The above photo shows the oak forest around one of the tunnels.
Did you know there are wildlife tunnels in California that provide conduits for wildlife to move through urban areas underneath major roads and highways? I only learned of these tunnels when my son was doing tracker training. He is now doing camera tracking for his graduate program in Biology. He came down this week to do some practice camera catches and he took me to see these tunnels for the first time. The tunnels create wildlife corridors that connect the mountains in the east to the coast.
Here is one of his camera catches of Wily E. Coyote!
He did find a kill site with deer femur bones and mountain lion scat, which I spared you photos of! The holler camera gets significantly more captures of more varied species. Our camera get multiple hits every night. But none so far of the elusive, yet occasionally present, mountain lion.
Here are some photos I took of the tunnels:
For more info on the tunnels and the animals that use them, click on this link:
http://www.lacrestavoice.com/data/On%20the%20prowl.pdf
It is wonderful to know that wildlife is thriving and being assisted by human efforts! Being around wild creatures enhances the quality of life for everyone, both animals and humans.
I am wondering now. Do Coyote avoid people or they do come to contact with people?
Generally they avoid. Although there are exceptions. When they are sick, starving or rejected from the pack, they may come close. This has happened several times. One was pressed up against our glass french doors in the middle of the night once and scared the beejezes out of me. They come out in the open to hunt together some times. They always know where we are no matter how far away. There is a program at UC Davis that monitors hostile encounters between coyotes and people. They are rare, but a young woman was killed by a pack a couple of years ago on a trail hiking alone with lots of people about. Mostly though they tend to avoid contact.
Thank you for the huge info. about them. I was thinking if they are friendly enough to be close. That would be wonderful. I would like to take picture of them that way. I am aware that they still one the wild side.
Why do I get the creepy feeling that one of these tunnels has got to feature in Michael Connelly novel? Ken
Oh yes! They made me think of books too. Neil Gaiman’s book about the people who lived underneath London. Definitely a sci-vi vibe to them….wouldn’t want to visit at night. Happy V Day to you both. Bet your cooking something incredible~
Jody’s working–big day in the restaurant biz. My teenage daughter and I shared a fennel and blood orange salad with Parmesan tonight. She said, “Well, that certainly is a holiday-themed combination!” She’s been in the cooking world too long. Ken
She is SOOO lucky!!!
Wiley E Coyote, eh ! I’m waiting for you to get a pic of the Road Runner !!! Interesting stuff, Cuz.
Paul
The roadrunners are hilarious……I will as soon as one avails itself. Happy Valentines Day to you and yours~
I didn’t realize there were tunnels specifically built for wildlife. Thanks for the information! I enjoyed the photos, too.
I didn’t either, and who knew they were so BIG!! Thanks for visiting!
I had no idea…
Curiouser and curiouser! I had no idea either. Happy Valentines Day~
This is fascinating Cindy!
Thanks! I was happy to see them after hearing about them. Happy Valentines Day my friend~
Wow, I did not know. Do you think Wily E. Coyote is related to Peter Coyote?
Definitely!!! Where are you going on your next cruise?????
We have a reservation for autumn foliage New York~Quebec for 10 days starting 9/26. From Quebec planning to fly to Niagara Falls (never seen it).
We did this cruise and I posted about it, with lots of photos! Really a wonderful cruise. If you end in Quebec, stay at Hotel Frontenac…..gorgeous hotel & city. We then rented a car and cabin and stayed in the northern woods. Then we took the train to Montreal. Awesome trip. You will love it! We’re doing another transatlantic and going on our own to Eastern Europe. flying back home out of Berlin. Going to Spain, Vienna, Prague, France….
I knew that there were small tunnels for animals but these look large enough for elephants. Amazing.
That is exactly what Jim said and I thought!!!!! I have no idea why they are so huge…..
That’s a totally new concept, for me anyway — wildlife tunnels. It would be a scary thing to go into one of those — never know what you might meet up with! If your cameras do catch the mountain lion we’ll be waiting to see it on here!
I can’t wait…The neighbors got a bunch of bob cat shots! Just being patient, waiting for the big kitty kat!!!
