Reptile & Amphibian Forums

For you San Diego county herpers, you should be aware that developers are planning on developing a large area in East Santee, right on top and surrounding the area known as "rattlesnake ridge" - an area that lives up to its name. I was recently out there, and I saw several baby and adult rattlers, rubers and viridis, and a LOT of juvenile, adult, and virtually newborn coast horned lizards, not to mention of host of other species; orange-throated whiptail, Masticophus, etc.

This development can't go through, we need your input now to stop it. The name of the development is Sky Ranch. It also has Ca. gnatcatchers present, so Fish and Wildlife is definitely already involved.

for futher information, you can email me.

Thanks

R

Make sure those are Coastal and not San Diego Horned Lizards.
Hopefully they are San Diego Horned Lizards as they are protected

Collect several specimens and take them in for official identification from a state agency. If any of them are San Diego Horned Lizards you have all the ammo you need.

You must be able to prove in court that one or more species is endangered and/or this is the last stronghold for a threatened species. During our field studies (1969 - Present) we have noted a massive decline (even in open undisturbed habitat) in one or more of the reptile species you mentioned. Actualy case file 249 can give you enough information to file for a legal hearing. During this hearing you will need a well spoken expert or experts to testify. If your case is convincing, and can be proven then the development will stop and then it is up to the state to protect the land or not. If they decide to protect the area the developer will be compensated by the state. If they decide not to protect the area then development will continue. There are some things you need to do.

1. Call all southern California Zoos and request information and input from the zoo's herpetologists. Ask for any documentation that will help you. If their views are the same as yours then ask them if they would consider court testimony. Ask for advice.

2. Put calls into newspapers, TV and Radio Channels to publicize the problem.

3. Start a petition drive throughout the county.

4. Get legal representation, and get organized. If development begins picket the site.

5. Call local universities and get information from past studies of the species targeted.

6. Take video to the site and show the current species encountered.

7. Post notices at universities whenever you plan a demenstration or picket. Students love to rally for a cause.

8. Notify envirnmental groups for support.

That is alot to do, but it is the only way you can win. Good luck! If you require any assistance I am in the Temecula area. I can also get you access to case file 249. It is a thirty year history and study of the coastal horned lizard, which is vanishing faster then local frogs. File 249 concludes with a scientific theory for the population decline. It also hammers home that development will finish it off. Whiptails are also taking a beating in many foothill locations. I can help you get tons of information from local studies. Let me know if you need help.

Thanks for that info. I do realize what is involved to stop a development already on the books. Actually, that's one reason I put out the alert - I just don't have the time to take the lead on this fight, I already have several other similar projects on my plate, but I am hoping to motivate someone who can, and I'd be happy to assist. Also, I was hired as a biological consultant on this site, and if I am the lead opposition, there could be argument about conflict of interest or some such B.S.

I'm not an expert on horned lizards, I haven't seen enough San Diego horned lizards to distinguish...I wonder if Rob Fisher's USGS lab has any data from surveys in this area - I will ask.

Renee

Even if there are no San Diego Horned Lizards, there is still a good chance at success. I would be more than willing to get involved, but it will have to be a team effort. I will need at least three other people just to get through the first legal hearing.

Some other good news. The Orange throated Whiptail was given a status of threatened in 1980 by the California Fish and Game. In 1995 another report concluded that this species has lost 75% of it's historical habitat to development. The remaining populations have been forced into higher elevations and isolated flood plains. These local and fragmented populations have decreased 60% since 1990. Being a diet and habitat specialists this species is in trouble. This same report states that even minor human activity will drive this lizard to extinction at any given location. Furthermore it recommends any sites known to harbor this species should be studied and protection should be granted. That is a formal recommendation by California Fish and Game from a study funded by the Federal Government.

I guess the first thing to do would be to organize a search of the area and photograph and record any species located at the site. If anyone else wants to get involved speak up now because we will need more people involved. And we could get organized when we know who is going to get involved.

That really sucks.... ive watched hill after hill be bulldozed and turned into houses here in sd. If theres anything i can do to help id be happy to.

I'll let you know once I get a bit more info - thanks, we can use all the support we can get!

R