Publication of Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation MMiissssiioonn TTrraaiillss RR ee gg iioonnaall PP aarrkk NN ee ww ss

Volume 15 Number 4 Fall/Winter 2004 New M ission Trails W elcome to Featured Tracking Team David Lee Park Inhabitant After four years of working Coyote with m em bers of the Tracking Team on m onitoring criti- You gotta love W ile E. Coyote! cal wildlife corridors in Mission His antics and misadventures, trying to Trails Regional Park the Mission catch the speedy roadrunner, have enter- Trails Tracking Team (MTTT) has tained us for years. As ridiculous as he been born! It started as a data- may seem, he manages to cheat death as gathering m ission to help insure he exhibits his cunning and stamina. But proper wildlife protection in the W ile E. inhabits a cartoon world and event of future widening of SR 52 possesses only a few of the positive adjacent to Mission Trails. Now it traits of his real world brethren. has blossom ed into a twenty-two Coyote cunning and crafti- person team of enthusiastic track- ness are legendary as is evident in ers chom ping at the bit to hit the countless Native Am erican stories trails, learn new skills and m ake a and songs. These tales usually tell positive difference. Our new track- of the coyote using his talents to ing team , m any of whom are ex- get the better of various wildlife perienced Trail Guides, will join David Lee joined Mission neighbors or of their beating him at the core of dedicated trackers and Trails Regional Park in May his own gam e. Its innate intelli- bring their unbridled enthusiasm 2004 as Center Director I at the gence and opportunism have en- to our team . This should help us Kum eyaay Lake Cam pground. abled the coyote to prosper and ex- expand from three transects to His responsibilities include m an- pand its territory, from the prairies m any m ore throughout our ever- aging the operation of the and arid west, by capitalizing on expanding park. Kum eyaay Lake Cam pground as the European people’s expansion This is a critical tim e for well as assisting the Ranger Mission Trails with open space ex- staff. He has worked for the City Coyote, continued on p. 4 pansion plans and land acquisition of San Diego Park and Recrea- in high gear. Now is the tim e to tion Departm ent for eight years. get it all in place to have a baseline David spent three years working to m onitor future changes. The as an Assistant Center Director MTTT program brings people from for the Martin Luther King Jr. all walks of life, with a com m on Recreation Center and Mountain love of ’s unique habitats View Recreation Center. He en- and wondrous critters together to joys playing basketball, spending learn and then share their knowl- tim e with fam ily, friends, dog edge with park patrons from all and pet lizard and being part of over the world. Tracking skills the Mission Trails Team . David enhance their insatiable curiosity. is a valued addition to our staff Without the Penasquitos/San and we welcom e him into the Tracking, continued on p. 4 MTRP fam ily. PAGE 2 MISSION TRAILS VOLUME 15 NUMBER 4

A Message From Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation Councilm em ber Jim Madaffer Board of Directors

