Coastal California - The Wild Life

coastal california T H E W I L D L I F E

s k y • L a n D • s E aFo r e w o r d b y J e f f C o r w i n

26coastal california T H E W I L D L I F E

pvpublications.com

coastal california T H E W I L D L I F E

s k y • l a n d • s e a

Curated & Written by Amber Becerra and Kristin Borden

In all things of nature there is

“something of the marvelous.

—Aristotle

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Published by PV Publications Palos Verdes Peninsula, California, USA ©PV Publications LLC

All other rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording. or otherwise, without permission from the publisher.

Printed and bound in USA

ISBN: 978-1-7372192-1-7 Library of Congress Control Number: 2022912731

Coastal California, The Wild Life ©PV Publications LLC Written and Curated by Amber Becerra & Kristin Borden Photographed by Erik Jay and Contributing Regional Photographers Graphic Design by Lane Bullard

PV Publications’ books are available at special discounts when purchased in quantity for promotions as well as fundraising or educational use. Some of the proceeds of this book support wildlife conservation through the organizations featured in this book. Special editions can also be created to specification. For details, contact: info@pvpublications.com or the address below:

PO Box 4752 Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274 www.pvpublications.com

Honored to support reforestation with One Tree Planted as part of our commitment to sustainability. PV Publications will plant one tree for every book sold. www.onetreeplanted.org

i n t r o d u c t i o n

The coast of California spans more than 1,100 miles and if you include the small bays and inlets, which in part are what make it so dynamic and diverse, the number goes up to over 3,000 miles.

It is the third longest coastline in the country. With the Pacific Ocean to the West, the California coast serves as a central hub of activity for humans and animals alike. Coexistence proves to be a challenge but the local wildlife fights for a chance to call this unique area home.

More than twenty-thousand rock formations and small islands line the California coast. These uniquely formed habitats are home to a variety of marine mammals, seabirds and shorebirds. An abundance of sea life fills the tide pools along the rocks when the powerful tide ebbs. Dropping beneath the waves of the Pacific Ocean lies a rich aquatic ecosystem with too many living organisms to count.

This precious coastal habitat holds creatures unknown to many other areas of the world. California has more native species than any other U.S. state and has the greatest number of endemic species, or animals that are not found anywhere else on the planet.

The coastal geography is home to not only a variety of aquatic wildlife but also terrestrial animals that inhabit the myriad vegetation that forms near the coastline. Catch a glimpse of the rich diversity of flora and fauna that graces the Golden State’s coast in the pages to come.

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S a n D i e g o H u m a n e S o c i e t y ’ s

P r o j e c t W i l d l i f e

San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife program is the primary resource for wild animal rehabilitation and conservation education in San Diego County. Each year, San Diego Humane Society gives more than 13,000 injured, orphaned and sick wild animals a second chance.

At its state-of-the-art Pilar & Chuck Bahde Wildlife Center in San Diego, injured and orphaned wildlife—from hummingbirds, doves and ducks, to rabbits, squirrels, skunks and opossums—can heal and grow in specially designed habitats that reduce stress and meet their unique needs before they are released back to the wild. The facility’s medical and surgical suites allow the wildlife veterinary team to perform advanced medical care for species of all shapes and sizes, including orthopedic repairs and acupuncture.

www.sdhumane.org/wildlife

A 14-week-old mountain lion cub, semiconscious, emaciated and dehydrated, was brought to the San Diego Humane Society by firefighters in Idyllwild. The cub received daily fluid therapy, medications and nutrition and after doubling in weight, she was transferred to another wildlife facility where she now lives with two other mountain lions.

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Rescued baby animals require hand feeding in the beginning of their rehabilitation journey. Care at this young age requires expert treatment.

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The work of our medical staff and Project Wildlife volunteers is guided by one word: Compassion. It is through the unwavering compassion of our team and larger San Diego community that we are able to help more than 13,000 birds and mammals each year.

—Jon Enyart, DVM Sr. Director of Project Wildlife

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Dr. Enyart performing a muzzle gland removal on a big brown bat.

The great horned owl is also referred to as the hoot owl or tiger owl.

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San Diego County is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the United States with the greatest number of endangered species. People from all over the county bring wildlife patients to Project Wildlife for care and we are proud to be a resource that our neighbors can depend on in order to coexist peacefully with wild animals.

—Gary Weitzman, DVM San Diego Humane Society President & CEO

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Injured bald eagle was found with a wing droop and unable to fly. It received treatment at the center from the medical team and was then sent to the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Campus to regain strength in an aviary. It was released when it was strong enough to fly.

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A peregrine falcon was found unable to fly and covered in cactus spines with all of her tail feathers broken. The medical team at the center used a rare procedure called “imping” to repair them. She was placed in a special habitat to grow stronger and was eventually released.

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Whether it is a petite hummingbird or a majestic mountain lion, we put the same attention and care into every animal. And there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing our patients returned to the wild. It makes all the hard work worthwhile.

—Jon Enyart, DVM Sr. Director of Project Wildlife

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