On the Ranch
By Jaron Cramer, Executive Director
When I hopped into the Conservancy's dust-covered truck for my very first journey onto Tejon Ranch last summer, I came prepared. Appropriate attire, check. Extra water, check. Lots of snacks, plenty of sunblock... you know the drill. But looking back, I really didn't have a clue what I was in for.
A few hours into the cross-Ranch tour, as I acclimated to the bumpy ride on roads far too steep to survive the rains where I grew up in Washington state, I was awe-struck by the vast scale of Tejon and the repeated experience of crossing from one distinct ecosystem to the next simply by cresting the hill between them. The photos I have from that first tour include panoramic vistas from Ray's Perch, blooms of wildflowers defying summer's heat, a vast grove of Joshua trees in Canyon del Gato Montes, the very big sycamore tree ironically located at the mouth of Little Sycamore Canyon, and likely-ancient markings made by indigenous people on Compass Rock. All this in a single trip, and we still arrived back to the Conservancy's office ahead of schedule with plenty of snacks remaining. You might say I was hooked.
Fast forward to this summer. After enjoying several more excursions onto the Ranch through the Conservancy's Public Access program, an opening to join and lead its staff came across my radar. The opportunity to put my environmental education, non-profit background, and passion for the outdoors to work for an organization engaged in legacy-defining efforts was too good to pass up. I now find myself humbly writing to you as the Conservancy's new executive director.
When I hopped in my dust-covered car for my first commute from Bakersfield to the Conservancy's office in Frazier Park, I came prepared. Appropriate attire, extra water, lots of snacks... But this time, I knew what I was in for, and I found myself in awe of the wonderful people and the great potential of the Conservancy. The practically-panoramic foresight of the Ranch-wide Agreement that protected 90% of this remarkable property and provided for meaningful environmental education and public access. The still-blooming spirit of collaboration that defies the divisive heat of this political season. The vast range of science and stewardship projects completed, in the works, or planned to enhance our understanding of Tejon's wonders and protect them. The very big challenge of fulfilling such an ambitious mission. I did not find ancient markings at the Conservancy's office, but there are core samples from the Ranch's oak trees with rings dating back to the 1600's. That first day, I was a bit late getting home and out of snacks, but I was definitely still hooked.
However you have come to connect with the Conservancy -- attending a Public Access event, giving back through membership or volunteerism, performing research, or otherwise pitching into this important experiment in conservation -- I hope you'll find, as I have, that there is still so much more for us to discover together.
With hope,
exploration and excitement: summer interns experience tejon up close
By Jaron Cramer, Executive Director
Earlier this summer, the Conservancy hosted two interns from Cal State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) through a program generously funded by the Batey Family of Bakersfield. This was the seventh year of the program that continues to provide valuable, hands-on field experiences for students interested in the sciences, while helping the Conservancy continue to discover and document the many natural wonders of Tejon Ranch. Without further ado, let's meet the interns!
Magaly Jurado is a senior at CSUB majoring in Biology. The summer internship was Magaly's second with the Conservancy, after wrapping up a Wildlife Technician internship that began November 2021. When asked why she came back, she said, "I decided to apply because I knew I would get more hands-on experience. I had been working with wildlife data management, and I wanted to get more experience out on the Ranch, which turned out to be phenomenal. I have been able to be a part of multiple projects on the Ranch, and have met a lot of experts in the field."
Among many other projects, Magaly joined a survey, led by botanist Neal Kramer and Mitchell Coleman of the Conservancy, aimed at finding an endemic jewelflower near Blue Ridge. After two days of challenging hikes and learning how to identify threatened plants and conduct plant population surveys, Magaly reported, "The experience changed the way I view the Tehachapi Mountains, as well as how I view myself. I am now more confident in myself and my ability to be able to conduct these surveys. What has surprised me most about the Tejon Ranch is how big and beautiful the land is. I have been living in Bakersfield for over a decade, and not once did I imagine what sights could be found in these mountains."
Magaly's ideal career be working towards wildlife conservation, whether that be working for a conservancy, a sanctuary, or as a professor bringing awareness to conservation issues.
