Santa Monica Mountains |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-current. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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July 21, 1987 Location: Cheeseboro Canyon M.R. was riding his horse in Cheeseboro Canyon when he and his horse were attacked by three animals which he identified as coyotes. Two nipped at his horse, and the third jumped up on his saddle and nipped him. M.R. suffered puncture wounds in his right arm and has begun rabies treatment. Following this incident, park rangers and local animal control officers set live traps to catch the animals. On the 21st, at the same time and location, a man and woman riding in the park were attacked by three animals, again identified as coyotes. They were forced to gallop for a mile to get away from them, but suffered no injuries. The canyon is now closed to all public use. Trapping efforts will continue, and mounted rangers will patrol the canyon this evening to draw the animals out. The animals will be captured or shot if the rangers are attacked.
Location: Cheeseboro Canyon As a result of the recent attacks upon humans on horseback in this area, two park rangers on horseback served as human bait during the night. No animals were sighted, no incidents were reported. This evening, (7/22) the rangers will again frequent the area on horseback and will be accompanied by dogs. It is felt that dogs will serve to draw the coyotes out into the open.
Location: Rocky Oak Visitor discovered a body which apparently had been dug out of a shallow grave by animals. Rangers are preserving scene. Coroner and homicide investigators were enroute at the time of the report. Subject male, race and age undetermined. Length of time subject had been interred is not known. Further details to be released as known.
Rangers on patrol in Trancos Canyon on June 1st discovered a 20-foot-square area covered with unidentified chemicals. Specialists from the Los Angeles county fire department were called in, and they identified the several substances found there as chemicals employed in the illicit manufacture of PCP. The chemicals were also determined to be extremely hazardous. The park contacted the National Response Center, and were forwarded to the California office of the Environmental Protection Agency. EPA employed "Super Fund" money to hire a contractor to clean up the area, and work was to have been completed at the site by the afternoon of the 2nd. (Ernie Quintana, CR, SAMO, via CompuServe message from RAD/WRO).
Park rangers discovered a 10' by 10' grassy, discolored area and several five-gallon cans of PCP precursors in Encinal Canyon on the 20th. The national spill response center has been notified, Los Angeles hazardous materials crews are working to identify the materials, and the State of California will assist in clean-up operations. The spill is located near the spot where another clandestine drug lab was found on June 2nd (see morning report, 6/5/89). (Ernie Quintana, CR, SAO, via CompuServe report from RAD/WRO).
On July 4th, rangers discovered the third clandestine drug lab found in Encinal Canyon in the last month. The last patrol through the area had been on the 2nd. Although federal and state environmental agencies have cleaned up the spilled chemicals and mixing barrels on past occasions, they have declined to aid the park this time. Each of the three laboratories found in the canyon has been capable of producing over $1 million worth of PCP. (Ernie Ojuintana, CR, SAMO, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD.WRI).
Despite daily patrols and the use of surveillance equipment in Encinal Canyon, the park again discovered m abandoned, clandestine PCP laboratory in the canyon on the morning of August 2nd. This is the fourth such lab found there this summer. It's estimated that five to six people would have been needed to operate the equipment left behind, which could have produced in excess of $1 million worth of PCP. The spill is larger than its predecessors and covers about 60 square feet. DEA is the lead agency on the cleanup, and will be assisted by the park. The park is obtaining site detection equipment from FLETC to help in further investigation of incidents. (Ernie Quintana, CR, SAMO, via SEAdog message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO).
As a result of continuing problems with drug labs in the park, surveillance operations in Trancos Canyon and a joint investigation with DEA were begun two weeks ago. On the night of the 28th, these efforts paid off with the arrest of three adult males in the canyon on drug-related charges. The suspects attempted to elude arrest, but were apprehended with the help of a dog unit. Rangers and agents confiscated a Ford pickup truck (thought to be stolen) and a Ford van, two cellular telephones, and four five-gallon containers - three filled with finished PCP and the remaining two with ether anhydrous, a PCP precursor. Participating DEA agents said that the drug operation was unusually sophisticated. (Ernie Quintana, CR, SAMO, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RADAJRO).
An interagency counternarcotics task force comprised of rangers and officers from the park, California State Parks, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and the Forest Service discovered an area where marijuana was being cultivated on the park's southern boundary. A search warrant was executed on the residence on June 9th, and team members discovered 1,600 marijuana plants which were being started in the house prior to transplanting outdoors. One individual was arrested. Rangers Tim Simonds and Bonnie Clarfield represented the park. [CompuServe message from Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 6/12]
On the evening of August 5th, rangers arrested M.C., 26, and S.D., 25, both of Oxnard, California, for cultivation of marijuana in the Circle X Ranch area of the park. The site had been under investigation by rangers and Ventura County narcotics officers, and the suspects were arrested while watering their plantation. The site had 80 plants with a street value of $160,000. Some of the plants were from a new African strain known by the slang name of "KGB" a variety that buds very heavily and matures at a height of 30 inches. [Ernie Quintana, CR, SAMO, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 8/6]
Richard M. Williams, 49, the park's resource management specialist, died in his sleep Saturday night, September 14th. No further details are available at present. [Bill Webb, Superintendent, SAMO, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 9/16]
Mike Williams, the park resource management specialist who died on Saturday, began working in Santa Monica Mountains as a biological technician in 1987 and at the time of his death was a GS7 resource management specialist. He is survived by his wife, Katie Williams, two teenaged sons and a daughter. Condolences may be sent to Katie Williams at 5502 W. 98th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90045. [CompuServe message from Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 9/17]
Two PCP drug lab sites were discovered in the park late last week. The first was found on January 31st about a half mile from the spot where another PCP lab was detected last year. That discovery led to the arrest of three people and clean-up costs in the thousands of dollars. Evidence at the new site indicates that drugs were being actively manufactured there for some time and that the last operation may have taken place as recently as mid-January. Litter at the site included nine 55-gallon mixing barrels, several five-gallon ether containers, a variety of chemicals, and water bottles, discarded clothing, and mixing paddles. Los Angeles county has assumed responsibility for site clean-up, which should take about three days and cost several thousand dollars. The second lab was found the next day, and it's believed that it is still being used. Litter at the lab was similar to that found at the first site, and included several 55-gallon mixing barrels and 25 five-gallon ether containers. A joint investigation into both labs is being conducted by rangers and county narcotics units. [Ernest Quintana, CR, SAMO, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 2/3]
A number of roads in the park were closed on Monday due to flash flooding caused by a Pacific storm which brought heavy rains to the area. Employees at Paramount Ranch, Rancho Sierra Vista and Zuma Canyon were evacuated due to flooding of nearby streams. No details regarding damage costs are available at this time. [Bill Webb, SAMO, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 2/11]
