Native Wildlife

Wildlife Corridors

Photo by Alexandra Hicks

You often read about “wildlife corridors” in MBCA’s emails, comment letters, and resource materials. We have relied on the work of South Coast Wildlands (SCWildlands.org) for our understanding of these corridors or "linkages."  SCWildlands is a non-profit organization “dedicated to ensuring functional habitat connectivity across diverse wildland networks.” Their mission is “… to protect and restore systems of connected wildlands that support native wildlife and the ecosystems upon which they rely.

 

Roadrunner portrait by Alexandra Hicks
Photo by Alexandra Hicks

The research performed by SCWildlands is a key element of the Morongo Basin Conservation Priorities Map.  SCWildlands prepared a well-researched “Linkage Design” for important native species in the Morongo Basin area, showing habitat appropriate for the movement of the Basin’s native species.  Following is a description of their research:

 

The Linkage Design for the Joshua Tree - Twentynine Palms Connection encompasses basin and range topography with an impressive array of geological formations and broad alluvial fans or bajadas. It includes several major swaths of habitat to accommodate diverse species and ecosystem functions. The two areas targeted to be served by the linkage, Joshua Tree National Park and the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) at Twentynine Palms, support a great diversity of species. Joshua Tree provides habitat for more than 250 resident and migratory birds, 52 mammals, 44 reptiles, 3 amphibians, and more than 700 vascular plant species, while MCAGCC supports nearly 400 plant species and more than 250 vertebrate wildlife species.

 

Special Desert Species 

Desert Tortoise

 

tortoise_in_yard2.jpegRead a May 2017 update from the Los Angeles Times on the status of desert tortoises in Joshua Tree National Park. A July 2015 article in The Desert Sun describes a tortoise research study occurring in the southeastern part of Joshua Tree National Park and provides an overview of concerns including the effects of climate change. Basic Facts about Desert Tortoises is available from Defenders of Wildlife (defenders.org).

Dont_feed_coyotes_poster__Chris_Clarke.jpg

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Don't Feed the Wildlife!

Thanks to local resident and KCET writer Chris Clarke for this poster.

 

Unique Desert Animals of Morongo Basin

Enjoy these informative essays on several unique desert animals of our Morongo Basin.  They were written by MBCA Director Pat Flanagan, who prepared them for the 29 Palms Inn to share with visitors who want to better understand the unusual creatures that they might find in our desert.
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Coyotes    
    
        
     
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  • Featured post

    MBCA Comments on Proposed Changes to Wind Turbine Specifications

    Posted by · March 04, 2025 3:53 PM
    In this letter to San Bernardino County Senior Planner Maryn Wells, MBCA expresses concerns about a proposed Development Code amendment that would permit expansion of the generating capacity of wind turbines Countywide. With the potential for placement of 100-foot tall wind turbines within the Rural Living Zone, MBCA is calling for the imposition of a Conditional Use Permit for the permitting of wind turbines throughout the County. Especially in desert communities, the installation of 30 to 40 foot diameter turbines presents health and safety concerns as well as threats to wildlife and the natural environment.
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  • Featured post

    Energy Distribution and Conservation Topics Highlight MBCA's Annual Meeting

    Posted by · January 30, 2025 10:36 AM
    DelChiaro_opening.jpegKeynote Speaker Bernadette Del Chiaro provided an audience of over 70 gathered on January 25 for MBCA's Annual Meeting with a message that "Rooftop Solar Is Essential To California’s Clean Energy Goals." She provided detailed and incisive information (view her PowerPoint slides) about California's power distribution system and the imbalance between utility company profit goals and the need to speed up renewable energy with rooftop and distributed solar. Compelling evidence was presented showing blatant misrepresentations by utilities in their efforts to slow the adoption of rooftop solar while encouraging utility scale projects.

    MBCA Board member Allan Songer presented an overview of emergency battery power options, and provided a handout of some available products.

    Steve Blackledge, Director of Conservation Campaigns for Environment America, focused on wildlife conservation issues in his presentation. Geary Hund, Board member of Mojave Desert Land Trust, augmented the presentation with news of progress toward the possibility of wildlife crossings on Highway 62.

    Hund_on_wildlife_corssings.jpeg    
    Geary Hund speaks about possible future wildlife crossings on Hwy. 62.

