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

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.

  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

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

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

  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.

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:  Ranger Heidi
       Location: Mission Trails Regional Park
       SDTT Transect # 30 (the transect is performed back-to-back with #31)
       Duration: 1.5 hours
       Difficulty: Steep approach, easy otherwise
       When: Surveys are conducted quarterly.
       Why: This tunnel was put in as mitigation during the extension of Hwy 52 for wildlife crossing.
       What: Deer, coyote, bobcat, wood rat, rabbit, rodent and raccoon signs are found here, along with excess human, mountain bike, and domestic dog tracks.
        Note:  After the 2001 terrorist attacks, the military put metal slats and a chain-link fence across the north side of the tunnel to keep people from entering the MCAS property; one of the vertical slats was removed (most likely by a mountain biker – the fence above the slats is constantly being cut for access), but the opening is still not wide enough for a buck with a full rack to pass through. It is rare to see any animal tracks continuing north through the opening. There is, however, evidence of wildlife going up the embankment to the highway, as a section of CAL-TRANS fencing is down from a vehicle accident that occurred almost two years ago. CAL-TRANS has been notified.

Oak Canyon

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

  Leader:  Ranger Heidi
       Location: Mission Trails Regional Park
       SDTT Transect # 31 (the transect is performed back-to-back with #30)
       Duration: 3.5 hours
       Difficulty: Steep approach, easy otherwise
       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, wood rat, raccoon, gray fox and roadrunner signs are found on this transect. Spotted skunk and jackrabbit have also been found in the past.

Spring Canyon

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.

  Leader:  Ranger Heidi
       Location: Mission Trails Regional Park
       SDTT Transect # 62
       Duration: 4 hours
       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, ground squirrel, roadrunner and gray fox are signs are found 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