The park received eight inches of rain over February 10th and 11th, and was expected to received up to four inches on the 13th and more during this past weekend. At the time of the report, all sites within the park had been closed, and local roads and highways traversing the area were either completely or partially closed due to flooding and landslides or mudslides. Medea Creek had overflowed its banks and flooded the lower portions of the Paramount Ranch site. A 50-foot-long prop trailer at Paramount Ranch, where CBS is making a full-length feature film, floated down the creek, came to rest in some trees was totally destroyed; other vehicles at the site sustained water damage. Triunfo Creek had become a river, but the water had so far remained within its banks. Four of the five non-NPS water impoundments within and near the park had water flowing over the tops of their dams, but none was expected to fail. Damage to government structures has occurred, including the collapse of a restroom facility at Paramount Ranch and flooding of the site ranger's quarters and ranch hand's quarters at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa. Several access roads have been eroded away, and run-off from surrounding mountains has created erosion problems at a number of park sites. [Reports from Tim Simmonds and Ernie Quintana, SAMO, via telefax and SEAdog from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 2/11 and 2/13]
Several areas and operational units of the National Park Service were directly or peripherally affected by the riots, demonstrations and other incidents that have occurred since the verdict was handed down in the King assault case: * Santa Monica Mountains (California) - Despite the park's proximity to the rioting, no significant problems occurred there. Franklin Canyon was closed as a precautionary measure to protect a remote facility located there, and some public events were briefly postponed. [Telephone and telefax reports from Phil Ward, RAD/WRO; Bob Reid, RAD/MARO; Bob Ditolla, RAD/NARO; Bill Sturgeon, RAD/SERO; Bob Byrne, CR, INDE]
Over the course of the summer, rangers and officers from the Ventura and Los Angeles county sheriffs' departments have discovered five marijuana plantations and a PCP laboratory on park and adjacent public lands. Surveillance teams were established to monitor these locations with the intent of gathering evidence and apprehending those responsible for these sites. During the three days from August 11th to the 13th, Santa Monica rangers working with the task force, assisted by rangers from Joshua Tree, made four field arrests and a warrant arrest, served two search warrants, and made one follow-up arrest when a suspect turned himself in through his lawyer. Five vehicles, small quantities of various narcotics, marijuana gardening equipment and marijuana valued at over $500,000 were seized. During the execution of one search warrant, team members found det cord, a blasting cap, black powder, a bomb casing and written instructions on explosives and marijuana cultivation. It's believed that the suspect was preparing to set booby traps in the garden. All plantations have been removed. Arrests and prosecutions are being conducted by county agencies. [Ernest Quintana, CR, SAMO, 8/20]
On the morning of October 2nd, rangers supported Los Angeles County sheriff's department officers in a drug raid on private property near the park's Circle X Ranch. When the raid team entered the property to execute a search warrant, the owner, D.S., drew a weapon, pointed it at the officers, and refused orders to drop it. Shots were fired by the officers and D.S. was killed. A woman who was on the scene was taken into custody. Participating rangers were in a containment position about 150 yards away and did not draw or point their weapons. At the time of the report, the search of the premises was still underway, and a shooting team from the sheriff's department was on scene and conducting an investigation. [Ernie Quintana, CR, SAMO, 10/2]
A Ventura County sheriff and fire Bell 206 helicopter involved in aerial ignition on an interagency park and county joint management prescribed fire was totally destroyed in a ground fire in the park on June 30th. There were no injuries. The helicopter had left the fire area and set down on a small knoll some distance from the fire. The pilot was in the process of either going through cool-down procedures or running at flight idle when the crewman in the back seat directly behind the pilot noticed a fire on the ground to the right of the copter. The crewman exited the ship with a gallon of water and a fire extinguisher without notifying the pilot. Once on the ground, he realized that he couldn't extinguish the fire, as it was now under the helicopter and also to the ship's left. As the crewman attempted to notify the pilot, the fire flamed into the machine, which had no doors, and burned the pilot. Both the pilot and crewman escaped the fire by running downhill from the knoll and were later picked up by another county helicopter. The subsequent wildfire was suppressed after burning 18 acres, all on park land. The pilot suffered first and moderate second degree burns on his face, hands, and possibly his elbow; he's received two hyperbolic treatments at a local burn center, with two more such treatments scheduled for yesterday. The crewman was treated for smoke inhalation. The incident could be seen by personnel on the prescribed burn. Park FMO Ish Messer said that the copter rotors continued to turn on the burning ship until it sank to one side and the rotors hit the ground. The helicopter is a total loss. The estimated replacement cost is $1.6 million. The incident is under investigation by NTSB, FAA and Ventura County fire investigators, who were on site Wednesday afternoon. The copter was to be removed yesterday. [Brian Sutton, SAMO, and Rick Gale, FAM/Boise, 7/1]
Early in September, a ranger discovered that an area used for marijuana cultivation last year was again being employed for that purpose. In the previous incident, the plants had been destroyed before any surveillance of the area could be conducted. In late September, a ranger and eleven members of the county sheriff's department placed the site under surveillance. During the third surveillance operation, a person entered the area, was recorded while cultivating the plants, and was subsequently arrested. He was charged with cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, vandalism, and theft of public utilities (he'd tapped into a county fire hydrant service line). While booking him, officers discovered that he was on probation for the sale of marijuana. The surveillance team removed 175 plants ranging in size from six to nine feet tall. The value of the plants has been placed at $175,000. Cultivation techniques employed at the site match those used there in 1992. [Ernest Quintana, CR, SAMO, 10/12]
During firefighting operations on November 3rd, firefighters found the body of N.H. in the vicinity of Malibu Lagoon near Point Mugu. She had been listed as missing for almost a year. The Ventura County sheriff's office has listed the cause of death as homicide and is conducting an investigation with the assistance of park rangers. [Ernest Quintana, CR, SAMO, 11/4]
On December 11th, rangers arrested former NPS employee J.F. at Diamond X ranch, where he was attempting to provoke an encounter with a park employee in breach of a legal restraining order which had been issued the same day. During the arrest, rangers discovered that J.F. was wearing a concealed firearm, that he is known to own other firearms and dangerous weapons, and that he had several of these in his vehicle. J.F. was carrying a .32 caliber semi-automatic handgun which was loaded and backed up with three additional magazines. A .25 caliber semi-automatic handgun was discovered inside the passenger compartment of his pickup; the pouch containing the handgun also held two fully loaded magazines. An AR-15 assault rifle with a 30-round magazine was found inside the pickup's cargo area; alongside it were six more 30-round and two 20-round magazines. Also taken from J.F. was an eight-inch expandable baton and a two-edged hard plastic knife. During his booking on state stalking and felony and misdemeanor weapons charges, rangers discovered an NPS badge, and found that J.F. had last been employed at Death Valley during the summer of 1993. The badge, however, came from another park. J.F. has also worked at seven or more other parks. He has told rangers that "law enforcement is the enemy, therefore you are the enemy." During an interview on December 13th, J.F. said this his desire is to be killed by a law enforcement person. [Bryan Sutton, SAMO, 1/4]
Early reports indicate that the park, which lies just south of the epicenter of Monday's major earthquake in the Northridge area, suffered only light to moderate damage. All employees have been accounted for and are okay. Moderate damage was inflicted on park headquarters, and the chimney of the maintenance headquarters/ranger station at the Diamond X collapsed. At the time of the report (noon PST yesterday), patrols were out checking other facilities for damage. Phones and power are largely out in the park. Subsequent attempts to contact the park were unsuccessful due to phone problems; an update will appear in tomorrow's morning report. One of the Service's two Type I all-risk incident management team's has been placed on standby for callout by FEMA, DOI or the NPS should additional resources be needed in the Los Angeles area. [Ernie Quintana, CR, SAMO, 1/17; Dick Martin, RAD/WASO, 1/17]
