Page 66 - 2003 DT 12 Issues

Missing Linkages protected, depending on the number of The underpass, still being restored to its
animal incursions into populated areas. natural state, is now a successful wildlife
ilderness corridors represent The mountain lion—puma, cougar, cata- corridor for lions and many other animals.
a tenuous compromise in the mount—inhabits all four deserts of the The South Coast Wildlands Project
Wbattle to preserve many large Southwest. It has been the focus of (SCWP) wants to build a whole network
animal species. Carnivores are the pri- California’s efforts to accommodate both of wildlands linkages that span all of
mary, if not the only, focus of studies to its wild animals and heavy urbanization. Southern California. According to Na-
link dwindling habitat islands to provide National Park Service wildlife biolo- tional Geographic News, Kristeen
viable hunting and breeding ranges. gists studying mountain lions in the Santa Penrod, executive director of SCWP, be-
Over the last century, the number of Monica Mountains have determined that lieves successes like Coal Canyon are
large carnivores in North America has its small isolated population will perish encouraging. “It’s not too late now but
been drastically reduced, according to a without the ability to travel widely and we . . . have probably about ten years to
1996 report in Science News. In the breed with other lions. That survival may secure these landscape level connections
Rocky Mountains, habitats have disap- depend upon the lions’ ability to cross or they will be gone, and it will probably
peared or become fragmented. New roads the 101 freeway via a wildlife corridor be forever,” says Penrod.
into wilderness areas have brought at Liberty Canyon. It is one of 15 critical
hunters closer to their prey, even biological linkage sites where animals
August Board Notes:
though hunting is illegal in many of these can safely travel between wildlands with-
areas. Trains and cars have also taken out having to negotiate major highways
their toll. or heavily urbanized areas. The study is With regard to the use of the
The Rocky Mountain Range, span- part of a larger program called the South Organization’s credit cards, a motion was
ning Canada and Coast Missing made and unanimously approved to make
the western US, Linkages Project, charges associated with non-refundable
harbors the largest which is spon- ticket cancellations or revisions the
and most diverse sored by both personal responsibility of the traveler.
populations of public and private Further, it was decided to restrict the use
carnivores in groups. of the credit card to the president, vice
North America. The Liberty president and Red Rock Canyon manager.
The animals face Canyon under- All other staff will be reimbursed for au-
a myriad of legal pass, 100 ft. long, thorized outlays within 10 days.
jurisdictions in is the only sliver A motion to transfer the $10,000
crossing not only for many miles for Oliver Ranch Field School scholar-
the border but connecting two ships—approved by the membership in
state and county small patches of August 2002—from the current budget
lines as well. While the Rockies are gen- undeveloped wildlands. While a radio- to an escrow Certificate of Deposit prior
erally lightly populated, as development collared lioness was observed inspecting to the end of the fiscal year was unani-
grows, so does the possibility of deadly the area, biologists have yet to see any mously approved. The action will
encounters with humans. usage. The core population these lions preserve the funds until the program is
To provide an adequate gene pool, as must reach lies 22 miles away in the Los operational.
well as sufficient forage in tough times, Padres National Forest, on the other side. A motion was made and unani-
animals must be able to safely travel be- Finding safe linkages all the way will be mously approved to solicit suggestions
tween parks and preserves. Conservation a daunting task. from the membership concerning the dis-
biologists propose creating broad corri- San Diego’s Coal Canyon exit on the position of funds remaining over and
dors safe from people to link habitat for eight-lane 91 freeway used to be an above the prescribed retained annual bal-
bears, wolves, mountain lions, wolver- asphalt underpass. When scientists dis- ance of $130,000. A vote will be taken
ines, and other predators. That vision is covered that mountain lions were using on the distribution of those funds to other
already taking form in California. the underpass to cross over to an ex- projects at the first quarter 2003-2004
Over the years, the California moun- tended habitat, a major residential and membership meeting.
tain lion has been alternately hunted and commercial development was cancelled. A memorandum of under-

Page 2 FORRC/September, 2003