How cool! A wildlife underground network
The wildlife tube service! Just goes to show that not everything we build is bad for the planet!
Heartening isn’t it and yes the tunnel corridors do trigger one’s imaginations. Cheers !
It is good to know that some people plan for the animals as well when they urbanise their territory
Exactly. Well put!
I did know about the tunnels for your wildlife, Donna was 30 years in Simi Valley before we met, each time we see the Florida road kill we both pray for a safer passage for our brother the animals. Never in Florida, but I keep praying. Each time out she reminds me of your corridors, she did point out a few while we drove over them while showing off California.
It was news to me, but good news. We are all getting more vocal, those of us who care for the earth and her creatures….It is a very good thing! Smart Donna. I guess they are all over the state….
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading…
Great post–the intersection of nature and human nature is one of my passions. WE need place greater attention on the way that humans continue to reduce wildlife habitats. I work locally to help people return their property into a welcoming place for all wildlife.
Oh what a wonderful thing to do!! People can create wildlife habitats in their gardens even in the city. My brother just told me about a falcon raiding his bird feeder and he lives in the city….Thanks for what you do!!
Wow Cindy, who knew and it looks like the county even planted native perennials for the entrances! Great shots for an interesting post ~
I don’t how those got there…..I saw a lot of wild sage and the old oaks of course. Perennials do self sow out here so who knows???
I LOVE the idea of Wildlife tunnels. I also like they keep the ground soft so you can see exactly what animal has gone through the tunnel!
Yes, they study the tracks through the tunnels like detectives. It is fascinating to me also….
Wonderful Share!!!
Fascinating post
Thank you Chris!!
I didn’t know this either but love the idea of helping the wildlife this way.
Me three & thanks!
Great post! I saw such wildlife tunnels many years ago in the Rocky Mountains in Canada. Is this your son on the pictures?
The animals passing through those tunnels would be interesting….lots of bears, maybe wolves and foxes. Yes that is my son. He is studying in your field. He was fascinated with the snow tracks post~
That is so COOL!
It is isn’t it! Maybe people are catching on that all creatures are interdependent~
Cindy, how interesting this all is. The tunnels are intriguing and would be scary to walk through. Very brave people taking pictures. Coyotes are moving inward in the county I live in. One of my friends was walking her dog and thought she saw another dog. As she became closer to the animal; she realized it was a coyote and went to a neighbors house. Many don’t realize they are not only in the wild but in suburbia too
This was a great post Cindy!!
They are everywhere, amazing adapters and survivors. I am struck by how healthy the ones we photograph look. Yes domestic pets need to be kept away from them!
We have tunnels under the roads in the Cotswolds for mating Toads who leave the reservoir to find their mate on the other side of a busy road. x
I lived in the Cotswolds for three months for a summer in Burford. I stayed in a 400 year old gardeners cottage. Heaven. Glad to hear about Britiain’s efforts to save the frogs!
Oh Burford is so beautiful ~ just 30 minutes drive from me. I am so glad you connect with the Cotswolds as you travel the world.
My husband and I would really like to go back and do another cottage rental in the Cotswolds. Those old stone cottages are so very special, and the countryside, and the roses, and the clotted cream….I could go on and on!
We lived out of town for 25 years at a local lake and always heard a lot of coyotes at night. When the lake frozen in the winter. They’d sit out around the open water waiting for the last of the ducks to freeze in…..yikes.
They are highly adaptive, intelligent and really gorgeous animals. When I first moved out here I was quite afraid of them. I am no longer afraid, but still wary……
You are probably smart to be wary. I must admit, I’m still scared of them. I’m pretty sure they got our cat one night
I cried for weeks. We have since adopted two sisters and they are not allowed out. I just can’t manage that again.
No. Cats need to be inside in coyote territory. They wouldn’t survive one night where I live. So sorry. Sounds very sad for you~
run-of creek beds–when dry–also provide corridors, so be careful of your pets in the summer months (should you live near one)
I’m sorry–I meant “run-off creek beds” …could you fix that? it’s important to know…and thank you, Cindy. You are an astounding–astounding!! shutterbug.
Yes we have two Ridgebacks and a Basset and they can protect themselves and us!! Thank you for your kind words!!