exciting to see the science that we've worked so hard on for many years result in concrete action to benefit wildlife," said Seth Riley, wildlife branch chief for SMMNRA. "This is a pivotal moment for conservation and for our park."

From the beginning, it was clear that the 101 Freeway was a major barrier to movement, even for wide-ranging species like carnivores. Later, National Park Service and UCLA studies found that the barrier effect extended to gene flow. They found genetic differentiation because of urban development and roads for bobcats and coyotes, smaller, more abundant species such as western fence lizards, and even for a bird, the wrentit.

Thus far, the most significant genetic effects have been seen in mountain lions.

The population in the Santa Monica Mountains has one of the lowest levels of genetic diversity in the state or across the west. More recently, biologists have begun to see the physical effects of that low genetic diversity, specifically kinks at the end of tails, a male with only one descended testicle, and poor sperm quality, documented through research conducted by scientists at UCLA. These were all common characteristics linked with inbreeding depression in mountain lions in Florida that nearly went extinct in the early 1990s.

"This crossing is timely, considering our recent discovery of the first physical signs of inbreeding depression occurring in our isolated mountain lion population in the Santa Monica Mountains," said Jeff Sikich, the lead field researcher on the mountain lion study. "Habitat fragmentation is the key challenge wildlife is facing here."

Sikich added that mountain lions may be the first affected and most at risk of being lost, "but the wildlife crossing will also benefit other species whose movements are blocked by this massive freeway."

This crossing will increase connectivity over the most significant barrier to connecting the Santa Monica Mountains to other large natural areas. Still, it is crucial to better understand and ultimately improve connectivity in other areas.

For instance, the 118 Freeway separates the Simi Hills, north of the 101 Freeway, from the Santa Susana Mountains. A recently initiated study by NPS and Caltrans is evaluating wildlife movement, survival, and potential road-crossing there.

Other critical locations include the Conejo Grade in the western Santa Monica Mountains, also along the 101 Freeway, and along the 5 Freeway in the Santa Clarita area where the freeway separates natural areas to the east and west.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) is the largest urban national park in the country, encompassing more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A unit of the National Park Service, it comprises a seamless network of local, state and federal parks interwoven with private lands and communities. As one of only five Mediterranean ecosystems in the world, SMMNRA preserves the rich biological diversity of more than 450 animal species and 26 distinct plant communities. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/samo.