Venture into Quail Ridge

On Sunday February 9th, Defenders hosted a nature walk event with The Wildlife Society – UC Davis Chapter at Quail Ridge Reserve. Spanning over 2,500 acres, the reserve is part of the UC Natural reserve system which includes 41 sites in different regions of California. This one is set in a Costal Range habitat comprised of grasslands, woodlands, and chaparral. We were introduced to the history and use of the reserve by its director, Shane Waddell, who made sure we knew where we were going. Pam Flick, California Program Director for Defenders, led us onward. It was quite windy the entire time, but we did not let it put a damper on our spirits time outdoors. Once we found the proper trail, we toured the reserve. We talked about its ecology and regularly stopping to flip coverboards and we were rewarded with a multitude of different critters. We saw a scorpion, Jerusalem crickets, alligator lizards, a bunch of slender salamanders, and a few snakes. We handled the specimen carefully and when we finished, we returned them and the coverboards carefully. The students were captivated and engaged throughout the entire experience. We helped each other identify the species through our own knowledge or the use of a nature guide Pam had brought along for the trip. At the end of the hike, we held a little quiz to give away some swag and recap the student’s thoughts on the nature walk. Overall, the students and Defenders had a great time! Events like these let us tell others of our mission in an engaging environment, but most importantly it helps us connect with different people. We hope to continue to host events like this and help people learn about the amazing natural world around us.