Amy Chang is a senior at CSUB majoring in Biology. This was Amy's first internship with the Conservancy, during which she completed rare plant surveys, helped to catch bumblebees alongside pollinator researchers, and provided cover in the field for Tejon's three species of legless lizard. Amy reported, "Not only did I learn about the animals that inhabit the land and the rare plants we got to survey, we learned about the rich history in the land and the connection to Bakersfield. It is surprising how much life is present in the hills that we can see on the horizon from town."
As for Amy's favorite part of the internship, she has a list. "I loved driving on Haul Road and seeing the trees change from valley oaks to white fir and other conifers. Another favorite was heading down into Antelope Valley, passing Joshua trees, and entering pronghorn territory (we only saw one, which we named Gregory). The view from the top of Blue Ridge, after an exhausting hike, was breathtaking."
Amy let us know the internship opened new doors for her to consider a career that includes biological field work or the study of rare plants, as well as a newly-developed interest in exploring the outdoors through hiking.
The staff and board of the Conservancy extend our sincere gratitude to Magaly and Amy for their passion for learning and strong work-ethic displayed throughout their internships; to the CSUB School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering for facilitating this rewarding learning experience, and to the Batey Family for their continued, generous support of the program.
Mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk at Tejon Ranch
What’s the difference?
By Michael White, PhD, Conservation Science Director Emeritus
Herbivores (plant eaters) play important roles in ecosystems, such as influencing the types and structure of vegetation, recycling nutrients, dispersing seeds, and allowing matter and energy to move between photosynthesizing plants and meat-eating carnivores (of course they must be eaten to accomplish the latter task).
Two of the more important larger-bodied herbivores at Tejon Ranch are mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk.
A Rocky Mountain bull elk spotted on Tejon Ranch. Photo by Chris Gardner.
Deer and elk are both ungulates, which are generally the hoofed mammals, including the odd-toed members (e.g., horses, rhinoceroses) and even-toed members (e.g., deer, cattle, pigs, hippopotamuses). Taxonomically, they are both in the Mammalian family Cervidae, but in two different subfamilies.
Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are native to western North America. Ten subspecies are recognized, four of which occur in California. Elk (Cervus canadensis) are native to North America and Asia; six subspecies are recognized in North America. The Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni) is one of these subspecies and is not native to California. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 290 Rocky Mountain elk were shipped from Yellowstone National Park to a high-fenced game farm in the Tehachapis in 1967 and began escaping from the enclosure later that year when the fence failed. CDFW estimates that approximately 200 elk currently reside on and in the vicinity of Tejon Ranch. Historically, Tule elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes) would have occupied the lower elevations of the San Joaquin Valley and Tehachapi foothills of Tejon Ranch.
Mule bucks with horns in velvet. Photo by Chris Gardner.
Elk is the larger of the two species. An adult male elk can reach 1,000 pounds, while an adult male mule deer might reach 300 to 400 pounds. Elk, in particular the Rocky Mountain elk, have a much larger rack of antlers than mule deer. Antlers (unlike horns) are shed and regrown annually.
Deer and elk are ruminants (like cows) and have a multi-chambered stomach to digest the plant material they consume. Mule deer are predominately browsers, nibbling on young trees and shrubs, as well as some grasses and forbs. However, elk are primarily grazers of grasses and forbs, but do browse shrub and tree buds in the spring.
Two bull elk enjoying the expansive landscapes of the Ranch. Photo by Mitchell Coleman.
Mating season, or the rut, usually occurs in the fall for both mule deer and elk. During this period, females (a female deer is a doe, a female elk is a cow) go into estrus. Males (a male deer is a buck, a male elk is a bull) begin to spar with each other to establish dominance over the entire group of females in the herd (his harem).
The dominate buck or bull is the only male of the herd that gets to mate with all the females in the harem. Although with multiple females to look after at the same time, a bull or buck can’t always know what might happen behind his back!
A large mule buck relaxes in the shade. Photo by Chris Gardner.
Does typically give birth to two fawns in the spring, while an elk cow typically gives birth to a single calf. Fawns and calves are unable to walk immediately after birth and are very susceptible to predators until they can join the herd about two weeks after birth. Mule deer can live 15 years or longer in captivity, but typically live seven to 11 years in the wild. Elk can live 20 years or more in captivity, but 10 to 15 years in the wild.