We rely on m em ber Shirley Horton, I am urg- Joseph C. Morse ing our California legislators to President grants and Nancy Acevedo private fund- oppose the Controller’s rescinding Vice President ing as well as of grant funds and support return- Dorothy Leonard allocations ing of those grant funds. Secretary Treasurer While I applaud the State’s from the City Jim Austin of San Diego efforts to be fiscally responsible Marjorie Ferrante for Mission Trails Regional Park and dem onstrate good stewardship Gene Hatton (MTRP). As you can im agine, it over taxpayer’s m oney, I believe Gary Krueger, O.D. they have gone overboard in this W alter Odening, Ph.D. was very alarm ing when the J. Carlto Morse II State of California recently de- case by changing the rules in the Betty Ogilvie cided to renege on prom ised fund- m iddle of the gam e. It’s clear this Johnnie Perkins ing for parks. The State Control- is m ore an issue of the State Park W illiam L. Sperling, M.D. and Recreation Director and the Donald E. Steele ler rescinded $15 m illion in un- Connie W ood spent m oney on park projects. State Controller locked into a fight The State Controller is trying to with our park caught in the cross- Advisors change the rules from requiring fire. The MTRP Foundation has Patrick Abbott, Ph.D.. done an exceptional job in applying Professor, Departm ent of Geological that projects receiving state fund- Sciences ing be com pleted in three years for, receiving and adm inistrating San Diego State University instead of five years. This applies grants. Dorothy Leonard, Secre- Hon. Sue Braun to grants that already have tary/Treasurer of the Foundation, San Diego City Schools Board M em ber, deserves special kudos. Also, I Retired signed contracts. This action will Hon. Jim Ellis affect 14 projects. These con- think that the City of San Diego California State Senator, Retired tracted state-funded projects are staff who work at the park as well Hon. Barry Jantz now under way, on tim e, and a as those who work on behalf of the Council M em ber, City of La M esa park are outstanding. Hon. priority to our com m unities. President and CEO He also singled out four There is no justifiable rea- International Com m unity Foundation,, grants for in-depth audits. One of son for withholding state grant Retired those four in question is a m oney awarded to MTRP and I California State Senator Retired intend to fight on behalf of our Hon. Jim Madaffer $985,000 grant to the MTRP Council M em ber, City of San Diego Foundation. The allocation was treasured park. I urge you to as Hon. Judy McCarty for the first phase of the new well. Please write your legislator Council M em ber, City of San Diego, East Fortuna Equestrian Staging and tell them you want funding Retired restored to all park projects in the Hon. Dick Murphy area. M ayor, City of San Diego The situation m ay have City of San Diego. Michael R. Pent changed by the tim e you read As always, I welcom e hear- Past Chair M ission Trails Citizens' this. However, what I want you ing your com m ents regarding Mis- Advisory Com m ittee sion Trails Regional Park or any Citizens' Advisory Com m ittee to know is this. 1) Ultim ately, it Past President M ission Trails Regional appears MTRP won’t be severely other issue. Call m e at (619) 236- Park Foundation affected. We, m eaning the City of 6677 or send an em ail to jm adaf- Hon. Larry Stirling San Diego and the MTRP Foun- [email protected]. I invite you to Superior Court Judge, retired California State Senator, Retired dation have already spent a m a- visit m y Web site at Jim Madaf- jority of the state grant m oney fer.com . and the project is steadily m oving forward toward com pletion. I am optim istic that the audit will Recycle your glass, plastic show there are no problem s with this project. I should point out and alum inum at Kum eyaay Lake that the state did withhold the Cam pground. Containers are located final installm ent of nearly in the day-use parking lot. $100,000 for this project. 2) In partnership with State Assem bly- VOLUME 15 NUMBER 4 MISSION TRAILS PAGE 3

Closed to cam ping KK uu mm ee yy aaaayy LL aakk ee CC aamm pp gg rroouu nndd Tuesdays & W ednesdays

break apart that jum bled m ass of Tracking Tidbits hair and bones to find all the as- Squirrel Tactic sorted treasures that tell us Mission Trails "speaks" to where the anim al has been, what I’d like to share a study I read us all the tim e. There isn't a trail he has been eating recently from the California Acad- that doesn't tell us som ething and how healthy em y of Sciences/UC about the wildlife that live here. his hom e range is Davis. It seem s that Tracks and signs are everywhere; right now? our cuddly, we just have to open our senses to Best of all, "defenseless" Califor- "hear" it. Som etim es it's a whisper it's som ething eve- nia ground squirrels - a bent twig showing a deer ryone can find! have developed a stopped to nibble on som e m us- The trick is - it warning that only a tard; som etim es it's a shout - a always com es back rattlesnake could distinct bobcat track in m ud or to this - listening love; the first delib- deep deer rubs on a willow trunk. with all our erate anim al signal Of course, m y favorite is scat! senses; becom ing known to be com m u- What easier way to engross (and m ore aware and- nicated via heat! gross out!) the younger set on sensitive to our your interpretive walks than to im m ediate environm ent. Squirrel, continued on p. 4

