Notice: The ELP webpages have been updated for 2023-2024. They are under final review. Thank you!
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Natural History
Natural History
Western Bluebird {Sialia mexicana}
Ochre Sea Stars {Pisaster ochraceus}
Steller Sea Lion {Eumetopias jubatus
The Natural Environment of Fort Ross
Flora and Fauna of Metini / Fort Ross – The following is a list of some of the plants and animals that you can see at Metini / Fort Ross. This place is bursting with biodiversity!
Mammals –
- Black bear Urdus Americans
- Black-tailed jackrabbit Lupus californium
- Bobcat Lynx rufus
- Brush rabbit Sylvilagus bachmani
- Coastal black-tailed deer Odocoileus hemionus
- Coyote Canis latrans
- Feral pig, from wild boar Sus scrofa
- Field mouse (vole) Microtus californicus
- Gray fox Urocyon cineroargenteus
- Mole Scapanus orarius
- Mountain lion (puma) Felis concolor
- Pocket gopher Thomomys bottae
- Raccoon Procyon lotor
- Ring-tailed cat Bassariscus astutus
- Skunk, striped Mephitis mephitis
- Spotted skunk (civet cat) Spilogale putorius
Birds –
- American (common) egret Casmerodius albus
- Black-shouldered kite Elanus caeruleus
- Blackbird, ch.Brewers Euphagus cyanocephalus
- Brown towhee Pipilo fuscus
- California quail Callipepla Californica
- Common raven Corvus corax
- Gold finch (wild canary) Carduelis tristis
- Golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos
- Great blue heron Ardea herodias
- Great horned owl Bubo virginianus & others
- House finch (linnet) Carpodacus mexicanus
- Hummingbird, Allen’s Selasphorus sasin
- Hummingbird, Anna’s Calypte anna
- Junco, Oregon Junco hyemalis var.
- Kestrel (sparrow hawk) Falco sparverius
- Northern Harrier (marsh hawk) Circus cyaneus
- Pigmy nuthatch Sitta pygmaea
- Red-shouldered hawk Buteo lineatus
- Red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis
- Robin Turdus migratorius
- Sparrow, white crowned (weaver finch)Zonotricia leucophrys & others
- Steller’s Jay Cyanocitta stelleri
- Swallow, barn Hirundo rustica & others
- Turkey vulture Cathartes aura
Reptiles & Amphibians –
- Alligator lizard Gerrhonotus multicarinatus
- Fence lizard Sceloporus occidentalis & others
- Garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis
- Gopher snake Pituophis melanoleucus
- Rubber boa Charina bottae
- Tree frog, Hyla sp.
Insects & Arthropods –
- Beach fly
- Bumble bee Bombus vasnesenskii
- European earwig Forficula auricularia
- Ground nesting wasp, Vespula sp.
- Sowbug Armadillidium vulgare & others
- Tick, Western black-legged Ixodes pacificus & others
Flowers & Shrubs –
- Adder’s tongue Scoliopus bigelovii
- Azalea, Western Rhododendron occidentale
- Bracken fern Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens
- California poppy Eschscholzia californica
- California blackberry Rubus ursinus
- Caenothus, Pt. Reyes Caenothus gloriosus & others
- Columbine Aquilegia formosa
- Coyote bush Baccharis pilularis
- Douglas iris Iris douglasiana
- Hairy manzanita Arcostaphylos columbiana
- Himalaya blackberry Rubus discolor
- Huckleberry, blue & red Vaccinium ovatum, parvifolium
- Indian paintbrush Castilleja wightii
- Lupine, bush & coastal Lupinus arboreus, littoralis
- Orange monkey flower Mimulus aurantiacus
- Orchid Calypso bulbosa
- Poison oak Taxicodendron diversilolum
- Redwood sorrel oxalis oregana
- Salal Gaultheria shallon
- Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis
- Thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus
- Trillium Trillium ovata
- Wax myrtle Myrica californica
Mushrooms –
- Boletus edulis, Amanita muscaria & others
Trees –
- Bishop pine Pinus muricata
- Blue gum eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus
- Broad-leafed maple Acer macrophylum
- Buckeye Aesculus californica
- California nutmeg Torreya californica
- California bay Umbellaria californica
- Coastal redwood Sequoia sempervirens
- Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menziesii
- Grand fir Abies grandis
- Monterey cypress Cupressus macrocarpa
- Oak, live, canyon Quercus wizlizenii, chrysolepis
- Pacific madrone Arbutus menziesii
- Red alder Alnus rubra
- Silk tassle tree, Garrya elliptica
- Tan oak Lithocarpus densiflorus
- Willow Salix sp.
Marine Mammals –
- Blue, fin whales Balaenoptera musculus, physalus
- California sea lion Zalophus californianus
- Elephant seal Mirounga angustirostris
- Gray whale Eschrictus robustus
- Harbor seal Phoca vitulina
- Humpback whale Megatera novaeangliae
- Minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata
- Orca whale Ornicus orca
- Porpoise, harbor Phocoena phocoena
- Porpoise, Dall’s Phocoenoides dalli
- Steller sea lion Eumotopias jubatus
Fishes –
- Cabezon Scorpaenichthyus marmoratus
- Kelp greenling Hexagrammos decagrammus
- Lingcod Ophiodon elongatus
- Rainbow seaperch Hypsurus caryi
- Rockfish Sebastes sp.
- Salmon, chinook & coho Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, O. kisutch
Marine Invertebrates –
- California mussel Mytilus californianus
- Gum boot chiton Cryptochiton stelleri & others
- Limpets, Collisella sp. & others
- Purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
- Red abalone Haliotis rufescens
- Sea stars Pisaster ochraceous & others
Sea Birds –
- Black oyster catcher Haematopus bachmani
- Black Brant Branta bernicla
- Brown pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
- Canada goose Branta canadensis
- Common murre Uria aalge
- Double-crested cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus
- Gulls, Western Larus occidentalis & others
- Loon Gavia sp.
- Osprey Pandion haliaetus
- Pigeon guillemot Cepphus columba
- Scoter Melanitta sp.
- Surfbird Aphrizia vergata
Marine Plants –
- Bull kelp Nereocystis lutkeana
- Feather boa kelp Egregia menziesii
- Iridescent seaweed Iridaea acordata
- Pink coralline alga Lithothamnium pacificum
- Sea palm Postelsia palmaeformis
Former Inhabitants –
- California condor Gymnogyps californianus
- Sea otter Enhydra lutris