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Hopland Research and Extension Center

Animals
The major vegetation types at HREC - grass, woodland-grass, dense woodland, chaparral, and riparian areas - provide food, water, shelter, and breeding grounds for a variety of species. Wildlife documented at HREC include: 200 bird species, 40 mammal species, 16 reptile species, 13 amphibian species, and 8 fish species. Parson's Creek supports an anadromous fish population of steelhead trout. A total of 56 species at HREC are listed as either federally or state endangered, threatened, or otherwise sensitive. See below for a list of species.

Columbian black-tailed deer
Columbian black-tailed deer
 
A herd of approximately 350 Colombian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) reside at the Center (D. McCullough, pers. comm.). McCullough says there is no realistic average density of herd size, but the numbers seem to be increasing over the past 15 years of his research study. The deer movement through the Center somewhat follows the seasonal vegetation - lower elevations in the spring, higher elevations in the summer, moving into the chaparral in late summer as the herbaceous plants dry up.

Wildlife at HREC includes a rich complex of predators such as coyote (Canis latrans), mountain lion (Felis concolor), black bear (Ursus americanus), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), bobcat (Lynx rufus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and vulture (Cathartes aura). Current coyote and bobcat densities at HREC are both estimated at approximately 0.76/km2 (Neale, 1996), which is high relative to other parts of North America. Coyotes that become sheep-killers are removed as selectively as possible, as necessary to reduce losses to the Center's sheep and lamb research flocks. Coyote management is one of the most important ongoing conflicts between wildlife and human activities. Removal of mountain lions and bears that attack and kill livestock is much less frequent and is done only under the depredation process of the Department of Fish & Game. The Center is seeking to find more effective ways to control predator impacts on livestock while safeguarding non-target species and the environment.

HREC maintains a small, preserved study collection of vertebrate species found within its boundaries. This resource is useful to researchers and informative to the public and should be maintained and improved as a research tool.

Domestic Livestock

The Center maintains a research sheep flock consisting of 600 to 1,000 breeding ewes, and approximately 50 rams and 200 replacement (yearling) ewes. These sheep are a relatively uniform western white-faced type, primarily Targhee in genetic origin. The current research flock has been developed through long-term genetic research work, spanning more than 3 decades, to be of a type that is of optimal productivity in terms of growth and lamb production under North Coast climate and forage regimes.


Shearing
Shearing
 
These sheep are owned and managed by the Center as a research resource and as a land management tool. Like other research resources, investigators can apply to utilize these animals in approved research projects that may be short-term or long-term. Unless research needs dictate otherwise, breeding (including artificial insemination) occurs in mid to late summer. Lambing generally spans the period from December to February, and shearing takes place in April. Many of the Center's sheep are involved in multiple animal science or veterinary research projects.
 

Excess livestock, including both weaned lambs and cull ewes and rams, are sold at a public livestock auction in Petaluma, California (or elsewhere) or by contract sale, typically in April or May. Wool sheared from the Center's flock is sold through a marketing cooperative.

Wildlife Inventory

List of vertebrate species - Includes all mammals, reptiles, and amphibians found at HREC.

A list of local birds is downloadable for your information only.  Bird observations are by invitation only and coordinated through the local Audubon Society.  Visit their web site http://www.peregrineaudubon.org/ for further information.

A list of the Center's museum specimens can also be downloaded.