Type: report

Article abstract: Santa Ysabel Ranch Open Space Preserve, a 5,400-acre property previously operated as a cattle ranch, became part of the San Diego County Parks and Recreation Department in the fall of 2001. Following this acquisition, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted surveys to establish baseline species data. Aquatic surveys detected four native amphibian species and two non-native fish species. Herpetofauna pitfall arrays detected four native and one nonnative amphibian species, eight lizard species, and eleven snake species. Forty-three ant species were recorded using ant pitfall traps co-located at the herpetofauna pitfall arrays. Diurnal and nocturnal bird point counts including targeted California spotted owl surveys and incidental bird sightings recorded 108 bird species present on or near the study site. Fifteen bat species were detected using foraging and roost site surveys. Twelve small mammal species were captured in pitfall buckets at the herpetofauna pitfall arrays. Remotely triggered cameras and scent stations documented the presence of nine native and four non-native medium and large bodied mammal species. Additional incidental observations and detection of non-target species through sampling efforts brought the total number of species detected on the Santa Ysabel Ranch Open Space Preserve to 225. This list includes one federally endangered species, 20 federal species of concern, 28 California Department of Fish and Game Species of Special Concern (eight of which are also federal species of concern), and 10 non-native species.