    For a more complete overview of the presentations at the annual meeting, here is a report (with photos) in the Morongo Basin's non-profit publication The Desert Trumpet and as reported on local radio station Z107.7.

    And, a recording of all presentations and Q&A sessions is available on MBCA's YouTube channel.

    Annual_Meeting_room_(1).jpeg
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  • Featured post

    BLM Off-Road Plan Deemed Inadequate to Protect Tortoises

    Posted by · October 19, 2024 8:51 AM

    A federal judge has ruled that the West Mojave Route Network Project (WEMO) presented in 2019 by the Bureau of Land Management does not adequately protect the threatened (endangered in California) desert tortoise. The lawsuit against the Plan filed in 2021 was brought by six environmental organizations. While not all the lawsuit’s claims were granted, the judge found that the off-road routes could not be shown to adequately protect the tortoise and other endangered species. Additional details can be found in articles in the Los Angeles Times and Desert Sun. MBCA's 2018 commented on the project in 2018.

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  • Featured post

    BLM Extends Public Comment on Morongo Valley Communications Tower

    Posted by · September 17, 2024 7:02 PM
    MBCA addressed concerns about the proposed 196-foot communications tower in Morongo Valley in this 2022 post. The latest version of the Environmental Assessment (at 422 pages) was published late this summer. On September 13 BLM republished its earlier Press Release to include a new public comment extension to October 7. Concerned Morongo Valley residents have created guidelines showing how to comment and containing "substantive comment" language for the main concerns of the local community. 
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    MBCA Joins Appeal against Weakening California Environmental Protections

    Posted by · August 20, 2024 2:52 PM
    As the California Legislative session draws to a close, MBCA has joined with 93 other organizations signing a letter opposing efforts to "gut and amend" legislation that would weaken environmental protections without public input. 
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    MBCA Questions Joshua Tree Housing Development Proposal

    Posted by · August 07, 2024 3:51 PM
    Local Joshua Tree residents alerted MBCA about receiving a notice from the County about a proposed housing project in their neighborhood. Recipients were offered the opportunity to comment on a Tentative Tract map application to subdivide about 18.5 undeveloped acres into 64 parcels of "minimal impact" homes. MBCA's comments highlight the lack of information on the project and insufficient time window for providing comments. We question any claims concerning sustainability and responsible growth and development. Also addressed is the lack of progress on encouraging affordable housing after acknowledgment by the Supervisors of the ill-effects of a surfeit of STRs in Joshua Tree. We emphasize this is a project requiring analysis under CEQA for impacts due to aesthetics, flooding, flora, traffic, and wastewater.
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    Desert View Conservation Area Highlighted

    Posted by · July 26, 2024 10:22 AM
    A new video highlighting Joshua Tree's Desert View Conservation Area has been produced by San Bernardino County, whose Special Districts department oversees the preserved acreage. This free daytime recreation area north of Joshua Tree National Park has received improvements for visitors in recent years and additional educational signage is planned.  
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  • Featured post

    Rabbit Hemorrhagic Fever Disease Rising in Morongo Basin

    Posted by · July 12, 2024 3:56 PM
    There are reports in various locations of the Morongo Basin of dead rabbits and hares likely dead of the hemorrhagic disease that was virulent several years ago. Read this information from the state for recognizing and handling dead animals that might carry the disease. It is important to note that this type of virus is only known to affect rabbits and hares, not other animals or humans.
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    Regional Conservation Investment Strategy Recommendations Sent

    Posted by · August 04, 2023 8:41 PM
    MBCA is among four regional conservation non-profits recommending together in this letter that the draft of the San Bernardino County Regional Conservation Investment Strategy be edited to meet statute requirements regarding quantifiable goals and gap analysis. In addition, MBCA along with Mojave Desert Land Trust, California Desert Coalition, and The Wildlands Conservancy suggest the use of the 2012 Morongo Basin Conservation Priorities Report to enrich the evaluative data for habitat value. 
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    MBCA Joins Trailer Bill Concerns

    Posted by · June 03, 2023 11:14 AM
    With 100 other non-profit conservation-related organizations, MBCA signed a letter to entreat Governor Newsom and 15 state legislators on the Senate and Assembly budget committees to eliminate from the budget a number of infrastructure trailer bills that should be enacted through the legislative process instead. The 8 trailer bills cited would, if enacted through the budget, eliminate public input and considered evaluation for "important and complicated policies." 
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