Mammoth Lakes
|
One of the exciting things about visiting the National Forest is the opportunity to view wildlife on a different and sometimes personal level. There are a few simple things that you need to remember to keep yourself, your property and the animals safe while you enjoy watching them in their natural habitat. The main thing to remember is that all animals in the wild are just that, WILD. Though some animals may appear friendly and tame, all wildlife can be unpredictable and even the cutest little squirrel can bite you. Never feed animals! It's not good for them and can put you in harms way.
The yellow-bellied marmot is the largest member of the squirrel family. Marmots can be found from the alpine zone down to approximately 7,000 feet and tend to live among rockslides and ledges. Marmots often can be seen at high-elevation meadows, lying on top of boulders, basking in the warm summer sun.
Mule deer are characteristic to the Sierra Nevada and are usually a dark gray-brown, with a small white rump patch and a small, black-tipped tail. Mule deer migrate to higher elevations in spring and summer, and to lower ranges in fall and winter.
The smallest of North America 's elk, the tule elk is included on the endangered species list. Weighing up to 700 pounds, elk bulls and cows have reddish summer coats with darker head and legs and can stand 4-5 feet tall.
The mountain lion is one of North America 's largest cats, averaging 7-8 feet long. They are solitary creatures that prey upon large animals such as mule deer, elk and bighorn sheep but survive on small animals as well. California 's mountain lion population is estimated at 4,000-6,000.
As with any wild animal, hikers and visitors should use caution while exploring trails and surrounding areas. While it is actually rare to see a mountain lion in the Sierra, sightings and encounters occur every year.
The American mustang is more accurately termed the "feral horse". Feral horses are those whose ancestors were domestic horses that were freed or escaped and became free roaming herds. Currently there is an estimated 42,000 mustangs still free roaming on public lands in the Western United States . Wild mustangs roam the open valleys of California 's Eastern Sierra and Nevada .
The Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep are a unique form of bighorn found only in the Sierra Nevada Mountains . These short, stocky animals live in some of the most remote and rugged regions of the Eastern Sierra. They are one of the most endangered mammals of North America . Mountain lions, humans and domestic sheep introduced into their mountain range are thought to be the primary causes for their rapid decline. To date, it is estimated that only about 170 adults are living in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Bighorn sheep have been spotted at Rock Creek Canyon and along Tioga Pass road west of Lee Vining.
The chickaree or Douglas squirrel lives in the dense, higher elevation forest of Mono County. This reddish-gray or brownish-gray squirrel makes its home in the tops of the trees and is one of the noisier squirrels with a large selection of calls and trills. Look for chickarees stockpiling conifer cones at the base of trees for the upcoming winter.
The coyote is a member of the dog family and is native to California. It is similar in size and shape to a medium-sized domestic dog, but its tail is round and bushy. Coyotes found in the mountains can weigh up to 50 pounds and have thicker, silkier fur than the desert coyotes. They survive on small rodents, fruits and vegetation. Coyotes are not your average dogs - they are not to be messed with. Coyotes can be dangerous and should never be fed or approached by humans.
Pine martens are small, rare members of the weasel family. Their fur is soft and thick, varying in color from pale buff or yellow to reddish or dark brown, and they have long, bushy tails. Most active at night, pine martens are excellent climbers. They're solitary but curious animals. In winter, long hairs grow between the toe pads on their feet to keep their feet warm and enable them to travel on snow.