Wildlife

  • California newt being scooped from the water along a monitoring transect
    Aquatic Amphibians & Invasive Species

    Monitoring the status of native stream-dwelling amphibians in the Santa Monica Mountains helps us to detect changes over a broad landscape.

  • Blainville's horned lizard, a small spiky reptile with a wide, flat body, in a person's hand
    Terrestrial Amphibians & Reptiles

    More than thirty species can be found in the Santa Monica Mountains and Point Loma peninsula. Five occur in Channel Islands National Park.

  • Small gray and olive songbird moving fast over a flowering shrub
    Landbirds

    Park researchers have been monitoring land bird populations on the Channel Islands since 1993.

  • Brown pelican flying low over the water
    Seabirds

    The Channel Islands are home to the largest seabird colonies in southern California.

  • Gray mouse with large dark eyes climbing up onto pink flowers. © Cathy Schwemm
    Deer Mouse

    Each of the five Channel Islands is home to an endemic subspecies of deer mouse.

  • Small gray-brown and orange fox hunting among tall, dry grass
    Island Fox

    Occurring only on six of California's eight Channel Islands, each island population is recognized as a separate endemic subspecies.

  • Section of sandy beach occupied by multiple pinniped species
    Pinnipeds

    Pinnipeds are top level carnivores at the Channel Islands and are sensitive to prey population changes, weather, pollution, and disturbance.

Last updated: November 28, 2022

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