local wildlife

Coyotes are occasionally seen in the community both during the day and at night. They are adept hunters and scavengers.  They can easily hop a 5-6 foot fence with little effort.   They can become a nuisance if they continually obtain food from garbage cans and other means. Homeowners are advised to keep small pets indoors and put trash cans out the morning of collection (Tuesdays) and avoid putting them out the night before.

Raccoons  are very intelligent creatures and can be quite adept at getting into areas where food is available(including your house or garage). They carry a dangerous parasite, Baylis Ascaris which can be transmitted to many animals including dogs, and to people.

Keep all food including pet food inside only. If racoons frequent your yard, ask your veterinarian about a wormer that can be given to your dog for this parasite.

Rattlesnakes help to control the rodent population in our area but unfortunately can inflict a painful, dangerous venomous bite. Many homeowners in our community have installed “snake fencing” which extends 3-4 feet above the ground as well as 1 foot below the ground to help keep them out of our yards. Be extremely careful when you are gardening or walking in our common area. If you encounter a rattle snake in your yard you can call animal control or the fire department for removal.

Mountain Lions and bobcats are infrequent visitors too .  They help keep the rabbit and rodent population in check.  They are adept hunters and can easily hop a 5-6 foot fence.  Homeowners are advised to keep small pets indoors.

Hawks and owls are majestic birds and are very important for controlling the rodent population in our area. 

Rabbits and squirrels can be very entertaining to watch.  However they can cause damage to your yard. When choosing plants for your yard check to see if they are resistant to rabbits. You can also install rabbit fencing similar to snake fence but make at least 4 feet high.

Gopher snakes are one of the most commonly seen snakes in California. Primarily active during the day, they are also active after sundown on hot days.  They are often observed crawling across trails and roads, especially in the morning and evenings when daytime temperatures are high. They are frequently seen around human dwellings, including suburban backyards, attracted to the rodents which thrive in such areas. Unfortunately, this harmless and beneficial species is very often killed out of fear that it is dangerous or that it is a rattlesnake.

Deer are known for being calm, gentle animals.  They are not picky eaters and will snack on almost any kind of plants they can find, including flowers and berries in your garden.  Their natural predators are coyotes, mountain lions and bobcats.

Opossums are some of the most misunderstood animals in the Americas. They’re often thought of as dimwitted, dirty creatures whose most impressive trick is acting like roadkill. The truth is just the opposite: Opossums are smarter, cleaner, and more beneficial to humans than many of their woodland neighbors.  According to the National Wildlife Federation opossums consume more than 5000 ticks per season.  That means the more opossums in your area the fewer ticks you'll encounter.  Opossums also eat snakes and are immune to rattlesnake venom.