Local residents taught to live in harmony with nature





By John Loesing
Acorn Staff Writer

Residents who live close to woods or open space expect special visitors from time to time: rattlesnakes, possums, even coyotes. Some people have even reported bobcats and mountain lions.


To help Southern Californians live in harmony with the wild animals, a coalition of public wildlife agencies announced a program last week called "Living on the Edge."


The free educational programs will be offered throughout the year at different communities in the Santa Monica Mountains, wherever urban development and the wilderness share a common border.


"Wild animals don’t respect property lines," said Michelle Cullens, director of the Mountain Lion Foundation. "We knew it was time to address the problems of people living on the edge of wildlife."


The Foundation will work with four other groups—California Wildlife Center, Mountains Restoration Trust, Nature of Wildworks and South Coast Wildlands Project—to present the neighborhood programs.


The first event is Wed., May 7 in Malibu at the Bluffs Community Park Center. Programs will also be presented from the Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Calabasas areas to Pacific Palisades.


"Each of our neighborhood meetings is geared toward reducing conflicts with the animals that are specific to that area," Cullens said.


The meeting in Malibu, for example, might help residents gain a better understanding of aquatic issues. At Porter Ranch, animals such as big cats and coyotes will be discussed.


"For better or worse, people live in the Santa Monica Mountains," said Jeff Jennings, Malibu mayor. ""They’re not going to go away and it’s best we learn to live with the original inhabitants."


Experts will bring rescued wild animals to the meetings and discuss habitat, feeding habits and how residents can safeguard their homes and ranches. Through proper education and awareness, people can enjoy living next to the wilderness without threatening the animals or feeling afraid of them, according to experts.


"We need to let the community know that we live next to the edge and we have a responsibility," said Steve Harris, president of the Mountains Restoration Trust (MRT). "It’s not the animals intruding on our space—we’re intruding on theirs."


MRT is the largest non-governmental landholder in the Santa Monica Mountains. Public officials and members of the media received a "Living on the Edge" demonstration class last week at MRT’s new headquarters in rural Calabasas.


"What we need to do is be better stewards," Harris said.


Nature of Wildworks founder Mollie Hogan introduced "Phoenix," a 14-year-old male mountain lion living in captivity. Phoenix purred loudly while Hogan stroked his thick fur and patted his forehead. His sharp claws are intact and his big, gray eyes registered alertness, but not alarm.


"You barely see them in the housing tracts," Hogan said, "but sometimes lions that are young and inexperienced will prey on house pets."


While several females still roam the Santa Monica Mountains, experts believe that only one wild male might be left.


"They’re having trouble in the Santa Monica Mountains because there’s just not enough land," Hogan said. "You don’t really have to worry about them that much."


The Mountain Lion Foundation is working with youth groups such as Future Farmers of America and 4-H to construct mountain lion pens that people can use for protecting their pets and livestock.


Of bigger concern to people living on the edge are the food-grubbing possums and skunks that often come around. "If you don’t want a possum in your yard, you keep the human food away from them," Hogan said. "They’re very benign animals, although they look pretty scary."


Possums don’t carry rabies or distemper, but skunks are a different story, she said. "Skunks can do damage to your lawn and they carry rabies."


Also, said Hogan, "There’s sulfuric acid in their spray and you cannot get it off."


De-scented skunks are illegal to own as pets.


Experts recommend placing an ammonia-soaked towel on top of your outdoor garbage can as a deterrent to wild animals. Also be sure to keep pet doors in good working order and the tops closed on all outdoor grills.


Hogan also presented "Tara," a red-tail hawk with a 45-inch wing span, and "Emmy," a Pacific horned owl. "Owls are one of the animals that have a bad reputation," Hogan said. "Native American cultures thought they were the agents of death."


But most owls aren’t big enough to haul away full grown pets, she said, although they have been known to snatch smaller animals, such as kittens.


Both Tara and Emmy fell out of their nests when they were young and taken to the Wildworks center in Topanga for upbringing.


As a complement to the neighborhood meetings, the city of Calabasas television channel will produce a series of public service announcements to educate the public about wildlife awareness. Visit www.cityofcalabasas.com for information about "On the Edge" programming.


To learn more about the wildlife education programs in your neighborhood, call the Mountains Restoration Trust at (818) 591-1701.



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