East County Transects

The wildlife transects described on this page are located in eastern San Diego County. Locations include Mission Trails Regional Park and the Crestridge Ecological Reserve.

Crest Ecological Reserve, Lower

  Leader:  Evelyn Ono Vineberg
       Location: Crestridge
       Number: 24
       Duration: 4 hours
       Difficulty: Moderate 
        Why: To study habitat and annual population recovery since the 2003 Cedar Fire.
       What: Coyote, gray fox, bobcat, rabbit, wood-rat, kangaroo rat, striped skunk and racoon track and sign have been observed.

Photo by Evelyn

Four people walking on a dirt trail in a grassy, hilly outdoor area with mountains in the background. Three of them are looking at a piece of paper, and they are all wearing hats and casual outdoor clothing.

Crest Ecological Reserve, Upper

  Leader:  This transect is currently inactive
       Location: Crestridge
       SDTT Transect # 48
       Duration: 5 hours
       Difficulty: Rigorous
        Why: To study habitat and annual population recovery since the 2003 Cedar Fire.
       What: Cougar, coyote, gray fox, bobcat, rabbit, mule deer, wood-rat, kangaroo rat, and ringtail track and sign have been observed.

Crest Lake

  Leader:  Ryan Crane
       Location: Crest Lake
       SDTT Transect # 72
       Duration: 3 hours
       Difficulty: Moderate
       Why: To study habitat and annual population recovery since the 2003 Cedar Fire.
       What: Coyote, gray fox, bobcat, wood-rat, kangaroo rat, and striped skunk track and sign have been observed.

Dirt trail leading through dry bushes beside a lake with green hills and a blue sky in the background.

Watershed Trail

Leader:  Robert Laudy and Maureen Abare-Laudy 
       Location: Volcan Mountain, Julian 
       SDTT Transect # 73  
       Duration: 2 hours (this transect is performed back-to-back with #74 totaling 4 hours)
       Difficulty: Moderate
       Why:  This survey will monitor the effects before, during and after restoration plans targeting montane forests on the slopes of Volcan Mountain.  The management plan estimates the project will run for three years, with a 25-year monitoring phase. It is anticipated that the restoration will enhance the montane forest's fire resilience and ensure that climate-restricted, forest-dependent wildlife species continue to have a refuge from climate change and devastating wildfires..
       What: Mule deer, coyote, cottontail, pocket gopher, bobcat. 

San Felipe Cutoff Road

Leader:  Robert Laudy and Maureen Abare-Laudy
       Location: Volcan Mountain, Julian 
       SDTT Transect # 74
       Duration: 2 hours (this transect is performed back-to-back with #73 totaling 4 hours)
       Difficulty: Moderate
       Why:  This survey will monitor the effects before, during and after restoration plans targeting montane forests on the slopes of Volcan Mountain.  The management plan estimates the project will run for three years, with a 25-year monitoring phase. It is anticipated that the restoration will enhance the montane forest's fire resilience and ensure that climate-restricted, forest-dependent wildlife species continue to have a refuge from climate change and devastating wildfires..
       What: Mule deer, coyote, opossum, cottontail, woodrat, pocket gopher, bobcat, gray fox, cougar and striped skunk.  

Sky Island Trail

Leader:  Terry Hunefeld 
       Location: Volcan Mountain, Julian 
       SDTT Transect # 75
       Duration: 4 hours
       Difficulty: Moderate
       Why:  This survey will monitor the effects before, during and after restoration plans targeting montane forests on the slopes of Volcan Mountain.  The management plan estimates the project will run for three years, with a 25-year monitoring phase. It is anticipated that the restoration will enhance the montain forest's fire resilience and ensure that climate-restricted, forest-dependent wildlife species continue to have a refuge from climate change and devastating wildfires..
       What: Mule deer, coyote, raccoon, opossum, cottontail, wood-rat, broad-footed mole, pocket gopher, bobcat, gray fox, cougar and skunk.

Wildlife Tunnel

Leader:  Vince Butsumyo
       Location: Mission Trails Regional Park
       SDTT Transect # 30 (the transect is performed back-to-back with #31)
       Duration: 1.5 hours
       Difficulty: Approach from and return to vehicle are down and up a short, but steep embankment. The rest is easy.
       When: Surveys are conducted quarterly.
       Why: This tunnel was put in as mitigation during the extension of Hwy 52 for wildlife crossing.
       What animals are found here: Deer, coyote, bobcat, woodrat, rabbit, rodent and raccoon signs are commonly found here, along with excess human, opossum, jackrabbit, striped skunk, kangaroo rat and roadrunner signs. Also occasionally observed are mountain bike and domestic dog tracks.

Person hiking through rocky terrain with greenery on a sunny day, carrying a bag and wearing sunglasses.

Oak Canyon

  Leader: Vince Butsumyo
       Location: Mission Trails Regional Park
       SDTT Transect # 31 (the transect is performed back-to-back with #30)
       Duration: 3.5 hours
       Difficulty: Approach from and return to vehicle are down and back up a long and steep embankment. The rest is easy.
       When: Surveys are conducted quarterly.     
       Why: This transect is one of two major wildlife corridors in the park under Hwy 52.
       What: Deer, coyote, bobcat, rabbit, rodent, ground squirrel, woodrat, raccoon, gray fox and roadrunner signs are found on this transect. Jackrabbit, mountain lion and spotted skunk signs have also been observed along this transect.

Three hikers standing on a trail with shrubs and trees, a bridge in the background, one holding a walking stick, one writing on a clipboard, and the third smiling at the camera.

Spring Canyon

  Leader:  Ranger Heidi
       Location: Mission Trails Regional Park
       SDTT Transect # 62
       Duration: 4 hour
       Difficulty: Easy
       Why: This transect is one of two major wildlife corridors in the park  under Hwy 52.
       What: Deer, coyote, bobcat, raccoon, rabbit, rodent, wood rat, and gray fox are signs are commonly found along this transect. Striped skunk, ground squirrel, roadrunner and mountain lion signs have also been observed along this transect. Section one, along the multi-use trail, has excess human, mountain bike, domestic dog, horse and vehicle tracks along it.

 Photos below by Web Admin