Brief follow-up reports on the quake have been received from two areas: * Santa Monica Mountains - The situation in the park is very much the same as it was on Monday. Although the park experienced only minor damage to structures and facilities, several employees did not make it to work due either to road closures or the need to repair or evaluate damage to their homes and personal property. Despite intermittent power disruptions and sporadic telephone service, the park is open. Signs have been placed in the park advising visitors and employees to boil water before consuming it. The chief ranger would like everyone to know that all employees are safe and that, although there were no injuries, their personal lives have been "tremendously upset." [Ernie Quintana, CR, SAMO; Jonathan Lewis, CHIS; 1/18]
Several park employees have been forced to evacuate their homes and apartments due to severe structural damage. The park is helping them move their personal belongings to temporary storage facilities. Although telephone service has been restored, it is still difficult to call out of the area. Aftershocks are continuing to shake the entire area; more than 100 over magnitude 3.0 have occurred since Monday's quake. [Ernie Quintana, CR, SAMO, 1/19]
The earthquake which rocked the area Monday has inflicted greater damage to area homes and apartment complexes than was originally thought, and the need for temporary housing is consequently becoming more and more critical. FEMA has alerted a state incident management team of an impending call out to assist with planning for the construction of three 6,000-person tent camps. That team consists of personnel from the National Park Service, BLM and the Forest Service; Ish Messer of Santa Monica Mountains is the team's plans chief. The park staff extends a sincere "thank you" to all of you who have offered assistance and expressed concerns. The park's primary focus now is to help homeless NPS employees find new homes and to provide critical incident stress assistance to all park staff. Persons wishing additional information can call Ernie Quintana, the park's chief ranger, at 818-597- 1036 x 210. [Ernie Quintana, CR, SAMO, 1/20]
Four employees at the park have lost their homes due to structural damage and have had to relocate. Another six employees lost significant amounts of personal property. The park has received many calls from concerned NPS employees asking how they can help these and other earthquake victims. A special earthquake relief fund has accordingly been established. Donations are being accepted by the Parklands Association at 3401 Agoura Road, Suite 100, Agoura Hills, CA 91301. If you'd like to contact the park directly, please call David Gackenbach, the park's superintendent, at 818-597-1036, extension 226. [Stanley Albright, Regional Director, WRO, 1/21; also transmitted via memorandum to all employees]
More reports have been received from California parks regarding the storms that have been buffeting that state: * Santa Monica Mountains - All park sites and trails have been closed and will remain closed for at least 72 hours following the cessation of rain. Major arteries through the mountains suffered rock and mud slides, cutting off entry to some park sites. Eighty CBS crew members and staffers were evacuated yesterday morning from the Paramount Ranch; a residence at the site has been cut off and flooded by the overflowing Medea Creek. The Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa Pinehill Road dam was a half-foot from overflowing at the time of the report. Two staff members were evacuated from the area. All roads to Rocky Oaks and its park housing are closed and water is accumulating at the site. The access road to the Zuma Canyon site off the Pacific Coast Highway has been cut off and the ranger there is unable to leave. The section of that highway within the park is closed. Kanan Road (Mulholland to Cornell), Malibu Canyon to Mulholland, Topanga Canyon, and Route 23 South are closed; the Ventura Freeway along the park is open to Camarillo, but is closed over the Santa Clarita River. Various other roads are closed, making it impossible for staff to reach work and for those at work to get home. The park continues to monitor all levels of flooding and has set up an incident command system for dealing with the emergency. [C. Mack Shaver, Superintendent, CHIS; Craig Johnson, CR, REDW; PAO, SAMO; all reports, 1/11]
Rangers received a report of a natural gas line break in Cheeseboro Canyon on the afternoon of January 26th. The report was received from the pilot of a Ventura County helicopter, who subsequently guided rangers to the location of the break. The 18" line had ruptured and was sending a gas plume about 600 feet into the air. Both Cheeseboro and Palo Comado canyons were evacuated and closed to public use. The gas company manually closed down the line after finding that one of two emergency valves had malfunctioned. The ruptured line created a crater about 20' deep and 10' in diameter. The exact cause of the break is unknown. Repairs were to have been completed by today. [Jon Dick, CR, SAMO]
A major landslide on March 22nd in a road cut on the Kanan-Dume Road and subsequent slides have forced the closure of that road by Los Angeles County until further notice. About 35,000 yards of debris have been released from the slope since the first slide. Kanan-Dume Road is a major county road crossing through the central section of the Santa Monica Mountains. The park will work with state oversight agencies to assure that the problem is corrected and to ensure minimal impacts to park resources. [Jon Dick, SAMO]
The park hosted the 36th Topanga Banjo-Fiddler Contest at Paramount Ranch on Sunday, May 19th. This year's event was in support of "March for Parks." The event included music, dance, children's programs, cultural and natural resource exhibits, folk art and crafts. Attendance was estimated at 6,000 people. No incidents occurred, and the event was considered a success. [Jon Dick, CR, SAMO]
Three hikers were reported overdue from a day hike in Zuma Canyon just before midnight on May 19th. The three were attempting a cross-country hike from the upper to lower sections of the canyon. A multi-agency search involving park rangers and many Los Angeles and Ventura county units was begun and continued through the night. The three were found at 8 a.m. the following morning by a spotter in a sheriff's office helicopter. Search teams were directed to them, and they were subsequently airlifted out of the canyon. [Jon Dick, CR, SAMO]
On May 18th, 79-year-old fiddle player S.G. became ill while performing in 85 degree heat at the Topanga banjo fiddle contest, an annual event at Paramount Ranch that attracts over 4,000 visitors. S.G. sat down across from the event's first aid station and fell unconscious. A Red Cross volunteer EMT immediately came to his assistance; rangers Greg Jackson, Glen Douglas, and Kathy Krisko also responded and found that S.G. was in full arrest. CPR was begun and county paramedics were dispatched. S.G. was defibrillated twice, then taken to a hospital in Los Robles, where he arrived with a normal heart rhythm and was admitted to CCU. Ranger Ho Truong was the NPS liaison for the event. [Jon Dick, CR, SAMO, 5/19]
On August 23rd, about 2,100 people attended the "Reggae at the Ranch" concert at the Paramount Ranch. There were no significant EMS incidents despite temperatures in the upper 90s. There were also few controlled substance incidents due to a no smoking policy in the concert area. The permit holder reported the theft of $3,000 in a payment dispute with one of the entertainers. Rangers detained all suspects and resolved the issue. During the event, rangers responded to other areas of the park for a motor vehicle accident, a wildland fire, and a report of indecent behavior in public. District ranger Greg Jackson served as NPS liaison; eight law enforcement personnel worked the event. [Jon Dick, CR, SAMO, 8/25]
Scott Erickson, the park's deputy superintendent, has been taken seriously ill. On Monday, March 22nd, he was admitted to the emergency room at Los Robles Regional Medical Center for testing. Scott had suffered increasing fatigue for a number of days, culminating on Monday with a gradual but noticeable loss of muscle movement on the left side of his body. Tests revealed that he has a large tumor in the right hemisphere of his brain. It is inoperable, but not untreatable. He will be moved to UCLA Medical Center for further tests and the best care that the area has to offer. Those who would like to send their best wishes to Scott can send them care of the park at 401 West Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360. [Jean Bray, SAMO, 3/26]
Deputy superintendent Scott Erickson passed away peacefully in his sleep early yesterday morning at the UCLA Medical Center. He died of complications stemming from a lung infection while undergoing treatment for a brain tumor that was diagnosed on March 22nd. Over the span of his career, Scott served at Sequoia-Kings Canyon, North Cascades, the Fire Center in Boise, Everglades, and Yosemite, before coming to Santa Monica Mountains in 1994 as deputy superintendent. He is survived by his son, Bryce; his brothers, Randy and Ross; and his mother and father, Doris and Lloyd. Superintendent Art Eck has sent along the following note: "Scott Erickson will be long remembered here at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area for his brilliance, energy and ability to effect positive change. But I know as well he is to be remembered by many others throughout the National Park Service. Few individuals have so singly influenced our agency to its benefit. FirePro, RMAP and VRAP were among the analytic tools that he conceived or shaped in an effort to help the Service make its case in the defense of our resources... We, the men and women of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, wish to express our thanks for the support shown by the National Park Service family through the hundreds of cards, letters and calls that came to Scott over the past eight weeks. His commitment to the Service was not only warranted by its mission, but its people. Thank you." [Art Eck, Superintendent, SAMO, 5/19]
