Bridge to Nature - Summer 2023

BRIDGE TO

NATURE

Stough Canyon Nature Center

2300 E Walnut Ave

Burbank, CA 91501 818 238 5440

STOUGH CANYON NATURE CENTER NEWSLETTER

IN THIS ISSUE:

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

SCRUB JAY

POCKET GOPHER

DESERT STINK BEETLE

DIABOLICAL IRONCLAD BEETLE

SPRING CAMP HIGHLIGHTS

TRAIL CAM UPDATES

PARKING SAFETY

HEAT SAFETY

RATTLESNAKE SAFETY

The Verdugo Mountains are home to a div habitat of coyotes, mountain lions, deer, g foxes, California quail, and many other wildlife. The mountains offer a quick escape from the bustle of city life.

TUESDAY - SATURDAY

9AM - 5PM

SUNDAY 12PM - 5PM

SUMMER 2023

Stough Canyon Nature Center offers information about local wildlife, native pla and provides nature based programs for all ages.

NATURE

Stough Canyon Nature Center

Spring Program Recap

Nature Tots:

A NATURE BASED PRESCHOOL FOR 3-5 YEARS OLD

Nature Tots meets once a week. Class consists of learning about local wildlife, short nature hikes, learning the alphabet, making nature crafts and singing songs.

TO REGISTER FOR UPCOMING NATURE TOTS, PLEASE GO TO WWW BURBANKPARKS COM

Nature Apprentice:

A NATURE EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR KIDS 6-10 YEARS OLD

Nature Apprentice meets once a week and consists of hikes, crafts, and exploring the Verdugo mountains. Kids go on hikes and learn the importance of local wildlife, plants, and hiking safety.

TO REGISTER FOR UPCOMING NATURE APPRENTICE, PLEASE GO TO WWW.BURBANKPARKS.COM

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Nature Art: Creativity and Wellness in Natu

Nature Art: Creativity and Wellness in Nature is a class dedicated to experience the rejuvenat effects nature. Participants will journal and explore local plants, hike, and make crafts such as fairy gardens, nature weaving rock painting, and more.

TO REGISTER FOR UPCOMING NATURE ART: CREATIVITY AND WELLNESS IN N , PLEASE GO TO WWW.BURBANKPARKS.COM

Goat Yoga:

Come meet the goats and do yoga! Enjoy a hike with the goats up to the breathtaking View. Everyone will do a gentle 30 minute yoga session led by an instructor. There will be plenty of time after to take pictures with the goats!

TO LEARN ABOUT UPCOMING GOAT YOGA EVENTS PLEASE VISIT WWW.BURBANKCA.GOV/NATURECENTER

STOUGH CANYON NATURE CENTER NEWSLETTER

NATURE

The rambunctious Scrub Jay!

(APHELOCOMA CALIFORNICA)

Commonly seen around the bird feeder at the Na Center, the scrub jay is related to crows and mockin They stash their food in caches (hiding acorns in the to eat later), those that aren't eaten grow into oak

Scrub jays will steal acorns from acorn woodpecke well as other scrub jays. Since they are in the same as crows and ravens, they also love to hoard an collect shiny objects!

Scrub jays are one of the most intelligent birds, having the foresight to plan ahead - a trait shared with humans, chimps, dolphins, crows, and ravens.

(THOMOMYS BOTTAE)

Pocket gophers are vastly misunderstood. Although they can damage crops and lawn, their tunneling helps keep the soil loose and aerated. Astonishingly, pocket gophers are the only mammals besides human that farms. They take care of roots underground and "farm" them for food.

I move up to 4 tons of soil a year and keep the soil healthy!

Photo by Kevin Lahue.

Their underground tunnels can span 200 to 2,000 square feet.

Stink beetles are robust and have a shiny body.

Cars don't scare me!

I can get runover and survive!

Desert Stink Beetle

(Genus Eleodes)

With the warmer weather comes the beetles! The stink beetle, also known as a darkling beetle, is commonly seen on the trails. They are ground dwellers and do not fly. Their diet includes fungi and plants.

To protect themselves, they stick their rear end high into the air and emit a liquid that has a very foul odor! This liquid is irritating to the eyes and throat of a predator.

Because of this trait, they are also known as skunk beetles. They are a food source to skunks and rats.

Diabolical Ironclad Beetle

(Phloeodes diabolicus)

The diabolical ironclad beetle is the tiny tank in the Verdugo Mountains. Their exoskeleton is so strong that it can survive after being run over by a car and withstand 39,000 times its body weight. If we had a tough body like them, that means we can survive with 40 army tanks stacked on top of us!

Due to it's strength, bioengineers are researching the beetles, hoping to incorporate the design of the exoskeleton into stronger buildings, planes, cars, and body armor.

STOUGH CANYON NATURE CENTER NEWSLETTER

NATURE

Burbank, CA 91501

818-238-5440

Naturecenter@burbankca.gov

NATURE CAMP: Verdugo Mountain Explorers

Spring Camp Highlights

The hills were green and the seasonal creek ran, providing campers a unique nature experience not usually found in the city! Campers learned about mountain lion safety, made nature crafts, and explored the Verdugo Mountains. Stough Canyon Nature Center offers half day camps during spring, summer, and winter. To learn more about our camps, please check out www.burbankparks.com

Trail Cam Updates

photo

With the help from Kelsey Bernard of Cougar Conservancy, two trail cams were set up in the Verdugo Mountains. Trail cameras are used to capture photos and videos of wildlife, helping us understand and monitor what wildlife lives in the Verdugo Mountains. The Nature Center is eager to see if the trail cameras will capture the new young male mountain lion recently sighted in the Verdugo Mountains. If you see these cameras while hiking, please do not touch or move them as they are City property and used for research.

To learn more about the Cougar Conservancy, please visit https://cougarconservancy org/

Rainy day

of a 6 coyote pack taken in the morning.

A lone coyote walking along the trail in the morning.

A fawn in the morning.

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Parking Safety

Please Remember To:

-Lock your cars.

-Hide all valuables from sight or leave it at home.

-Do not leave laptops or wallets inside the car.

-Report suspicious activities to Burbank Police.

There is little to no cell phone reception in the parking lot. In case of an emergency, there is a call box located next to the women's restroom that can be used to call Burbank Police and 911.

Heat Safety Reminders

- The hiking trails in the Verdugo Mountains are sunny and hot.

-Bring water, hat, sunglasses, and wear sunscreen.

- Avoid the trails on the hottest part of the day and hike in the cool hours of early morning or early evening.

- Always let someone know where you are going for a hike and when you will be finished.

Rattlesnake Safety Tips

-Please keep an eye on your pets while walking on the trails and keep them leashed.

-Rattlesnakes hide in cool areas during hot days and in the brush. They do not always rattle, so please be vigilant.

-If you see a snake, stop and give it plenty of space for it to escape. Do not try to jump over the snake.

-Rattlesnakes are seen around the parking lot on warm sunny days.

Mountains is home

the Southern Pacific rattlesnake. They feed on lizards, rodents, and can live up to 20 years.

If you are bit, call 911 immediately and keep the bite area below the heart if possible. Remain calm to slow down the spread of venom.

The Verdugo

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