VV iissiitt oorr CC ee nntt ee rr Open 7 days a w eek 9 a.m . to 5 p.m . except m ajor holidays

Theater Gift Shop Art Exhibits

We are proud to an- Start your holiday shop- Oct. 30 to Dec. 11 nounce a new addition to the ex- ping early at our gift shop in the clusive presentations we show in quite, relaxed setting of the Visi- Celebrate Trees our theater. “Trails of the tor Center. We are proud to offer Kum eyaay” is a 15 m inute infor- m erchandise geared to those who Artist Joan Boyer m ative video featuring Stan Rod- love to explore the out-of-doors. exhibits a selection riguez, from the Santa Isabel Whether a guide book or a walk- of oils and water- band of Kum eyaay, discussing ing stick, our m erchandise will colors. the Kum eyaay people today and help you to enjoy your excursions their link with the past, their into nature. Reception Satur- culture and the land. Besides our own “San day, Nov. 6th, 1 to Our three other offerings Diego’s Mission Trails Regional 3 p.m . include two videos, “Mission Park: Official Guide Book”, you Trails Regional Park, Link with will find various books dealing the Past, Experienced Today”, a with the geology, history and ecol- Dec. 11 to Jan. 22 fifteen m inute inform ative film ogy of the San Diego region. There Doris Regan is a on MTRP; “Stewardship Through is also a wide range of children’s wonderful wildlife the Ages”, a twenty-four m inute books dealing with nature. artist who works in presentation depicting the owner- The gift shop also contin- watercolor. ship and usage of the land we ues to carry crafts m ade by the now call MTRP; and a ten m inute local Native Am erican people. Nu- inspirational slide show “MTRP - m erous pots and baskets are A Natural Beauty. available for your purchase and A percentage of proceeds from the enjoyment. sale of art work goes to M TRP. PAGE 4 MISSION TRAILS VOLUME 15 NUMBER 4

Coyote, continued from p. 1

west. Preferring habitat that does not contain wolves, the coyote quickly and easily filled the void once this predator was eradi- cated. The coyote is basically a wild dog of m edium size, which varies in weight, coloration and length of fur depending upon its geographical location. Due to scarcity of prey and difference in clim ate, desert coyotes weigh about 20 to 25 pounds and have shorter, lighter, thinner fur than their m ountain and northern cousins, who can weigh up to 50 pounds and have a longer, Senior Ranger John Barone, on behalf of Mission Trails Regional Park darker, thicker coat. Coloration Rangers, awards Sgt. Dale Shockley with a plaque in appreciation for his can vary from grayish brown to continued support and dedication to Mission Trails staff and volunteers. yellowish gray with buff under- side. The coyote has pointed tri- angular ears, sharp pointed snout at tim es dangerous. Tracking, continued from p. 1 and a bushy tail. This tail is help- Coyotes usually dig their Diego Tracking Team and the ter- ful in distinguishing the coyote own dens, although they have been rific transect leaders we have had from dogs and wolves because a known to enlarge and use the dens guiding us throughout these years, coyote will carry its tail low when of other burrowing anim als and none of this would be happening. running, whereas wolves’ and will use the den for num erous We excitedly look forward to our dogs’ tails are high. years. Coyotes generally now “official” partnership with Although quite stay m ated for years San Diego Tracking Team and en- fam ily oriented, coyotes unless som ething has vision a great adventure ahead of prefer to hunt alone us- happened to incapaci- us! For m ore inform ation about ing their keen senses to tate one of the pair. joining the MTTT, contact Ranger locate and capture Breeding occurs in Janu- Barrett at 619-668-2746 gam e, and then bring ary and February with a the spoils hom e to gestation period of 63 share. While not pursu- days. An average litter Squirrel, continued from p. 3 ing the elusive roadrun- of six pups is born blind, ner, Wile E. m ust be but within a week or When up against a rattle- subsisting on m ore tra- two, their eyes will open snake, the squirrels held their ditional coyote food like and allow them to leave tail hairs on end, lashed the tail rabbits, rodents and Coyote print the den a few days later. back and forth and em itted a dis- carrion. Birds provide Until they can hunt for tinct heat glow (noted using an only about 3.5% of the coyote diet. them selves, coyote pups are fed infrared cam era). Interestingly They will also eat snakes, lizards, regurgitated food brought to them enough, the squirrels had no heat insects and even fruits and vege- by their parents. response when up against a go- tables if necessary. Closer to If a pup can keep itself pher snake, differentiating be- populated areas, dom esticated from being killed by eagles, m oun- tween enem ies and using a warn- anim als such as chickens, sheep, tain lions or dogs, it can live up- ing that only the heat sensitive sm all dogs and cats and even gar- wards to 10 to 12 years. An adult pit organs of the rattlesnake bage can refuse can becom e part is m ore likely to succum b to dis- could understand! of the coyote diet. It is highly rec- eases like parvo enteritis, distem - The hypothesis is that om m ended not feeding coyotes, or per, rabies and heartworm s. That this response is used to distract any other form of wildlife because is one thing Wile E. has over his rattlers from the squirrels’ m ore they will loose their fear of hu- real world relatives, he will be vulnerable young. m ans and becom e a nuisance and around for quite som e tim e. Ranger Luanne Barrett Mission Trails Non-Profit Organization R e g ional P ark F ou nd at ion U.S. POSTAGE PAID One Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA 92119-1008 San Diego, CA Visitor & Interpretive Center: (619) 668-3275 Perm it No. 658 MTRP Foundation: (619) 668-3280 E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.mtrp.org