Over 5,500 people attended the annual Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest on May 16th. Although vendors at the event are allowed to serve beer, incidents involving intoxicated visitors have been rare. This year, there were only three such instances, one involving a person with outstanding DUI warrants against him. There were no significant medical incidents. Ranger Jim Culver was IC. [Greg Jackson, DR, SAMO, 5/16]
A memorial ceremony for deputy superintendent Scott Erickson, who died on May 19th, will be held at the Peter Strauss Ranch in the park on Friday, June 11th, at 2:30 p.m. Guests are invited to a gathering at Calamigos Ranch following the memorial. Anyone wishing to attend should call 805-370-2344 or send a note with your name, telephone number and the number in your party via cc:Mail to Kim Benz at NP-SAMO. A map with directions to Calamigos Ranch will be provided at the memorial. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Scott Erickson Estate and mailed to Scott Erickson Memorial Education Fund, c/o Bryce Erickson. Please note the account number on the check. [Jean Bray, SAMO, 6/1]
An arson fire was set on park lands on the afternoon of July 15th which burned 84 acres of grasslands at Rancho Sierra Vista. Ventura County firefighters were first on scene; a park crew and engine were second on scene, by which time the fire was approximately three acres in size. The fire, which burned in light fuels and was carried by light easterly winds, was contained by 6 p.m. and controlled by 8 p.m. An arson investigator found a book of burnt matches, several aerosol cans and an empty can of carburetor cleaner at the point of origin, the south end of a culvert on Potrero Road. Witness reported seeing three young boys running away from that location shortly before they saw the smoke. The fire is still under investigation by rangers and county arson investigators. [Jon Dick, SAMO, 7/15]
Park dispatch advised ranger Ho Truong that Malibu SAR had found a body on or near NPS property on the afternoon of November 1st. State rangers and county deputies were already on scene; Truong and ranger James Richardson joined them. The body was found in an isolated location near an electrical tower west of the Corral Canyon parking lot and north of Backbone Trail. A silver Buick Regal had been parked in the lot for several days. Earlier that day, a missing persons report was filed on the car's owner. The report said that the owner had left his home five days before and that family and friends had not seen him since. He was reportedly under a lot of personal stress, had some minor family problems, and was not working. The SAR team was called in and found the body. Suicide has been confirmed. The investigation is continuing. [Jon Dick, SAMO, 11/1]
On Wednesday, November 29th, a BLM employee advised rangers that he'd heard multiple gunshots fired in the vicinity of the Circle X Ranch, one of the park's developed areas. Three rangers investigated and contacted four people in that area. M.A., 21, was searched and found to be in possession of a Ruger 9mm pistol. His companions were all juveniles and relatives. The weapons and two ammunition magazines were confiscated, and 14 expended cartridges were found at the scene. M.A. told the rangers that he was only shooting into the air. He was issues two mandatory appearance citations - one for discharging a weapon, the other for possession of a weapon in the park. [Jon Dick, CR, SAMO, 12/4]
On June 13th, rangers contacted 18 boys and a young man skateboarding on historic structures at Peter Strauss Ranch. The riders were mostly sponsored (i.e., professional) athletes, including one from Brazil and one from New Zealand. One was filming with professional camera equipment in hopes of selling footage. The adults were ticketed; the juveniles were warned and their parents contacted. Video tape was seized as evidence. The park has had many extreme sports appear within its boundaries as they are invented, such as street luge, dirt-boarding, backcountry skateboarding, and eco-challenge events and training. The national parks are attractive locations for these new sports, especially as filming locations. Investigative tools for discovering and following up on these illegal activities include visits to local sports shops, web searches, and sport magazine and video sales. [Jim Richardson, DR, SAMO, 6/15]
Rangers Bill Ramsey (NATR) and Patti Briggs (SAMO) were working camp security for the Happy Camp fire complex in northern California on September 23rd when they contacted two firefighters attempting to bring alcohol into the camp. The firefighters gave the rangers their alcohol and began returning to their camp when one of them, who had apparently been drinking heavily, turned around, charged Ramsey, and repeatedly punched him in the face. While Ramsey was attempting to subdue the man, Briggs struck the firefighter a number of times with an expandable baton, but with little effect. Ramsey was eventually able to take the man to the ground, where he was handcuffed. He continued to resist for about 15 minutes, kicking and attempting to head butt the rangers. Ramsey was cut and bruised on the face in the incident; Briggs received bruises on the legs from the man's repeated kicks. Both were treated at the scene. The man, who repeatedly threatened to kill the rangers and others at the scene, was turned over to local sheriff's deputies and arrested for public intoxication. An investigation into charges of assault on a federal officer is being conducted by the USFS. [Greg Jackson, DR, San Vicente District, SAMO, 9/29]
The historic house at the Peter Strauss Ranch has been the site of several illegal commercial filming operations over recent weeks. Groups of young men have been entering the area at night, some bringing in portable generators and lights, and filming commercial skateboarding videos by sliding down the handrails on the steps of the historic house. Through numerous contacts, rangers have purchased commercial videos in local skateboard shops showing skateboarding on the site. Classic stunts performed by internationally known skateboarders have inspired skateboarders from San Jose to San Diego, one even from Brazil, to come to the ranch to ride the same rail and try and get the same shot. The latest event was on February 2nd, when rangers contacted a group of seven young men at the ranch. They had connected portable halogen lights to the main house's electrical system and had attempted to remove steel obstacles that park maintenance staff had put on the rails to prevent skateboard use. They intended to use the video to seek commercial sponsorship at an upcoming skateboarding convention. Others in the group were already sponsored. A simple handheld digital video camera is of sufficient quality to provide footage for commercial skateboarding videos. Total cumulative damage to the main house at Peter Strauss Ranch has yet to be assessed. Nearly 30 individuals, averaging between ages 16 and 18, have been cited in the past year for a variety of offenses, including commercial filming, damaging government property, and closure violations. [Greg Jackson, DR, San Vicente District, SAMO, 2/10]
On August 1st, eleven members of the park staff joined a Ventura
County Sheriff Department's task force in removing 3,800 marijuana
plants from an area near Rancho Sierra Vista and within the boundaries
of the park. The plants had an estimated sale value of $11.4 million. A
week later, Ventura County officers removed 760 plants valued at $2.3
million from a canyon just outside of the park's boundaries. Both of
these plantations were well maintained and found in drainage areas close
to springs. Both had the same type of irrigation and fertilizer systems,
suggesting a common grower.
President Bush visited the park at Rancho Sierra Vista on August
15th. His two-hour visit included a stop at the native plant nursery,
meeting with park staff and a park volunteer, and a meeting with the
Wilson High School summer interns assisting with some trail
construction. President Bush then spoke to approximately 200 invited
guests and news media at the Satwiwa Culture Center at Rancho Sierra
Vista. Park staff; protection rangers from the park and Pacific West
Region's special events team; law enforcement rangers from the Santa
Monica Mountains Conservation Authority and California State Parks; and
officers from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department and California
Highway Patrol assisted the Secret Service with protection duties. No
major incidents occurred, but rangers were kept busy with approximately
75 demonstrators. The incident was managed under ICS by Pacific West
Region's IMT.
