Spread across 310 acres, Stunt Ranch Reserve encompasses a variety of biodiversity rich habitats, such as the Cold Creek watershed. The National Parks Service estimates the Santa Monica Mountains harbor over 1,000 native plant species and comprise 26 natural communities that support approximately 400 bird species and 35 reptile and amphibian species.. Numerous species commonly observed in the Santa Monica Mountains flourish within the reserve.
Our reserve staff appreciates the help of visiting researchers to develop Stunt’s observed species database. If you have species data to contribute to our biota database, please get in touch with reserve management.
Weather Station Data
Stunt Ranch Reserve’s weather station is continuously collecting atmospheric data. See the table below to get weather updates and extract data tables from 2012 to present.
*Data are updated every 10 minutes. If you have visited this page earlier and data are not refreshing, then you may need to click the reload button on your web browser.*
Fauna Data
Stunt Ranch Reserve is habitat to a remarkable array of wildlife! Mammals found in the area include gray fox, mountain lion, coyote, mule deer, striped skunk, and ground squirrel. Trails and stream beds in the reserve frequently host diverse reptiles and amphibians, such as southern alligator lizard, western side-blotched lizard, southern pacific rattlesnake, gopher snake, California tree frog, and California newt. Among the common bird species are red-tailed hawk, California quail, California scrub jay, various woodpeckers, and turkey vulture. During your visit, you may also come across a variety of noteworthy insects and arachnids, including tarantula hawk, swallowtail butterfly, Jerusalem cricket, orb-weavers, and native bumblebees.
For a recent account of observed species at Stunt, refer to the following lists. These compilations are based on research-grade iNaturalist observations and are regularly updated on a quarterly basis.
Flora & Fungi Data
The reserve boasts a diverse flora, featuring species ranging from oak woodland and chaparral to grassland and riparian habitat. Approximately 200-250 different species of vascular plants are estimated to inhabit the reserve. In collaboration with the reserve, the UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden conducts annual surveys at Stunt Ranch, collecting plant samples to augment their extensive collection of around 10,000 specimens from the Santa Monica Mountains.
Click here list of species to explore a list of species identified during plant surveys and/or marked as research-grade observations on iNaturalist, . Please note this list constantly evolves as more surveys are conducted around the reserve.
Additionally, click here to view a complete checklist of vascular plants observed at Stunt
Ranch. Developed by UCLA faculty Dr. Anthony E. Baniaga and National Park Service staff Hank H. Dingman, this comprehensive list shows vascular plants from herbarium specimens on the Consortium of California Herbaria 2, field observations by the authors, and iNaturalist research grade observations.
The Cold Creek Watershed
Our staff is proactively gathering temperature and water level data of the Cold Creek Watershed. For inquiries about obtaining these data, please contact the reserve management.
Reserve Maps
Waivers
All Students, Faculty/Instructors, Researcher, Administrators, Class Chaperones, and Volunteers must sign a UC Nature liability waiver before their visit. Individuals need only submit a signed liability waiver once every five years. All signed waivers should be sent to [email protected]. Please contact reserve management for any questions about the waiver. See different versions of the waiver below:
- Individual Liability Wavier – English
- Individual Liability Wavier – Spanish
- Group Liability Wavier (must include individual waiver from group lead)
Students filming at the reserve need to sign and submit the follow Media License Agreement: