February - Livermore Area Recreation and Park District

February 2011
Valley Wilds
A publication of the LARPD Open Space Unit
Volume 20 | Issue 2
Cougar Questions
“Are there mountain lions in Sycamore Grove Park?”
This is one of the most common questions we hear
when the topic is mountain lions. The short answer is
“yes and no.”
Mountain lions move around
quite a bit. Unless they are
feeding on a carcass or have
young with them, they are
basically moving all the time. So
it is possible to have a mountain
lion in the park on any day.
Keep in mind, however, that the
animal is most likely passing
through and will be gone before
anyone even knows it was here.
IN THIS
Issue
Cougar Questions
Bobcat vs. Cougar
This Month’s Ranger-led
Programs and Activities
Our Nuclear Neighbor
Park News
Livermore Area Recreation and Park District
4444 East Ave.
Livermore, CA 94550
www.larpd.dst.ca.us
925.960.2400
By Ranger Patti Cole
Most of the time we are only
made aware of a mountain lion
in the park days or weeks after
it was here. We find tracks, scat,
or remains of a kill, usually away
from main trails and well hidden.
If a mountain lion makes a deer
kill in the park, which does
happen occasionally, the cat will
only hang around long enough
to finish eating. Depending on
the size of the cat and the size of
the kill, this time can range from a
few hours to a couple of days.
It is also important to remember
that wherever there are deer,
there can be mountain lions.
Deer are their favorite food.
Cougar
Photo by Valerie Abbott
to the 80+ pounds of a lion.
Bobcats have a short tail that is
measured in inches while the
mountain lion’s tail is measured in
feet. And bobcats will show some
spots, even if only on the legs,
regardless of age. Only mountain
lion kittens have spots.
“What’s the difference between
a mountain lion and a cougar?”
Nothing. Mountain lion, cougar,
panther, painter, catamount …
“What’s the difference between
the list of common names goes
a bobcat and a mountain lion?”
on, but the names all refer to
Bobcats are frequently seen in
Puma concolor, cat of one color.
Sycamore Grove Park. They are
the other wild cat of this region.
There are several different
subspecies found through North,
Bobcats are much smaller than
Central and South America. For
mountain lions, averaging about example, the Florida panther is
25 pounds in this area, compared one of the subspecies.
Continued on page 2
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Cougar vs.
Bobcat
How do you tell the difference?
Cougar Questions (continued)
“What should you do if you see
a mountain lion?”
rocks or branches if you can pick
them up without crouching or
DON’T RUN. Running will likely turning your back; if you have a
small child with you, pick them
trigger a chase response in the
mountain lion and there is no way up without bending over too far
you can out-run a mountain lion. or going down on a knee; and, if
attacked FIGHT BACK!
Things that you should do: stand
According to the California
tall and face the cat; hold your
Department of Fish & Game’s
jacket open, if you’re wearing
one, to make yourself look bigger; “Keep Me Wild” program,
“Mountain Lion attacks on
yell at the cat; if you are not
humans are extremely rare.”
wearing a jacket, raise your arms
Some of their recommendations
and wave them slowly; throw
Bobcat
Photo by Allan Casey
for “staying safe in mountain
lion country” include: Do not
hike, bike, or jog alone; keep a
close watch on small children; if
attacked, fight back. (For the full
list of recommendations, go to
www.keepmewild.org.)
If you see a mountain lion in
Sycamore Grove Park, please let
us know. Even if you’re not sure
if it was a lion or not, we’d like to
hear from you. Give us a call at
the Ranger Office (925-960-2400).
Cougar
Photo by Dawn Soles
Bobcat
Mountain
Lion
Total
Length
2
‐
3
feet
6
–
8
feet
Tail
Length
4
–
6
inches
2
–
3
feet
Height
at
Shoulder
1.5
feet
2.5
feet
Weight
15
–
35
pounds
75
–
200
pounds
Ear
Shape
More
pointed
with
tufts
at
tips
Rounded;
no
tufts.
Color
Reddish
to
yellowish
brown;
whitish
underside;
dark
spots
especially
noticeable
on
legs.
Shades
of
tawny,
reddish
brown,
golden
yellowish
brown
to
dull
gray;
belly
buff;
throat
and
chest
white.
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Ranger-led
Programs
Experience nature and history in a special way. Programs are
generally 1 - 2 hours in length. A $2 donation is requested. A $5
parking fee is charged at both park entrances.
February Programs
The little things
Sunday, February 6th
2:00 pm
When we walk in the park we usually pay
attention to big things like trees, hills,
mammals and birds, but most of us do
not stop to look closely at the little things
that are so important in our ecosystem.
Armed with magnifying glasses, we will
take a short walk with lots of stops. Good
for all ages. Dogs welcome. Cancelled if
raining.
Ranger Amy Wolitzer
Sycamore Grove - Wetmore Road Entrance
Quick Look:
Spiders and Their Kin
Saturday, February 12th 10:00 am
They creep, they crawl and they give
The little Things
some folks the heebee jeebees. They
Sunday, February 6th are the eight-legged animals of our
world – arachnids (aka spiders and their
2:00 pm
close relatives). Join me to discuss these
wonderful creatures. We’ll learn a little
Spiders and Their Kin
Saturday, February 12th about the venoms these animals use,
which spiders are considered dangerous
10:00am
in our area and some interesting facts
about their lifestyles. I’ll have a few live
The Old Almond Orchard
specimens for us to look at.