On January 15th, ranger Robert Heagy was notified that a convicted
felon had escaped from a county detention facility located less than a
mile from Backbone Trail. Based on a citizen's report of a sighting,
seven rangers and several Los Angeles County detention officers set up
containment of the area in which he was believed to be located near the
Malibu Country Club. A search conducted by probation employees
failed to locate the escapee and the operation was terminated. About
thirty minutes after leaving the area, rangers received a report of a
recent sighting of the escapee near the original location. They teamed
up with the members of the arriving Los Angeles County Probation Task
Force, orienting them to the area, helping to obtain a search dog, and
securing the search area. One ranger positioned at an observation point
saw the escapee hiding adjacent to an abandoned dirt road and directed
rangers and task force members to his location. Ranger Patti Briggs
pursued the escapee into the dense brush and took him into custody at
gunpoint. The man was injured, having cut himself both on ribbon wire
during the escape and on the dense brush during the chase. He was
originally in custody for felony weapon violations, but will now be
spending additional time in custody.
On the morning of September 20th, protection rangers joined with members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff/Malibu Mountains Search & Rescue team in a hasty search for an overdue mountain biker. Rangers searched local roads and trails for W.C., 47, who had parked his vehicle on a pullout on park property near Mulholland Road. On September 21st, W.C.'s body was found by family friends in a creek on NPS property approximately five miles away from the spot where he'd parked his vehicle. An investigation is underway into the cause of death. [Evan W. Jones-Toscano, Chief Ranger]
On Thursday, August 16th, a marijuana garden was spotted from a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office helicopter in the upper Trancas Canyon watershed. The Zuma-Trancas Canyons section is north of the city of Malibu and is managed by the National Park Service. After several weeks of surveillance, a tactical team comprised of protection rangers from both the National Park Service and from the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA, a state partner) entered the location as planned on September 19th. Over 3,900 marijuana plants with a street value in excess of $10 million were found at the site along with large amounts of plastic PVC irrigation hose and empty pesticide and insecticide containers. Staff from the park and MRCA, supported by additional staff from Channel Islands and Sequoia/Kings Canyon, cut and piled the plants and loaded both plants and garbage into large sling bags for removal by air. The plants were then taken to the county landfill - under armed escort - for destruction. Safety concerns in this remote area were numerous, including the possibility of armed growers still in the vicinity and/or their booby traps. Resource impacts are significant, including the destruction of native vegetation in this rather pristine area, soil disturbance that promotes invasive weeds, residual effects from the chemicals and fertilizers used, and the establishment of pits for trash and human waste. Funding came from both ONPS and PWR regional drug eradication accounts. [Evan W. Jones-Toscano, Chief Ranger]
Three historic buildings within the park were destroyed by a wildland fire on the morning of Saturday, November 24th. The structures were in the Solstice Canyon area of Malibu, just north of the Pacific Ocean. The Corral Fire, the cause of which is under investigation, had burned 4,720 acres and destroyed at least 50 homes as of yesterday morning. Although it is within the boundaries of the park, most of the land that has burned is not managed by the National Park Service. It's estimated that 700 to 800 acres of federal land has been affected. Two of the three buildings were park residences - one served as the park's dormitory and had five occupants. An unoccupied building adjacent to the dorm was also destroyed. They were built between 1960 and 1963 by TRW, an aerospace contractor that conducted scientific research on satellites with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the site. The other was a single family dwelling occupied by two dual-career employees. It was originally constructed in 1865 and was considered to be the oldest existing stone building in Malibu. Everyone was evacuated safely. Its estimated that the fire arrived at this location within the first three hours after it started. All the residents are either staying with friends or have been provided lodging for the short term. There is some vacant park housing available; other options are being considered to ensure that everyone is comfortably accommodated in the future. The initial steps to establish an assistance fund are being considered, and more information will follow within the next several days. Damage assessments (both for structures and for resources) have already begun. A special events and tactical team (SETT) has arrived in the park to assist with security and continue patrols until the fire weather eases. Click on the link below for a photo. [Marty O'Toole, Fire Education, Prevention and Information Specialist] HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=3619"
The wind has died down and firefighters have made substantial progress in containing the Corral Fire. Evacuation orders have been lifted, roads within the burned area have reopened to residents, and the park has begun recovering from its impacts. Superintendent Woody Smeck put out this message to park staff on Monday on ways in which they could support and assist those park residents who lost everything in the fire: "As many of you know, the Corral Fire (or Malibu Fire) that consumed over 4,700 acres in the Santa Monica Mountains this past weekend destroyed two National Park Service residential buildings in Solstice Canyon. Seven rangers and science interns were able to safely evacuate their homes just minutes before wind-driven flames destroyed everything. Unfortunately, with little time to react, they lost all of their personal property, including items of intense personal value such as wedding and family photos, china, jewelry, personal papers, and art work. "For most of us, we can only imagine what it means to lose our home. The emotions and memories are overwhelming and for these individuals, this has been a very difficult time. Yet, they have found needed comfort and strength from the many family, friends, and colleagues that have called with expressions of sorry and support. The meaning of 'National Park Service Family' has shown its true spirit and grace. "Many of you have asked how you can help. The Santa Monica Mountains Fund, our 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has created a fund to help replace the personal loses experienced by Eric, June, Larry, Rebecca, Steve, Sarah, and Tarja. Cash donations can be made to the Santa Monica Mountains Fund at 401 West Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, California, 91360. Please indicate 'Fire Recovery Fund' on the memo line. Information on how to donate on-line will be announced shortly. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the fire. We will do everything necessary to rebuild and recover from this very tragic loss." Although the fire is close to containment and many firefighters have demobilized, the weather forecast is calling for increased winds again later this week. [Marty O'Toole, Fire Education, Prevention and Information Specialist]
Park staff are working hard on numerous projects in the aftermath of last month's destructive fire: Funding for demolition/stabilization of the remains of burned structures and cleanup of the sites will be requested, as well as funding to rebuild at least one structure. A team of specialists is surveying the fire area in preparation for a Burned Area Emergency Recovery (BAER) stabilization plan proposal, which will address such items as soil stabilization in watercourses and a survey of archeological sites. A proposal is in the works for additional fuels and prevention staffing, both to address the park's existing needs and to reach out to the thousands of park neighbors, offering community planning options and assistance on making homes fire-safe. Housing within the park has been found for all the displaced residents; once some minor repairs and cleaning has been accomplished, everyone should be moved in by mid-December. Donations to assist employees at Santa Monica Mountains NRA who lost their homes in the recent wildfire can now be made on-line. You may use a major credit card or use PayPal. PayPal allows payments to be made through the Internet without using a credit card or sending a check. Donations are being managed by a park partner, the Santa Monica Mountains Fund. Log onto HYPERLINK "http://www.samofund.org" www.samofund.org, select "Donations," then select "Fire Recovery Fund." You may also send a check or money order (no cash, please, for your safety) to: Santa Monica Mountains Fund, 401 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360. Write "Fire Recovery Fund" on the memo line. All donations will be given directly to displaced employees to help cover the numerous expenses they are incurring as a result of this tragedy. Many thanks in advance for your generosity and concern. The Solstice Canyon site will remain closed to the general public until at least March 1st. This will provide an opportunity to identify and mitigate dangers along roads and trails, as well as remove all hazardous materials left from structures. Restrictions have also been placed on the Lobo Canyon area, prohibiting entry between sunset and sunrise in an area that has been frequented by those with less than praiseworthy intentions. [Marty O'Toole, Marty O'Toole, Fire Education, Prevention and Information Specialist]
