The Santa Clara River watershed and surrounding areas have finally been proposed as a Significant Ecological Area, or SEA. The map for this region can be seen above. This is a big step forward in recognizing and protecting the animal corridors in the region.

As our city expands, more and more habitat is destroyed, and it becomes more difficult for keystone species like the black bear, cougar, coyote, fox and bobcat to migrate from one place to another. When this migration is hindered or prevented, animals cannot find food or water; their gene pools are eliminated; and we have undesirable interactions between these animals and humans.  Our endangered species also become more stressed as we grow larger.

Santa Clarita has numerous endangered species in our midst, including chalk dudleya, Mariposa lily, least bell’s vireo, the arroyo toad, Southwestern pond turtle and the unarmored threespine stickleback.  All can be found in the Santa Clara River watershed.

Coyote crossing

If you venture into the local areas of the Angeles National Forest, the list of endangered plant and animal species becomes much greater.

As we continue to build shopping malls, houses and gas stations, we must think about setting aside habitat for the wild animals and plants that make up our natural world. We need to maintain the wildlife linkages so the plants and animals can continue to survive alongside us.

Keeping our wild spaces healthy will also keep us healthy. Wild spaces provide cities with cleaner air and water – things we all need.

Last year, we hosted a USGS-UCLA corridor study in Santa Clarita. Although wildlife cameras were stolen, vandalized, spray painted and pulled up out of the ground, we still managed to capture images of fox, coyote, bobcat, cougar, badger, deer and skunk.

Badger crosses the road at night.

Santa Clarita is teeming with wildlife because people like Laurene Weste and Marsha McLean have worked long and hard to balance our growth with the dedication of open space. These ladies prevented a dump from going into Elsmere Canyon. Every time I hike there, I thank them for their foresight. And yet, we still need more open space to support our wildlife.

A cougar was hit by a car during rush hour at Calgrove Boulevard. This young cougar was trying to disperse from Towsley Canyon. He didn’t make it. There was no place for him to go. There was no corridor from Towsley to the wedge. If there were, he could have migrated into the Angeles National Forest or to the Sierra Pelona mountains.

What if he’d gone into the Oakridge neighborhood instead of up on the freeway?  He might have had a collision with a family instead of a car.

This is why we need more open space. These poor animals need somewhere to go. His father lived in the opposite direction, which would also have meant certain death for him.

Why did the bobcat cross the road?

Over the last five years, we have had bear, cougar, coyote, fox and bobcat deaths due to vehicles.  If we don’t do something, the largest of the carnivores will be the first to go. If these indicator species are lost, the entire ecosystem could fall apart.

If the ecosystem unravels, your yard could be overrun with deer and your house could be overrun with rats and mice.

The most critical linkages in Santa Clarita are the Soledad corridor and the I-5 corridor.  Animals need to be able to travel from one side of the I-5 to the other, uninterrupted.

Could you find a green place to cross?

USGS survey team

There are fewer and fewer options for these animals. The SR-14 has a corridor crossing on the Pacific Crest Trail near Vasquez Rocks. But what if you’re a cougar in Canyon Country? Wildlife corridors should be a No. 1 priority as we move forward in our city planning.

Canada has solved the problem with overpasses that have lots of comfy vegetation on them. Deer as well as the predators can cross these bridges feeling safe and secure, surrounded by trees and native shrubbery. We need to do the same thing.

Caltrans is enlarging our freeways, eliminating what little bit of a crossing maze we did have.

We need to follow the suit of the Canadians who know the importance of salvaging linkages. If we don’t do something, you could soon find a hungry bear in your kitchen.

Dianne Erskine-Hellrigel is executive director of the Community Hiking Club and president of the Santa Clara River Watershed Conservancy. If you’d like to be part of the solution, join the Community Hiking Club’s Stewardship Committee. Contact Dianne through communityhikingclub.org or at zuliebear@aol.com.