Sunday, February 13th Ranger Dawn Soles
2:00 pm
Veterans Park
Winter Constellations
Saturday, February 19th
6:00 pm
First Flowers
Sunday, February 20
2:00 pm
Family Winter Hike
Sunday, February 27
1:00 pm
The Old Almond Orchard
Sunday, February 13th 2:00 pm
There are several remnants of the
Olivina Estate in Sycamore Grove Park.
One that is often overlooked is the old
Almond Orchard in the middle of the
park. Although the trees are well over 100
years old, they still bloom impressively
every February. Enjoy a slow paced walk
to one of the most beautiful spots in the
park this time of year. Good for all ages,
cancelled if raining.
Ranger Amy Wolitzer
Sycamore Grove - Wetmore Road Entrance
Winter Constellations
Saturday, February 19th
6:00 pm
Winter is a great time for astronomy
(when you can see the stars) as it
gets dark so much earlier. That plus
the amazing beauty of the winter
constellations is a great combination.
We will be walking approximately 1 1/2
miles into the park observing along the
way. Please dress warmly and leave your
flashlights at home to protect our night
vision. Cancelled if raining.
Ranger Glen Florey
Sycamore Grove Park - Wetmore Road Entrance
First Flowers
Sunday, February 20 2:00 pm
While the East Coast and the Sierra are
still buried under feet of snow, signs of
spring are coming on full force here in
the Bay Area. Join us as we search for the
blooms of early spring. We will also enjoy
the last of the “fungal flowers” of winter
as they fade away. This walk will last 2 to
3 hours. Cancelled if raining heavily.
Ranger Amy Wolitzer
Sycamore Grove - Wetmore Road Entrance
Family Winter Hike
Sunday, February 271:00 p.m.
Contrary to popular belief, winter is a
great time to go for a hike. The trails are
less crowded, it’s easier to see wildlife
because the trees are bare, and it’s so
nice to have a steaming cup of hot
cocoa when you get home. So bundle
up and bring the family out for today’s
adventure. We will be on dirt (mud?)
trails. This program is appropriate for
families with children from ages 5 and
up. Cancelled if raining.
Ranger Patti Cole
Sycamore Grove Park - Nature Area Entrance
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Local History Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Our Nuclear Neighbor
By Ranger Glen Florey
If it weren’t for the lab in town, my
family never would have moved to
Livermore. This is true not just for
me, but for a lot of the people I knew
growing up. After working on the
Manhattan project in New Mexico
during the Second World War, my
grandfather finished up graduate
school at Berkeley before moving to
Livermore to continue work on the
physics of nuclear weapons.
Started in 1952 as the Lawrence
Radiation Laboratory of Livermore,
the lab was built on the site of a WWII
Naval Air Base. From its start the lab
focused on nuclear weapons research
with a specific focus on new and
innovative warhead designs. Despite
the failures of several initial nuclear
tests, the lab was picked to design
the warhead for the Polaris missile, a
challenge because of the size restrictions of a submarine launched missile.
The new warhead was only 18 inches
across, the smallest thermonuclear
warhead in the world at the time.
A current keystone project at the
lab is the multibillion dollar National
Ignition Facility (NIF). The NIF is the
world’s most powerful and advanced
inertial controlled fusion research
Image from llnl.gov
device. While much has been made
of the potential of the NIF to make
progress towards nuclear fusion
based power, its main focus has
always been nuclear weapons related.
In 1996 the US signed, but did not
ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban
Treaty agreeing to stop all “critical”
nuclear testing.
While this is undoubtedly a positive
step for environmental protection it
leaves the United States unable to
verify the viability of our increasingly
old nuclear weapons stockpiles. The
NIF would allow testing of fusion
and fissionable materials from aging
weapons without the potential
contamination and diplomatic
consequences of violating the test
ban treaty. While the NIF has had a
somewhat troubled history of delays
and cost overruns, final testing is
now under way and it is expected to
achieve nuclear ignition in the next
few months.
While nuclear weapons have always
been the focal point of the lab,
over the years it has expanded into
many other fields often using the
knowledge they gained on weapons
for peaceful purposes. Non-nuclear
research at the lab helped speed the
completion of the human genome
project. Current research on landmine
detection promises to save lives
around the world. After years of
weapons research my grandfather
ended up applying his high energy
physics experience to the field of
numerical astrophysics, but still got
called back to consult on weapons
projects when needed.
Park News
Last December, the District
received bids to convert the
old house, currently stored
in Sycamore Grove near the
Wetmore Entrance, into a new
Ranger Station. Unfortunately,
the bids to do this conversion
substantially exceed the funds
available for the project. Last
month, after reviewing the bids
and the project, the Board of
Directors cancelled the project
and directed District staff to
dispose of the house and to use
the remaining funds for other
projects within the park.
These projects include installing
the utility infrastructure for a
future building at the proposed
site, installing new restrooms for
both entrances to the park and
developing a resource management plan for the 73 acre Bobba
property, at the south end of
the park. Completion of the
management plan will allow the
District to receive the property
from the Tri-Valley Conservancy
as additional open space to be
added to Sycamore Grove Park.
This beautiful parcel has open
grasslands, blue oak woodlands
and a rich riparian corridor. The
Bobba property is not currently
part of the park and therefore it
is not open to the public.
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