There is a plethora of information about Orange County’s biotic community across the web. Below are a few links to get started researching this rich material. If you see something that should be added to this list, please email us at lagunagreenbeltmedia@gmail.com.
Bobcats (Lynx rufus)
Bobcats are native to Orange County, and North America. Often mistaken for cougars (sometimes called mountain lions), they are smaller than a cougar, have distinct spotty and/or stripey markings, and a short or ‘bobbed’ tail. Bobcats are predators, and hunt small prey in their respective territories, but are not after your pets! You can thank them for keeping populations of other animals we consider pests balanced so these animals don’t overpopulate our land. Bobcats tend to be somewhat shy, and like many cats, are crepuscular by nature – most active before dawn and after dusk. They have been spotted around Orange County, and it’s possible you may have seen one, especially on hot days when they might come to a quiet yard or patio for some shade or water. Bobcats in Orange County face many human-generated threats. They are sometimes hit by cars near or on roads, and habitat fragmentation caused by urban development continues to greatly impact their ability to access things they need to survive. In addition, the widespread use of rodenticides (rat poisons) makes them sick if they eat another animal that has ingested the chemicals. Being a good neighbor to our bobcats means not using poisons to control pests, but finding alternatives, and educating ourselves about how to conduct our development practices and lifestyle in a wildlife-friendly manner. For a bit of fun, check out our ambassador Bynx the Bobcat!
More Info about Bobcats:
- iNaturalist guide to Lynx Rufus
- OC Outdoors/Bobcats in Orange County
- Irvine Ranch Conservancy “All About Bobcats”
- Orange County Trackers (Report sightings)
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife Info Sheet
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife ‘Living with Wildlife: Bobcats’
- National Park Service Info Sheet on Bobcats living on the urban edge in Southern California
- Nature Mapping Foundation/Bobcats in California
- 2009 article on the study of Bobcats in OC by Pat Brennan
- 2011 article on hazards faced by bobcats in OC by Pat Brennan
- Citizens for Los Angeles Wildlife – Statewide rodenticide ban advocacy
- https://www.clawonline.org/help-ban-rodenticide
Bobcats, Coyotes, Cougars (Mountain Lions) and Other Mammals:
Citizens for Los Angeles Wildlife
Other Animals of Orange County:
UCI: Arthropods of Orange County
Native Plants:
California Native Plant Society – Orange County Chapter
Wildlife Rescue:
Environmental Nature Center List of Rescue Contacts
Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center
Orange County Bird of Prey Center
Opossum Society of the United States
Climate and Urbanization in Orange County, California:
Orange County’s plants and animals are adapted to the unique conditions of California’s Mediterranean climate, with its cool, wet winters (when water and food are most abundant), and dry, hot summers (when some resources are scarce). While the rest of the country’s plant life is largely dormant in winter due to cold temperatures and frozen water, OC residents can enjoy at least some native plants blooming. On the flip side, some animals and plants are dormant in August, while many other states are experiencing the peak of annual growth and rain. Similarly, animals must also adapt to these changing environmental conditions, in part by moving from place to place in search of food, mates, hunting grounds, and safe places to raise their babies. Historically, movement across the landscape and normal part of animal and plant life, and this is true of the flora and fauna in Orange County.
People have converted many acres of land in Orange County from wild land to streets, homes, shopping centers, etc. As more and more wild land becomes developed, and obstacles begin to appear in places where animals previously roamed and foraged freely – this is known as habitat fragmentation.
Fragmentation is one of the major causes of problems for wildlife in urban areas around the world. Habitat fragmentation can keep animals from moving to new territories, eventually isolating them on a virtual ‘island’, and preventing them from finding mates that have the genetic diversity needed to keep the animal population healthy. For example, one very serious barrier to movement is the freeway system in southern California. It is very difficult and dangerous for animals to cross a freeway, and for many animals, crossing to the other side is simply not an option. However, some larger animals will attempt to cross a freeway and when they do, they are sometimes hit by vehicles. In southern California, mountain lions often make headlines when they cross highways, or die trying.
Across the United States and the world, some land has been preserved as wildlife corridors (sometimes called greenbelts). In Orange County, local residents, governments, developers, and nonprofit organizations have worked together for decades to preserve over 22,000 acres along the Laguna Coast and elsewhere, and invested millions of dollars in preserving these acres. In order to protect this huge investment, the Irvine-Laguna Wildlife Corridor is essential; It keeps wildlife populations healthy by connecting them to new territories to find suitable mates and other essential resources they need to thrive.