Wind Wolves Preserve did not disappoint.

The pitter patter of lizards, the symphony of birdsong, the profusion of wildflowers, it was easy to imagine why this was a preferred trade route for coastal Chumash Indians.

Thousands of tadpoles grazed lazily amidst the pools of San Emigdio creek which ran through our lush campground.

The rangers told stories of thriving elk herds and condors that feed on fallen sheep brought in by the thousands to control the grasses and give wildflowers and forbs a chance to thrive.

Soon to be reintroduced pronghorn antelope prefer to forage on flowers and forbs. They also prefer ample saltbush to hide their newborn fawns from predators like coyotes. There is talk of wolves killing coyotes in their territories which could, counter-intuitively, give the pronghorn young better odds of survival. Many biologists implicate high coyote density with the low survival rate of pronghorn.

This begs the question: with the growing presence of Gray Wolves in Norcal, how hard will it be for them to migrate to Socal? Or will it be the Mexican Wolf coming in from the rebounding populations in Arizona?

-Nik Bertulis