Electronic walk-thru trap saves team from 'harey' pre-dawn encounter
October 18, 2018

Mountain lion collaring activities are in high gear this fall, with any given week finding the team staking out a potential study subject in the Sonoma Valley, in the hills of Healdsburg or further north near Hopland. One of the most beneficial pieces of equipment in use is our cage trap that employs electronic sensors to trigger the trap when an animal the height of a mountain lion walks through.

Designed by lead researcher Quinton Martins and Keysight marketing director Neil Martin, the cage has seen several beneficial modifications over the past couple of years, including the use of netting rather than metal in the doors to reduce risk of injury to the lions.

In the photos above, the jackrabbit freely walks through the trap at about 4:00am, allowing researchers to...

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ACR receives transformational gift for Fire Forward program
October 12, 2018

We are pleased to announce that the Farley Family Charitable Foundation has granted $660,000 to Audubon Canyon Ranch, over the next two years, to develop our Fire Forward initiative into a vital resource for the region.

The Foundation has already contributed generously to ACR’s Living with Lions project, and this new gift reflects the Foundation's interest in our work to build a future of fire-adapted landscapes and communities, as well as contribute to the science of fire ecology. Tim Farley, son of the foundation’s founders Jim and Nancy Farley of Chicago, watched the Nuns Fire lap very close to his property on Sonoma Mountain, nearly destroying all he had. “This was a wake-up call to me and the entire community,” said Tim. “My family foundation has a clear interest in...

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Webinar - Living with Mountain Lions
October 03, 2018

ACR mountain lion researcher Quinton Martins and veterinarian Winston Vickers were invited by WildFutures to share their work and insights in a webinar setting. They discussed the threats these animals face as a result of human population growth, habitat loss and fragmentation, effects of fire, and conflicts with livestock and pets.

The complete webinar, including audience questions, is included in this video file:

The Wildlife Webinar Series, hosted by WildFutures, includes the live presentations, recorded archives, pre-webinar interviews, and follow-up Q&A's, all on our...

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Wintering shorebirds return to Tomales Bay - experienced birders needed to count each and every one!
August 29, 2018


Shorebirds are returning to the Bay Area for the winter, having spent the spring and summer nesting season as far north as the Arctic. Here Least Sandpiper and Red-necked Phalarope forage in the wetland habitat at ACR’s Toms Point Preserve. Tomales Bay is designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. Every...
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12 hours with Sonoma's Super Mama mountain lion
August 17, 2018

12 Hours with Sonoma's Super Mama from Audubon Canyon Ranch on Vimeo.

Support Living with Lions, a community conservation project studying mountain lion populations in Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties. Donate now >

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Meet Prescribed Fire Specialist Jared Childress
August 07, 2018

We are very pleased to announce the hiring of Jared Childress as ACR’s prescribed fire specialist, effective August 13, 2018. As a member of ACR’s science and stewardship staff, Jared will identify and assess units for prescribed fire or other vegetation management treatments on ACR lands and on the lands of our partner agencies and land owners/managers. He will work with our current staff to write burn plans, and interface with fire agencies, the air quality management districts, and our neighbors and community members.

Director of Stewardship Jeanne Wirka expresses our collective delight at filling this much-needed staff position, “Jared is joining ACR at a super-exciting time. The ACR stewardship staff at all of our preserves are looking forward to working with him to...

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Second GPS-collared mountain lion killed at landowner’s request in Sonoma Valley
July 30, 2018

The Living with Lions team is sad to announce that P6, a sub-adult mountain lion collared as part of our study was killed in Kenwood by a landowner who requested a depredation permit from California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The depredation or “take” permit was issued by CDFW after the lion killed one of a handful of goats kept on the vineyard property. This marks the second lion in nine months to be removed from the ecosystem by request from a landowner for destroying livestock.

P6, born on March 27, 2017, became an local celeb as one of three kittens born to her mom, P1, the project’s first research subject. The ten-day-old triplets, incredibly well hidden in Pampas grass less than a hundred yards from a home in Glen Ellen, provided our community with a heart-warming...

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Two additional Great Egrets captured for study
June 11, 2018

As any field researcher knows, failed attempts are just part of the work flow for most projects! We try, we fail, we adjust methods, we try again. After a spring season of several near misses—and a couple of face-plants in the salt marsh muck—trying to capture additional Great Egrets for our GPS study, we are very excited to report to you that our team recently has captured two adults, both with breeding plumage, at Toms Point, Tomales Bay. The captures and tagging went very smoothly. After release, the birds took off and flew out of view toward the Walker Creek delta, their lightweight solar GPS backpacks collecting a range of movement and behavioral data.

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Guest naturalist Len Blumin finds Black Pedaltail dragonflies and more in the Mayacamas Mountains
June 04, 2018

Our guest naturalist, Len Blumin, posts about a recent expedition to find and photograph dragonflies along Pine Flat Road, Healdsburg.

I recently heard about the Black Petaltail, an unusual dragonfly found by [fellow naturalist] Alan Wight in a restoration area along upper Pine Flat Road, above ACR's Modini Mayacamas Preserves. The species has a wide range in the Pacific Northwest, as far south as Sonoma, but is nowhere common. A cool weather forecast convinced me to give it a try.

Driving up Pine Flat I was distracted by the plethora of wildflowers in bloom. Along the roadside I slowed to talk to a couple that was peering into a wet roadside gully. They asked if I was interested dragonflies. I was! The pair was none other than Kathy and Dave Biggs—well-known teachers and...

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Project collars four additional female lions, including a 12-year-old on Bouverie Preserve.
May 14, 2018

Since late February, Living with Lions team has captured six lions spanning the southern Mayacamas and Sonoma Mountain area. Two of these lions were study subjects recaptured to replace failing GPS collar batteries and check overall health. Four others are new lions in our study and their movements are already giving us a better understanding of the lion landscape.

P6, who is the surviving offspring from P1's 2017 litter of three, was captured weeks prior to her dispersal from mom. Since leaving 'home,' P6, now 13 months old, has proven to be a good hunter as indicated by the remains of a couple of large does cached at one of her feeding sites.

P8 and P9, daughter and mom, were spotted by quick thinking Taylor Mountain Regional Park personnel. Working together, our team...

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