Environmental Groups Team Up For Trail Education

Taking an active hand in stewarding the land, Friends of the Desert Mountains (Friends) is partnering with Bighorn Institute (BI), Riverside County Sheriffs, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to get the word out on proper trail etiquette, with an emphasis on dogs which have negative impacts on the endangered Peninsular Ranges Bighorn Sheep population thriving in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument (Monument).

On two recent mornings, teams set up “pop-up” visitor information tents at Homme-Adams Trailhead and Cathedral Canyon Trailhead in Cathedral City for morning educational outreach. Both of these locations provide access to the Monument and are experiencing a large influx of both residents and visitors walking their dogs, often off-leash.

As more people come to Coachella Valley, it is incumbent upon groups like ours to remind residents and visitors alike that our natural resources deserve our respect and protection. Off-leash dogs and dogs on trails that traverse bighorn habitat are extremely detrimental. Bighorn sheep see dogs as canine predators just like they see coyotes. This can cause bighorn to leave important feeding and watering sites. Ewes must teach their lambs to flee possible predators. Aimee J. Byard, Director of Operations/Biologist with Bighorn Institute (bighorninstitute.org) emphasized that “If bighorn sheep habituate to dogs, they won’t teach their lambs to respond properly and they could be killed by coyotes.”

According to the BLM brochure Hiking with dogs in the National Monument, “As a measure to protect critical lambing and watering sites for Peninsular Ranges Bighorn Sheep, areas for access with dogs are very limited on BLM lands in the Monument.” The BLM specifies only two areas dogs are permitted on-leash only in the Monument: La Quinta Cove Oasis Trailhead (before the levee only) and the trails connecting Homme-Adams Park to Cahuilla Hills Park in Palm Desert. Additionally, Carrizo Canyon and Dead Indian Canyon both are closed to all human activity January-September bighorn lambing season. The BLM brochure does list other dog-friendly municipal facilities outside the Monument.

“We appreciate that many residents value access to our wonderful natural areas,” said Friends Executive Director Tammy Martin, “but that access cannot be taken for granted. The public also has a part to play in protecting our endangered species by recreating responsibly.”

Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy (CVMC) Executive Director Elizabeth King was onsite in support of education efforts in Cathedral Canyon. Said King, “CVMC manages a 1,200-acre conservation easement in the area meant to protect the endangered Peninsular Ranges Bighorn Sheep.  As urbanization and responsible recreating increases exponentially in the Valley, providing ewes and lambs with protected sanctuaries and safe zones in the wild is critical to their survival.” (cvmc.ca.gov)

we love dogs – just not on the trails, thanks!