Nothing is more commonly remarked by noisy, dusty trail-travelers in the Sierra than the want of animal life--no songbirds, no deer, no squirrels, no game of any kind, they say. But if such could only go away quietly into the wilderness, sauntering afoot and alone with natural deliberation, they would soon learn that these mountain mansions are not without inhabitants, many of whom, confiding and gentle, would not try to shun their acquaintance.
John Muir
The Mountains of California
HARD LIFE ON THE HOOF
Between the highway, hunters, and
mountain lions, mule deer face a host of predators.
Traffic on highway 395 kills hundreds of mule deer in
Mono County each year (preliminary studies indicate that
as many as 700 per year are run over). Mule deer
typically migrate to lower elevations during the colder
months and move to higher elevations in the summer, so
they are often forced to cross the highway. Most of the
year you can find them near Mono Lake, or up Lee Vining
Canyon. Mule deer have even been seen on Paoha and Negit
Islands! (Do deer do the dog paddle?) With the exception
of the islands, wherever you find deer you can assume
mountain lions are not far away, and if it’s hunting
season—hunters. Mountain lions feed almost
exclusively on mule deer, following their movements
throughout the year and keeping them continually on the
alert. Hunters however, do not rely on mule deer alone
for food (humans do most of their hunting with a shopping
cart). You are far more likely to see a deer
than a mountain
lion in the Mono Basin. If you do see a mountain lion,
consider yourself lucky, few people in the Eastern Sierra
ever see these magnificent, elusive predators. If you see
a deer alive, consider yourself fortunate as well, they
are far too commonly found dead along the highway.
AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE
In 1986 Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep were reintroduced to the Tioga Pass region directly to the west of Mono Lake. Known as the “Lee Vining herd” their numbers have declined dramatically in recent years. Mountain lion predation, difficult winters, and a variety of human impacts in the surrounding area may all be factors leading to their decline. Their native progeny, the Mt. Baxter herd, one hundred miles to the south, has also declined. Today the Lee Vining Canyon herd is below the threshold needed to sustain a long-term, viable population. Approximately 100 adult Sierra Nevada Bighorn remain in the entire Sierra Nevada range (based on 1998 census) in contrast to the over 200 individuals documented in 1986. This mammal is now one of the most endangered in all of North America. You might see California bighorn along Hwy 120 just east of the Sierra Crest. From the highest peaks, these threatened sheep roam free, gazing over the blue expanse of Mono Lake.
LOOK CAREFULLY, PATIENTLY
If you visit the South Tufa grove
along the shores of Mono Lake during the summer you will
see plenty of tufa, flies, and brine shrimp, but you
might be hard-pressed to find life among the desert scrub
in the middle of the day. During the day desert mammals
slow down, saving much of their activity for the hours
after sunset. With good eyes, patience, and a little
stealth, you may spot a Nuttall’s cottontail,
black-tailed jackrabbit, or perhaps a Belding’s
ground squirrel. Hang around a little longer, and you may
see more. Coyotes, long-tail weasels, and the occasional
mountain lions have all been sighted in the vicinity of
South Tufa. If you camp in Lee Vining or Lundy Canyon
closer to the mountains, there is a slight chance of
seeing a black bear. Black bears did not usually range in
the
Eastern Sierra, but increased
human presence here has provided a new food source for
the bears in the form of human garbage and campers’
food.
TOADS, LIZARDS, AND SNAKES THAT SLITHER
Rattlesnakes are rare in the Mono Basin. They generally shun the alkaline habitat near the lake. The only recent sightings have come from the northwest corner of the Mono Basin. Garter snakes and gopher snakes are far more common, and to the west of the lake in nearby canyons, you may encounter the wayward rubber boa, a smooth, brown, rubber-looking snake that is harmless to humans. You are more apt to run into lizards than snakes. The Side-blotched Lizard and the Sagebrush Lizard, both with the nickname “blue belly” are the two most common. Great Basin spadefoot toads make their appearance as early as March near the lakeshore and in nearby irrigated meadows. Their croaking chorus in the evening hours reveal their presence. They emerge from underground burrows, mate, and lay eggs in shallow pools of water (not in the lake itself) before returning underground for most of the year.
Return to Natural History Page
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