Hiking is great for physical and mental health. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to encounter wildlife on the trails that crisscross and surround Irvine. Cottontail rabbits abound, darting under fragrant sagebrush to disguise their scent from would-be predators. You’ll often see lizards, particularly the western fence lizard, which turns a seductive blue when seeking a mate and loves to do pushups. You might spot a pitched battle between red harvester ants and small black Argentine ants.
The rarer the sighting, the more thrilling. Recently, while volunteering for Irvine Ranch Conservancy and greeting hikers at the Augustine gate to Limestone Canyon, I spotted a gray fox cantering across the road. That’s the first time in two decades of hiking the trails that I’ve seen one.
When I got back home, I researched foxes that live in Southern California. Amazingly, I discovered that gray foxes can climb trees – the only canine in North America with that capability. They mark their territory with a scent similar to the pungent odor of a skunk. They’re also extremely hard to spot, secretive and nocturnal, so count yourself very lucky if you see one.
I love learning interesting facts about critters. One of my favorites is the dusky-footed woodrat. Our woodrats are surprisingly cute, as befits a place that begat Mickey Mouse. Cinnamon-colored, they have rounded teddy-bear ears, long whiskers and a furry tail. Remarkably, they build conical stick-nests that endure for generations. The nests are intricately designed with separate areas for food storage, sleeping and nursing their young. Several nests can be spotted along Willow Trail in Laguna Coast Wilderness, which can be reached via the Quail Hill Trail and Serrano Ridge. However, the creatures are nocturnal, so you might never catch a glimpse.
Talking of cute, mule deer are so named because of their large ears. These black-tailed animals can frequently be spotted on the Shady Canyon Trail and in Bommer Canyon. Your best chances are at dusk and dawn. Fall is breeding season, so you might be lucky this October to watch males rutting, clashing antlers. It’s always a treat to watch them stotting, which is when they jump off all four feet at the same time, moving amazingly fast through the undergrowth. They startle easily, so you might very well witness this behavior.
You’re very likely on local trails and in Irvine parks to see one of my favorite birds, acorn woodpeckers. These red-capped, black-and-white-feathered birds hang out wherever there are oak woodlands. I think of them as the hippies of their species. Approximately 16 of them live together in harmony in an avian commune. Females all lay their eggs in the same nest, and the whole clan raises the young. What’s more, the acorns that they store in a granary tree, often a sycamore, are shared with the entire group. (Fun fact: They actually prefer to eat insects.)
Roadrunners are another of my favorite birds. I’ve seen individuals frequently at the Quail Loop Trailhead, on Serrano Ridge and in Bommer Canyon. Roadrunners are members of the cuckoo family – their scientific name, Geococcyx, means “earth cuckoo.” Apparently, early accounts of these birds racing parallel alongside stagecoaches, maintaining a speed of about 20 mph, resulted in their very appropriate common name. They spend most of their time on the ground, flying only reluctantly, which is also true of some people I know.
I’ve mentioned just a few of the remarkable animals and birds that live in the wilderness around us. Over the years, I’ve seen coveys of quail, scrub jays, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, and so many other beautiful birds, even a burrowing owl. Once, a bobcat honored us with its presence, strolling in front of us on the trail for several minutes. I treasure those moments.
We’re so lucky to live in close proximity to such marvelous creatures. The Irvine Company is to be lauded for its dedication to preserving the wilderness that makes Southern California such a special place to bring up a family. See you on the trails!
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