Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MAMMALS
Mule deer, mountain lion, bobcat, coyote, raccoon, gray fox, striped
skunk, opossum, Pacific shrew, ornate shrew, western harvest mouse, deer mouse,
dusky-footed woodrat, big brown bat, silver-haired bat, red bat, and hoary bat.
BIRDS
American dipper, belted kingfisher, red-shouldered hawk, Cooper's hawk,
western screech owl, long-eared owl, downy woodpecker, white-headed woodpecker,
black phoebe, willow flycatcher, violet-green swallow, tree swallow, plain titmouse,
white-breasted nuthatch, Bewick's wren, Swainson's thrush, warbling vireo, yellow
warbler, Wilson's warbler, American goldfinch, lesser goldfinch, and song sparrow.
REPTILES
Western pond turtle, western terrestrial garter snake, sharp-tailed snake,
ringneck snake, rubber boa, California mountain kingsnake, western rattlesnake,
western fence lizard, and alligator lizard.
FISH & AMPHIBIANS
Pacific tree frog, steelhead trout, brown trout, rainbow trout,
lamprey, arboreal salamander, red salamander, slender salamander, Coast Range newt,
tiger salamander, bullfrog, and crayfish.
Grassland
Grasslands usually mix with coastal scrub along the slopes of the Santa Lucia Range.
In the drier interior, they grow alongside arid thickets of chaparral on oak- and pine-
studded hillsides. Grasslands also thrive along marine terraces and coastal bluffs, in-
cluding El Sur Ranch north of Andrew Molera State Park, where cattle continually
graze.
Those who believe the central coast to be void of seasonal changes have not
taken a stroll through the grasslands of Big Sur. Following winter rains, vibrant green
grasses sprout from the damp earth. This annual growth cycle may end before summer
if little rain falls in spring. By late May, the rolling hills turn golden as the grasslands
fade and lay dormant until the following winter's rains.
Most grasses responsible for these seasonal bursts of color are exotic species to
the California landscape. In the mid 19th century, settlers brought in invasive annual
grasses to feed livestock. These species quickly outcompeted native perennial grasses
and thrived in areas ravaged by grazing, fire, or landslides.
Though grasses are the dominant species, forbs and herbs also thrive here, weav-
ing colorful tapestries along the open slopes of the Coast Range. Among the most
recognized are the blue, purple, and orange hues of sky lupines (
Lupinus nanus
) and
California poppies (
Eschscholzia californica
). Other fragile, ornate flowers include
the padres shooting star (
Dodecatheon clevelandii
), California buttercup (
Ranunculus
