Women return to tracking bighorn in the Mojave
Desert Bighorn (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) are a protected species. They migrate during the different seasons, accessing areas that have food, water, and shelter. The Women in Science Discovering Our Mojave (WISDOM) internship has provided new insights into the movement of bighorn sheep in the Mojave Desert, with game cameras collecting data and images of the elusive species.
Action alert: Help protect the Joshua tree
We are at a critical juncture for the western Joshua tree. It may seem impossible to imagine the southern California desert without its signature Joshua tree forests, but without adequate protective measures to address impending threats, it’s a very likely scenario.
The first plants were people
“Among the Cahuilla, plants were not viewed simply as objects which might or might not be useful to man, but as living beings with whom one could communicate and interact….Plants, like any life form, were therefore treated with respect.”
- Temalpakh, by Lowell John Bean and Katherine Siva Saubel
Know your desert pollinators, and the plants they rely on
Native plants in the Mojave Desert are visited by hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. These pollinators are vital to our ecosystem. But they need our help.
Action alert! California mountain lions in peril
Mountain lions in our deserts and related lions in the south and central coast of California are at risk of extinction. A petition to state list these animals as threatened is being heard by the California Fish and Game Commission.
How nature heals trauma
Our public lands play a pivotal role in the emotional and spiritual recovery for some veterans. In 2005, I returned home from a yearlong deployment to Iraq. And no one ever tells you that coming home is one of the hardest parts of serving. Reintegration back into civilian life — no matter what your job was overseas or stateside — can take a toll on service members both mentally and physically. But many service members and veterans have realized the benefits of the outdoors to help ease that transition.
It’s alive! The hidden microbial communities below our feet
California’s deserts are harbors of biodiversity — filled with blossoming wildflowers, charismatic animals, and imperceptible microorganisms. Walk through a desert and you might see a vast vista of protruding peaks speckled with desert scrub. Look a little closer and you might see pops of color, fragrant forbs scattered across the soil. Easily missed, biocrusts are ecosystem engineers in the soil. Here’s why we need to watch where we step.