The Dana Point Headlands preserve, half of which is owned by the center and half by the city, is home to various rare and endangered species.
As the sun sets on one of Southern California’s last undeveloped promontories, a mouse that weighs slightly more than a nickel steps out of its burrow.
Though it was added to the federally endangered species list in 1994, there are only four known wild populations of the mouse — two at Camp Pendleton, one at the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and the one at the Dana Point.The only four known wild populations of the Pacific pocket mouse, which is on the federally endangered species list, are found in Southern California.
“I think that the headlands are unique in Southern California conservation,” said David Thoreau, board director for the center. “It’s also one of the most beautiful locations in Southern California.”Another federally threatened species, the coastal California gnatcatcher, lives on the preserve. The tiny songbird can be seen hopping between branches of coastal sage scrub, letting out its characteristic call, which sounds like a cat’s meow.
Merrill, who became an expert on the ants while pursuing a master’s degree in entomology from UC Riverside, said this is just one of the many challenges she has to contend with on the Dana Point preserve.“People need to stay on trail,” Merrill said. “Many go off and crush vegetation and then crush mice burrows or gnatcatcher nests. People smoking poses risks. Bringing dogs on the preserve is a big one. Wildlife see dogs as predators. We don’t allow them on the preserve to protect the species.
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