While conducting a stream survey in the remote Grotto Creek drainage at Circle X Ranch on May 28th, resource management employees Joanne Moriarty and Seth Riley encountered a 33-year-old woman who said that she'd drunk some antifreeze and needed help. They quickly determined that she was depressed and had attempted to commit suicide. Moriarty stayed with the woman while Riley ran more than a mile uphill along the only available trail to a spot where he could call 911 via telephone. The Ventura County Fire Department responded with an engine and a helicopter; Ventura County Sheriff's Department deputies and an ambulance were also dispatched. Rangers Darcy MacDonald and Tom Young joined the response. Campground VIP Tony Valois led the county fire engine crew down to the woman. Moriarty in the interim continued to keep her calm until county emergency responders and the helicopter arrived. The woman was hoisted into the helicopter and taken to Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks, where she was treated for ingestion of automotive anti-freeze and alcohol. She is expected to fully recover. The quick and decisive actions of Moriarty and Riley contributed greatly in assuring that the woman received prompt medical attention, which is crediting with saving her life. The Ventura County Sheriff's Department is the lead investigating agency in this incident. [Evan W. Jones, Chief Ranger]
Just before noon yesterday, an earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale was felt in southern California. The epicenter was in Chino Hills, near the point where Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties meet. The epicenter was about 40 miles from the far eastern edge of the park and approximately 60 miles from headquarters in Thousand Oaks. While felt throughout the park, no staff injuries have been reported, nor any damage to buildings, dams, reservoirs or other facilities. Damaged buildings are being reported within a 10 to 15 mile circumference of the epicenter, though, and numerous smaller aftershocks have also been felt. [Marty O'Toole, PAO]
An Oxnard man who was wanted on suspicion of killing his wife and critically injuring his daughter was found dead in his car, an apparent suicide, at the Sandstone trail parking lot on the afternoon of Saturday, January 17th. Hikers found M.R.'s body slumped over the steering wheel of his car at the hiking trail parking lot, which overlooks the ocean. They reported the incident to a park volunteer staffing a local visitor contact station. Protection rangers Glen Douglas and Karen Rogal arrived at the scene shortly thereafter and secured the area. The 40-year-old man had slashed his left wrist and the interior of his left elbow with a knife. The Ventura County deputy medical examiner said that M.R. apparently bled to death and likely died sometime on Friday evening. The Ventura County Sheriff's Department and the Oxnard Police Department are the primary investigative agencies. [Todd A. Bonds, San Vicente District Ranger]
On July 21st, rangers from Santa Monica Mountains and officers from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, California State Park Police, CAMP (Campaign Against Marijuana Planting), and Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority entered three marijuana plantation sites and eradicated the plants found within them. Two were located in Malibu Creek State Park and one in the Zuma-Trancas Canyon area on National Park Service land. All three plantation sites were initially discovered by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which led the operation. A total of 3,509 plans were eradicated, including 1,421 plants in Zuma Canyon. Garbage, PVC piping, camping equipment, fertilizer, and harmful chemicals were also removed. "This was an extremely successful collaborative effort," said chief ranger Evan Jones. "Not only were we able to pool our resources to eradicate the marijuana plants, but we were also able to take initial steps towards site clean-up and natural resource restoration." [Lauren Newman, Public Affairs Specialist] Santa Monica Mountains - No known impacts. [Dean Ross, Deputy Chief of Emergency Services, WASO; Karen Gatewood, Acting Regional Chief Ranger, PWRO; Steve Chaney, Superintendent, REDW; Kim Coast, Acting Chief Ranger, GOGA; John Quinley, Public Affairs, ARO]
In late June, park rangers discovered a marijuana grow site located quite close to a popular hiking trail. The initial discovery was made by a ranger who stopped to investigate a suspicious social trail and discovered a plastic water hose in a nearby stream. As he was assessing the location, he encountered a man wearing camouflage clothing who turned and fled into the bushes. Rangers from both the NPS and California State Parks launched a thorough investigation of the area. They located nine different marijuana grow sites across a 9.6-acre area that together contained 3,517 plants. Over the past two weeks, rangers and firefighting crews have hauled out nearly a ton of trash and plants from the site and have begun restoration work. Herbicides, pesticides, rodent fencing, approximately two miles of plastic water hose and fertilizer were found at the site. Water was being diverted from a nearby creek to irrigate the plants, and native vegetation had been cut down to make room for the grow site. The park, along with others in Pacific West Region, received additional funding in 2009 for marijuana interdiction and eradication operations. These funds, combined with strong partnerships with California State Parks, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, other local land management agencies, and the Los Angeles County Sherriff's Department have contributed significantly to the park's capacity to find and clean up grow sites in the mountains. [Lauren Newman, Public Affairs Specialist]
On October 28, 2014, law enforcement rangers at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area were alerted to possible disturbances of historic and cultural sites within the Rancho Sierra Vista area of the park. The Springs Fire, which burned a total of 24,000 acres in 2013, destroyed a significant amount of vegetation in the area, exposing the sites to the public. The unit is rich in artifacts from the native Chumash Indians. Settlers arrived later and established the ranching culture, leaving behind additional reminders of their presence. During the investigation, surveillance cameras and increased patrols were employed near the disturbed spots and adjacent parking lots. The cameras proved useful by capturing irrefutable photographic evidence of a man and woman removing historic ranching equipment from federal lands. A short time later, the cameras captured images of a woman and a vehicle near the site. They matched those from images captured by surveillance cameras during the looting of the relics. A subsequent interview of a local man and woman took place when they again returned to the area. During the contact, both said that they took the historic farming implement to place in their garden "so that others would not take them." The couple was cited for removal and possession of cultural resources from federal property. All stolen pieces were returned by the couple. The visitor resource and protection staff will continue to work closely with the park's cultural resources manager to preserve and protect all of the park's cultural sites and artifacts. [John Chelko, Park Ranger]
The park was closed last Friday due to the rapidly approaching Woolsey Fire, which subsequently burned into the park and burned down the Western Town at Paramount Ranch. As of yesterday, 83% of NPS land in the park had been burned by the fire. Also destroyed in the fire were the historic Morrison Ranch House and Peter Strauss Ranch and three employee homes. Western Town served as the location for numerous famous film and TV shoots for nearly a century, ever since Paramount Pictures leased it in 1927. Most recently, it was used as a location for the first and second seasons of HBO's Westworld. Western Town proper was created in the 1950s and used for TV shows that included The Cisco Kid, Gunsmoke, The X-Files, The Dukes of Hazzard, and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. As of yesterday, the Woolsey Fire had burned over 96,000 acres and was 35% contained. An estimated 435 structures had burned and another 57,000 were threatened. The park will remain closed until further notice. See the incident information site below for further details, including press releases, updates and maps. A GoFundMe site has been established to help out the park employees and families who lost their homes in the fire. Click here to visit the site and make a contribution. Sources: Deadline; Woolsey Fire Incident Information; Los Angeles Daily News.
Information is now available from various sources on the damage inflicted on the park by the Woolsey Fire, which has to date burned almost 100,000 acres and destroyed about 1500 structures.