Address Service Requested

Fall/W inter 2004 Issue Mission Trails Regional Park New s

M ission Trails Regional Park Foundation, Inc., established in January 1988, is a non-profit public benefit corporation organized for the purpose of preserving, im proving and m aintain- ing M ission Trails Regional Park.

M ission Trails Regional Park News is a publi- cation of M ission Trails Regional Park Founda- tion, Inc., published four tim es a year.

Editor: Roland Roberge Distribution: M arjorie Ferrante

Printed on Recycled Paper

New Staging Area to Open December 4

This is an exciting tim e at The staging area includes reation Departm ent. The project is Mission Trails Regional Park. The parking and picnic areas for hikers, being funded, in part, by a $1 m il- new East Fortuna Equestrian bicyclists and equestrians. The lion State of California grant the Staging Area will be dedicated parking accom m odations include a Foundation received in 2001 with and opened to the public on Satur- 48-space regular lot and 15 spaces support from Senator Dede Alpert. day, Decem ber 4, 2004, in con- for vehicles with horse trailers. This project has also been m ade junction with our annual Arbor Space is also provided for periodic possible by a donation of land from Day. The public is invited to at- horse rentals and pony rides. The San Diego Landfill System s/Allied tend the festivities which begin at project is substantially com plete at Waste Industries. 9:00 a.m . This new staging area this tim e but will not be opened to Prior to the start of con- provides im proved access to the the public until the end of a 90-day struction, the Arm y Corps of Engi- East Fortuna Region of Mission project m aintenance/plant estab- neers com pleted a sweep of this Trails, as well lishm ent pe- area for unexploded ordnance. as to the pro- riod. While no ordnance was found, they posed expan- This did uncover old tank parts, horse sion of the park new staging shoes, fencing, etc. north of State area is a joint The second phase of the Rte. 52 and project of Mis- project, which is not yet funded, northward to sion Trails Re- will include a building with space the newly gional Park for staff offices and m aintenance added West Foundation facilities as well as an inform ation Sycam ore re- and the City of area, restroom , large covered picnic gion of the park San Diego area, and sm all kitchen to be avail- near Poway. Park and Rec- able on a rental basis for public use.