The canyon lies about 1 mile from a very active part of the San Andrea
Fault. The sag ponds 
which lie on the fault trace are wetlands which once formed an impenetrable
swamp which hid the canyon. Wildlife still is relatively plentiful and feral
pig tracks lie everywhere along the borders of one of these ponds. Large
snakes love the fields and shadows of the canyon lands. This 5 foot rattler
was bloated from a recent meal, too lazy to move off the road. I clicked a few
pictures and slowly the snake moved into the dry grass.
To meet the requirements of the 1887 General Allotment
Act during her struggle to reclaim the canyon lands, Pygmy goats came to Ann
Marie's rescue. They are small and exremely hardy and thrive in the canyon and
sales of goats provide the income that made the allotment achievable. 
(131k .GIF) As is typical in California, Indian
Land is traditionally land that is so poor, so unusable, that a white man wouldn't
want it. That is the reason the canyon site [of the 1988 allotment] remained
BLM land in the midst of ranches and vineyards. The goats are a breed from Western
Africa and are used to surviving on next to nothing. Appropropriate for an indigenous
revitalization effort in the midst of California development. These goats are
NO LONGER available here.
Coyotes, Mountain Lions and Bobcats, Hawks, Eagles, Insects of every description share the canyon with we two-footed ones. Be respectful.