Fawns typically lose their spots within a few months after birth. Photo by Chris Gardner.
In California, mountain lions are the principal natural predator of adult deer and elk. Although coyotes, feral pigs, and black bears will certainly predate deer fawns and elk calves when given the opportunity. Mule deer and elk are also desirable game species in California, with the Rocky Mountain elk in particular reaching large sizes with impressive racks of antlers. The Tejon Ranch Company offers hunting opportunities for both mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk through the State of California’s Private Lands Management Program; the right to offer hunting opportunities is provided in exchange for commitments by the private landowner to enhance habitats for game and other species.
A set of antlers on a mature bull, like this one, can weigh up to 40 pounds. Photo by Vince Chafin.
At Tejon Ranch, mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk are ecologically and economically important species — two more reasons the Conservancy’s efforts are so important!
With science-based stewardship, deer and elk will continue to prosper on Tejon Ranch. Photo by Chris Gardner.
Return of a Special visitor
By Steven Justus, Senior Docent, California Naturalist
Tejon Ranch inevitably wows and surprises every time you attend a Public Access event or “work” here as a volunteer. Earlier this year, birders were treated to an exciting surprise with the return of a special visitor, Melanerpes lewis, the Lewis’s Woodpecker!
The drought and associated climate issues have put quite a bit of stress on our ecosystems. This translates into diminished species counts during scheduled national migration count events. Both the number of - and individual counts within - a species have been affected. The fact that this species is considered in decline makes its return even more significant.
Absent for over seven years, the Lewis’s Woodpecker returned this spring in significant numbers to Big Sycamore Canyon on the Antelope Valley side of the Ranch. Additionally, large numbers returned to the Lower Tejon Creek area in the San Joaquin Valley. A significant amount of conservation and stewardship work has targeted this section of the Ranch. The unique conditions presented by the combination of a mature riparian habitat, adjacent open pastures, large cottonwoods, and the oak woodlands proved to be a significant draw. As many as 70 to 100 individuals were counted on every visit; those numbers held for several weeks.
The Lewis’s Woodpecker, named for explorer Meriwether Lewis, is a spectacular bird with a dark red face, gray collar, dark iridescent green-black back, and most strikingly, its breast and belly are a pink to salmon red. It has a unique buoyant flight and acts more like a flycatcher in many ways. It does not excavate wood for insects; it captures insects from tree surfaces and most commonly captures them from the air.
Described as “unpredictable” as to where they might show up, we hope they will return perennially to the Tejon Ranch as they once did. Our area is not considered its normal nesting area, so perhaps the best we can hope for is a strong draw back to the riparian enhancement corridor along Lower Tejon Creek and its adjacent woodlands and pastures.
Want to experience your own surprises on the Ranch? Join us in our conservation and enhancements projects or attend one of our birding trips, and let’s see what we can discover!
Science, Stewardship, and Nature Journaling: a Personal Account
By Paula Harvey, Education Coordinator
"Migratory monarch butterfly now Endangered - IUCN Red List."
This is the headline of a recent article from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) aimed at raising awareness of the threats to this remarkable species. Habitat destruction from logging and deforestation, urban development on both coasts of the US and Canada, and agricultural pesticides and herbicides that kill monarchs and milkweed are listed as the primary reasons for the drop in population. Milkweed is the only plant monarch caterpillars feed on.
This, of course, is not a surprise to us in California, as the population has been in a steady and significant decline over the years.
Collectively, we can have a significant impact on improving the status of migratory monarchs by planting native milkweed in our yards. It’s easy to do, and, as is part of its common name, it grows like a WEED! Milkweed is not only a source of food for monarch caterpillars, but for numerous other invertebrates, including the 1,600 native bee species in California (yes! 1,600 species!), milkweed wasps and other wasps, the milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus), and many, many other native insects. The plant itself is attractive. The flowers have a pleasant, light scent, and it’s so much fun to see all the activity going on at the peak of summer. Make certain, if you plant milkweed, that it is a native plant Asclepias spp.
Tejon Ranch is Home to Milkweed and Migratory Monarchs
As is the case for many threatened, endangered, and special status species, Tejon Ranch is located in the heart of the migration route for monarchs. Four species of milkweed have been identified by the Conservancy on the Ranch.
