Wildlife Issues

Abundant wildlife. It's one of the reasons we live here, in the beautiful Morongo Basin. Howling coyotes, busy antelope ground squirrels, gregarious roadrunners, stately tarantulas, majestic big-horn sheep, soaring turkey vultures, the ancient tortoise... There's lots of creatures to admire, to respect, to enjoy.

Most residents in the Morongo Basin love the wildlife around them, and want them to remain. But living together takes a little care. And sometimes, we humans can have a devastating effect on the survival of other species.

The gentle desert tortoise has been listed as endangered since 1990, a victim of loss of habitat and an introduced respiratory disease. The predatory raven population has soared. Dogs running loose in the desert threaten humans and native wildlife, alike; whether born wild, abandoned by owner, or just allowed to run loose, they will harass or even kill animals such as the endangered desert tortoise.

Coyotes and rattlesnakes don't have to be a problem, for you or your pets, if you know their habits and respect them. http://www.yucca-valley.org/pdf/animal/livingwithwildlife_info.pdf

You can learn more about living with wildlife in California at the Website of the Department of Fish and Game. where you can also find information on what do to about nuisance, dangerous, or injured wildlife.