Loss of habitat, fragmentation and degradation are the major challenges that grasslands face today. All over California and the world, these ecosystems have been converted into farms, degraded by livestock overgrazing, or developed by the ever-growing urban landscape. While some wildlife species can thrive in a diverse suite of ecosystems, there are others that are strongly attached to specific conditions. The grassland structure provides habitat for wintering, nesting, and foraging for a diverse group of species.

The Santa Lucia Preserve grasslands offer a vast sanctuary for burrowing owls, horned larks, western meadowlarks, grasshopper sparrows and white-tailed kites. Their presence within the Preserve is a clear measure of the success of our grazing program and our management strategies throughout our beloved grasslands.

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