Narrow Leaf Milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis, is what I planted in my garden. Now, at the peak of summer, the plants are in full bloom and a few are beginning to develop seed pods. Visitors to my milkweed are abundant and varied. The plants are their own ecosystem. Monarch butterflies stay for a few days on their way to the coast. This year, I’m feeling hopeful as I see there are many more monarchs than in years past.
Carpenter bee and tarantula hawk wasp, among many other smaller invertebrates feasting on milkweed flowers in my garden. Photo by Paula Harvey.
Nature Journaling in Your Own Garden
As the education coordinator for the Tejon Ranch Conservancy, I teach environmental education to students, from elementary to college, and faculty. I primarily use nature journaling, also known as science notebooks, to teach environmental topics and to pique curiosity and awareness. When I mention this, many people declare, “I can’t draw!” as a reason they wouldn’t attempt nature journaling. However, this isn’t about painting and drawing pretty pictures. I use a three dimensional approach to journaling, as taught by nature journaling guru, John Muir Laws. The purpose of journaling is to promote curiosity and deep observation, not to create beautiful artwork. We observe and learn through writing, measuring, and drawing. No one action is better or more important than the other, and I encourage people to do more of whichever approach is most comfortable. However, a little sketching or diagramming improves observation immensely, and over time, drawing skills get better. Drawing is a skill, not a “talent.”
I’m now going to demonstrate basic journaling, observing the milkweed in my garden. In the fall, I’ll come back to the garden and journal again, and in so doing, I will demonstrate an activity called “Journaling Over Time.” Look for the follow-up article in our next edition.
Step 1
Metadata (journal heading) Every time you begin a journal page, head it with date, day, time, season, weather (temperature, % cloud cover, and wind speed), location, ecosystem, who you’re with, and any other pertinent data that will help you remember the event. More information is better than less. Remember, Charles Darwin studied finches on four of the Galapagos Islands but neglected to include the name of each island with his samples! HUGE oversight.
Pictured: Out in the field (in this case, my garden), making initial observations and sketches. Notice, the metadata is already in the journal.
Now it’s time to journal.
Journaling is a personal activity, and you should journal any way that works for you. When I’m journaling, I usually start with a quick sketch, then begin writing my observations. In addition to observations, I list some questions and make connections to prior experiences as part of the writing portion of journaling. John Muir Laws uses these sentence starters:
I notice…
I wonder…
This reminds me of…
You can set up your journal pages any way you like. I’m very random, so I write a few captions, do a quick sketch that I expand with details, write some more, do some measuring and counting, and continue in this random fashion. I let my curiosity drive my journaling. I’m not interested in a beautiful, finished piece, but I want the journal page to be a vehicle in my learning journey. While my journal pages do not look particularly structured, I always include those three approaches, writing, sketching, and measuring, on every page and write observations, questions and make connections to my prior knowledge and experience.
Once my field journaling is finished, I usually do some online research to get answers to any questions I was unable to answer through observations. I cite my sources, so I can research further at another time.
Your turn! I encourage you to start journaling. Don’t worry about how it looks, but instead, focus on the discoveries your journal practice helps you make. Over time, you’ll develop a style that will be uniquely yours. Have fun with it.
Happy learning!
Interested in journaling adventures on the Ranch? Contact Paula Harvey at pharvey@tejonconservancy.org, or check the Conservancy's Calendar for public workshops throughout the year.
Join us on Tejon Ranch and beyond this fall
Fall is a wonderful time to be out on Tejon Ranch and exploring throughout the Tehachapi Mountains. When the heat of summer finally begins to fade and you begin make your plans for adventures in the outdoors, we invite you to join us for one of our upcoming tours on the Ranch and beyond.
Interested in a private tour? Please contact Reema Hammad, Public Access Coordinator at rhammad@tejonconservancy.org.
A few housekeeping items for events: Participants must observe the Conservancy's policies for Public Access events, and all events require pre-registration; rules and registration links can be found on our website calendar here. Registration for fall events will open August 31, 2022. Events are subject to change or cancellation.
VIDEO: A friendly reminder to be like this cougar family and stay hydrated this summer!
Thank you!
Tejon Ranch Conservancy E-News produced by Jaron Cramer. If you’d like to contribute to E-News, please contact us.