Additional updates will appear as more information becomes available. Sources: Ventura County Star, Hot Springs Sentinel-Record, San Francisco Chronicle, Variety, Los Angeles Times.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: Santa Monica Mountains NRA — Recovery from the Woolsey Fire continues and has taken a new turn. The park is asking people to stop feeding wildlife in the burn area because it can cause them serious harm. Carrots, apples, corn and hay have been left out over recent days. Providing food that animals aren't accustomed to eating can make them sick, said the park, while putting out water buckets can also easily spread diseases among them. "We understand the inclination to help out," said the park. "After all, we care about the wildlife, too, and we understand they have suffered from the stress of the fires. There are, however, food and water sources out there for them. They have an incredible ability to survive and adapt. Wildlife are highly resourceful!" Source: KCAL News.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: Santa Monica Mountains NRA — P-64, a mountain lion that was dubbed the "Culvert Cat" for repeatedly using a culvert to cross the Ventura Freeway, was found dead on December 3rd by a biologist tracking his movements using information from the lion's GPS collar. The cause of death is unknown, but P-64's paws were "visibly burned," indicating that it was likely a victim of the Woolsey Fire that swept through the park this fall. The park has been tracking 13 mountain lions that live in the Santa Monica Mountains as part of a study of the cat's activities and survivability in the development- and freeway-locked environment. Source: NBC Los Angeles.
There's not much new being reported these days, so we'll conclude the year with short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: Santa Monica Mountains NRA — "Hikers are eager to get back to their favorite trails in the Santa Monica Mountains," reports KCAL News in Los Angeles, "but park rangers say it will be a while before the area that burned in the Woolsey Fire is safe for visitors.... With 500 miles of trails, National Park Service rangers say they have received many inquiries about when some of the more popular ones will reopen, but park rangers say its not a question they can answer yet. According to the National Park Service, roughly half of the 67-mile Backbone trail that traverses the peaks of the Santa Monica Mountains has burned, along with many more miles of trails and their support facilities at trailheads, such as toilets, barrier fencing and informational signs." Source: KCAL News.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: Santa Monica Mountains NRA — After last year's Woolsey Fire burned more than 150 square miles in the Santa Monica Mountains, questions arose as to how long it would take plants and animals to recover and which ones would thrive and which would die out. In order to answer those questions, a research team has begun a months-long study of more than 50 burn areas to closely monitor the recovery of native plants, invasive grasses, insects, slugs, snails and more. With nearly 90 percent of park land burned, a slow recovery of those smaller species could spell trouble for small mammals and reptiles that escaped the flames. The team is headed by researchers from UCLA, USGS and the park and staffed by 104 mostly student volunteers. Source: Alison Hewitt, UCLA Newsroom.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Santa Monica Mountains NRA — All 67 miles of the Santa Monica Mountains' Backbone Trail are now open after parts of it were closed due to last year's Woolsey Fire. Now that the Backbone Trail is open, only small park sites at Arroyo Sequit, Peter Strauss Ranch, and Rocky Oaks remain closed. Source: CBS Los Angeles.
A 64-year-old man died when a group of hikers in Malibu ran out of water on the afternoon of September 2nd. Emergency responders found a group of several people in the Zuma Canyon area who had been hiking in 85 degree heat without water. Six needed medical attention and one was airlifted to a nearby hospital. One man died from heat stroke, despite efforts to resuscitate him. The hikers had left an official park trail and entered an area that the park had closed after last year's destructive Woolsey Fire. Multiple agencies and two helicopters also responded to calls for help from hikers in three other locations, saving eight hikers in total. They were found at four different locations near Newton Canyon and Zuma Edison Road along an abandoned, rapidly eroding and treacherous road. The road is not an official trail and is part of an area that has been closed since last November in order to protect both visitors and recovering vegetation. Source: Madeleine Pauker, Santa Monica Daily Press.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Santa Monica Mountains NRA — Cleanup and recovery from last year's Woolsey Fire continue. The newest development pertains to the famed Paramount Ranch, which was destroyed by the fire. The park has secured funding in a federal disaster relief bill and has contracted with a local company to clean up the area and begin restoration work. The fire consumed more than 30 structures, including several homes, throughout the park. Over the next few months, a contractor will be taking samples and testing the ash and soil. Cleanup at Paramount Ranch is scheduled to begin in April. Meanwhile, the Service has contracted with a design firm to start drawing up plans to rebuild. Along with money to clean up sites, the park also got funding for reconstruction. First up will be spots deemed critical visitor and operations facilities; the list includes Paramount Ranch and Peter Strauss Ranch, both in Agoura Hills, as well as all park housing destroyed in the fire. Source: Cheri Carlson, Ventura County Star.
After some visitors left a large sofa set overlooking the Pacific Ocean near Deer Creek, five NPS staff and two trucks were needed to remove the sofa and two garbage bags worth of other detritus. The story and pictures went viral on social media. Source: Santa Monica Mountains Facebook
The park put out a press release on September 9, asking visitors to think twice before hiking with animals. At least three dogs have died on local trails since July and the NPS and local SAR teams have participated in about half a dozen canine rescues, most suffering from heat illness. Source: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Four six-week-old mountain lion kittens were discovered under a picnic table near a Thousand Oaks office building. They were monitored for several days by biologists from the NPS and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, in hopes that their mother might return to them. When this did not happen, they decided to take the kittens into veterinary care due to their failing health. Two of the kittens died overnight and the other two are still being treated and will be temporarily housed at the Orange County Zoo until a permanent home can be found for them. Source: Sierra Sun Times
On March 23, P-104, a subadult male mountain lion, was struck and killed by a vehicle on the Pacific Coast Highway. It was only two weeks after he was captured and fitted with a GPS collar in the western end of the park. The individual is the 25th mountain lion and eighth collared cat killed by vehicle since the mountain lion study began in 2002. It is relatively rare for pumas to cross the Pacific Coast Highway, but P-104 had done so several times previous to his death. Source: KXXV
A necropsy report was recently released for two mountain lion kittens who were discovered in an orphaned litter of four in a Thousand Oaks office complex last November. The kittens died a few days after they were discovered. The kittens had residues of three different rodenticide compounds in their livers, as well as heavy flea infestation, inflammation in the brain, and feline parvovirus. It is the first time a mountain lion in the region has had evidence of parvo and they are the youngest documented mountain lions to have had exposure to rodenticide. After failed attempts to allow the two other kittens to be reunited with their mother, they were taken into permanent captivity at the Orange County Zoo. Source: Santa Monica Mirror
On May 21, a visitor approached an NPS ranger, saying they had found eight Molotov cocktails in a wooded area next to a trail. The ranger located the devices and notified the Los Angeles Police Department and Fire Department arson investigators. Officers responded and recovered the incendiary devices and gasoline containers. Evidence at the scene led investigators to the arrest of a 34-year-old. Source: Los Angeles Times
On June 17, a radio-collared female mountain lion known as P-54 was struck by a car near Piuma Road and Mulholland Highway. It is the 29th mountain lion killed by a vehicle in the NPS' study area since 2002. The individual's mother and one of the individual's offspring were also accidentally killed by vehicles, in 2018 and 2022, respectively. Source: Los Angeles Daily News September 7, 2022 On August 26, a 2-year-old mountain lion known as "P-90" was struck and killed by a vehicle on California State Highway 33 in Oak View, just south of Ojai. Biologists from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife picked up the individual's body. It is the 32nd mountain lion killed by a vehicle in the park in the last 20 years. Source: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Facebook page September 18, 2022 The mountain lion struck and killed by a car on June 17, 2022 (6/29/22 Coalition Report), sometimes known as P-54, had a necropsy performed by the California Animal Health and Food Safety Lab in San Bernadino. The individual was pregnant with four kittens and all five tested positive for multiple anticoagulant rodenticides (rat poison).
