On the Wild Side

The mission of the Eastern Sierra Land Trust is to work with willing landowners to protect vital lands in the Eastern Sierra for their scenic, recreational, historical, agricultural, botanic, and wildlife values.

On the Wild Side spotlights a series of articles from our SierraScapes newsletter about the wildlife in this area, and their interactions with the landscape.

Bats — Cave-dwellers No More

The emergence of bats each night is a common summer sight here in the Eastern Sierra, and, while watching them flit about to catch their prey, one may secretly hope that mosquitoes are their favorite food. Read more.

Willows — Consider the Shrubby Thicket

A willow thicket could be a crowded place if all the creatures who lived there showed up at one time. There might be ruby-crowned kinglets gleaning insects from the upper branches while a long-eared owl sits on eggs deep inside the thicket. Read more.

Mule Deer — Home on the (Winter) Range

The clatter of dueling antlers is barely discernible above the sound of the wind through the pines as two young bucks spar with one another. A group of a dozen does and a few fawns nibble on bitterbrush as other fawns playfully jump around in the invigorating, cold north wind. Read more.

Raptors in Our Rural Landscapes

A common sight in the Eastern Sierra is a soaring hawk making effortless circles over a field of grass and willows and cottonwoods. While the open expanses of our rural lands have clear value to residents, ranchers, and the tourists, the birds and animals that depend on these diverse and productive lands are a little less obvious. Read more.

Mountain Lion — A Purring Predator

Living among predators, as we do here in the Eastern Sierra, the sight of disembodied prey such as a pile of downy feathers, an unlucky rabbit's foot, or a shiny rodent skull is common. Read more.