In March 2022, the mountain lion known as P-65 was found deceased near a stream with hair loss and skin encrustation. A necropsy recently confirmed notoedric mange, making it the first puma in the 20-year NPS study on mountain lions to succumb to the disorder. Mange has been observed in other mountain lions, but the animals all recovered. P-65 had also been exposed to five different rodenticides. Source: KCRA
On October 3, a 35-year-old person was found deceased "in a hiking area" of the park near Malibou Lake. The individual had been last seen on July 27 and was reported missing on July 30. The cause of death is unknown, though it is under investigation as a homicide. An autopsy is being performed by the Los Angeles County coroner's office and the incident is being investigated by the Ventura County Sheriff's Major Crimes Bureau. Source: VC Star, SFGate
On November 9, an individual was walking two dogs on leashes near the Hollywood Reservoir. A mountain lion stalked them for a bit before attacking and killing one of the dogs. The NPS later confirmed that due to GPS tracking collar data and security video footage, the puma was P-22, an individual well-known by the public for charismatic wildlife camera captures in Griffith Park and frequently championed by the National Wildlife Federation. The NPS did not find other evidence that P-22 was habituated or a danger to humans at this time. Source: Los Angeles Times, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Facebook Page December 14, 2022 On November 24, a small fire broke out in an area near Sandstone Peak. Ventura County Fire sent out a dozen ground crews and helicopters and the brush fire was put out at only 0.5 acres in size. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Source: Ventura County Star December 14, 2022 On November 21 around noon, an individual was sexually assaulted while hiking along the Upper Canyonback Trail in "a secluded area." The suspect was reported to have a knife, though the knife was not used "during the commission of the crime." The Los Angeles Police Department is still searching for the individual and have advised hikers in the area to hike in pairs and carry a cellphone. Source: Los Angeles Times December 14, 2022 On December 8, the park announced that P-22, the famous mountain lion that killed a small dog on leash on November 9 (see the 11/30/22 Coalition Report), was to be captured and evaluated by the NPS and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Though the animal was at first deemed to not be harmful to humans due to resuming normal behaviors after the attack, they have now observed it near human dwellings on a regular basis. On December 12, P-22 was tracked to an urban area south of his normal range and humanely captured so that park and state biologists and veterinarians can conduct health evaluations and determine next best steps. As of December 13, the health evaluation was still underway and no new announcements had been made. Source: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
On December 17, the famous wild mountain lion known as P-22 underwent a medical examination that showed significant trauma to his head, right eye, and internal organs, suggesting a vehicle strike. He had been brought into captivity after engaging in unusual behaviors, including attacking a dog on leash. The medical team recommended and performed euthanasia for the cat. He was memorialized on the front page of the Los Angeles Times. Source: National Public Radio, Los Angeles Times February 8, 2023 On January 22, a mountain lion known as P-81 was likely killed by a vehicle on the Pacific Coast Highway near Las Posas Road. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife collected the puma's body and will perform a necropsy to confirm the cause of death. The individual was four years old and had originally been captured in March 2020. The mountain lion was significant to the park's long-term study due to two physical abnormalities - a kinked tail and only one descended testicle, which indicate potential inbreeding and low genetic diversity in the park. This is the ninth mountain lion that has died from road mortality since March 2022, and the 34th since the study began in 2002. Source: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area February 22, 2023 On February 1, the Thousand Oaks (CA) Police received a call about a 22-year-old who had failed to show up for work two days prior. A friend of the individual said they had used a cell phone app several days prior to try to locate the individual, which had indicated they were in the Boney Mountain area. Law enforcement was able to locate the individual's car based on that information and began a search, utilizing a ground team of law enforcement and East Valley Search and Rescue, as well as a helicopter with night-vision goggles and a California Office of Emergency Services fixed-wing aircraft with infrared devices. Authorities asked for help on social media, which turned up an image the individual had sent to friends via cell phone. The image allowed rescuers to narrow the search. On February 2, rescuers from Ojai Valley and Fillmore Search and Rescue joined the search, now focused on an off-trail area with boulders they thought the individual might have been scouting for rock climbing. Within five minutes of arriving in that area, they found the individual deceased, probably due to a fall from the cliffs above the area. The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the individual died due to blunt force injuries and ruled the death as accidental. Source: VC Reporter February 22, 2023 On February 14, a 4-year-old mountain lion was found with an injury to one of its legs on the side of the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife was called to assess the animal, and as they were preparing to immobilize the individual for capture, it died from its injuries. This comes just three weeks after the individual known as P-81 was found dead along a different section of the Pacific Coast Highway due to a vehicle collision. It is unclear whether the individual was collared. Source: ABC7, KTLA
P-22, the famous mountain lion that was euthanized after sustaining life-threatening injuries and attacking a dog, was buried in an undisclosed location in the Santa Monica Mountains in a ceremony led by several Tribal groups. Source: National Public Radio
On June 14, the final necropsy results for the mountain lion known as P-22 were released by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and NPS. The postmortem examination was completed by the veterinary pathologists of the San Diego Zoo. P-22 had experienced recent trauma to his head and right eye, including an orbital fracture with bleeding and early stages of scar tissue, consistent with a reported vehicle strike. He also had older traumatic injuries, causing internal injuries. He also had kidney disease and a severe parasitic skin infection due to both mange and ringworm. It was confirmed that he had exposure to five anticoagulant rodenticide compounds, but no evidence of poisoning from those compounds. Source: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
On July 20, BB-12, a black bear that had been recently discovered and radio collared in the park, was struck and killed by a vehicle on the 101 Freeway at the top of the Conejo Grade between Newbury Park and Camarillo. A motorist called in the incident, and the bear was transferred to NPS custody by a park biologist. The bear previously had survived many highway crossings. Source: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
On July 31, the park closed the Solstice Canyon trail due to a large bee swarm that had stung multiple visitors. The NPS worked with a bee specialist to disperse the hives, and the trail reopened on August 5. Source: ABC7, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
On October 24, a young mountain lion attempted to attack a small, leashed dog at Solstice Canyon. The dog's owner intervened in the attack, resulting in a puncture wound and scratch on their hand. The dog was uninjured. NPS staff responded and provided the hiker with first aid. The trail was closed until October 26 while wildlife biologists "examined the area and assessed the situation." Source: News Nation
On January 7, the Palisades Fire began due to unknown causes. On January 8, the park closed the Paramount Ranch area for fire operations. The King Gillette Ranch Visitor Center was later closed due to a Level 3 Evacuation Order for the Palisades Fire. On January 9, the Kenneth Fire ignited adjacent to a trailhead near Victory Boulevard in the Calabasas area, possibly due to arson. On January 10, the park closed the Solstice Canyon and Cheeseboro Canyon areas due to both fires. AAs of January 21, the Palisades Fire was 23,713 acres and 63% contained, with 5,337 personnel assigned. As of January 12, the Kenneth Fire was 100% contained at 1,052 acres. A person has been taken into custody for a probation violation, and is under consideration as a "person of interest" in the Kenneth Fire incident. No charges have been filed, as of January 21. Source: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, CalFire (Palisades, Kenneth), Los Angeles Times
NPS biologists were monitoring a mountain lion with a GPS collar when they observed a change in her movements, indicating she may have abandoned a cub. It is suspected that the cub, which was missing toes on one of its hind feet, may have lost them due to umbilical cord strangulation. The missing toes may have triggered an instinct in the mother to relocate the other kittens to a new den site in order to conserve resources. Staff from the NPS and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife determined the 3-week-old kitten was unlikely to survive on its own and decided to remove him from the wild. He has been named Crimson and has been brought to the Oakland Zoo, where he will soon be introduced to Clover, a female mountain lion cub rescued in El Dorado County, California, in early March. Source: Los Angeles Times | |