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BoR Grazing Goats This Summer On Auburn Shaded Fuel Break to Reduce Wildfire Threats

7/14/2022

Published: Thursday, 14 July 2022
(Map shows grazing area, from north of the Foresthill Road to just south of the Maidu-China Bar neighborhoods.

The Bureau of Reclamation is working with managing partner California Department of Parks and Recreation at Auburn State Recreation Area on a 474-acre goat grazing project. This project area was initially treated to establish an expanded shaded fuel break through a partnership with Placer County Resource Conservation District.

The project, implementing a portion of the Five-Year Fuels Management Plan for Auburn Project Lands, will graze goats this summer to decrease fuel (vegetation) loads on woodlands adjacent to the City of Auburn associated with the wildland-urban-interface (where homes meet the forest). Contracted goat herds will graze within temporary electric fencing along the 600-foot boundary away from the houses adjacent to the federal project land boundary.

Under the supervision of herding dogs and goat herders, one herd will start near the Maidu/China Bar Fire-Wise neighborhoods and another herd will start adjacent to the State Parks Headquarters and the boundary of those Fire-Wise neighborhoods.

Implementation of the project will maintain a 600-foot boundary along the wilderness urban interface area that has been previously treated by hand crews under a CAL FIRE grant managed by PCRCD. Goat grazing will help thin lower vegetation layers, reduce the potential for wildfire to move into the larger growths of shrubs and trees, and create space for firefighting equipment access. No significant changes in recreational trail or land use are expected to occur during the grazing.

Stakeholders providing input to help lessen the threat of potential wildfire include the City of Auburn Fire Department, CAL FIRE, Greater Auburn Area Fire Safe Council, and Placer County Fire Safe Alliance.www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=51723

Learn more about this project at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=51723.
Source: USBR

Wild Pigs at Spenceville - heads up!

7/12/2022

There have been a few reports of wild feral pigs at Spenceville. Yesterday, a group of about 20 individuals was spotted near the junction of Long Ravine Road and Jones Road. The hiker estimated the largest boar in the herd weighed about 200 pounds. Wild pigs invaded Spenceville from the south a few decades ago - fortunately, their population has never been large.

Wild boars can be extremely dangerous. The news rarely publishes stories of encounters with them, even though they’re big, have sharp tusks, and are taking over North America. In fact, there have been more fatalities from wild hogs in the last decade than from sharks.

HISTORY AND FACTS ABOUT WILD PIGS
Their range has expanded quickly in recent decades, to 35 states today. Now, wild pigs are one of the most destructive species in the US. They sully entire fields of vegetable crops with E. coli, contaminate drinking water, decimate native wildlife and plant species, and transport more than 50 diseases, including rabies, hepatitis E, and brucellosis, an ugly illness that causes recurring flu-like symptoms. Nearly 40 of the swine-held strains can be transmitted to humans.

At the same time, the species’ population, some 5 million and counting, has skyrocketed, largely because of its high rate of fecundity. Wild pigs can breed several times a year and birth up to 12 piglets per litter, making them the fastest reproductive machines of any animal in their weight and size class. They’re also not predated by any larger carnivorous animals, though cougars will kill one occasionally. On top of that, they’ll eat just about anything.

“I’ve never seen a starving wild pig,” says John Tomecek, assistant professor and extension wildlife specialist at Texas A&M University. Foxes, coyotes, and other wild omnivores, sure, but never pigs. “They are an opportunistic omnivore and will always find a meal,” Tomecek adds.
They’re also not restricted by habitat. they can be found roaming and thriving in just about any terrain, including the desert.

ATTACKS ARE RARE
The good news is that most wild pigs would rather flee to safety rather than charge a human. But much like wild pig numbers themselves, attacks are on the rise. And while wild pigs look a lot like their farm dwelling counterparts, they’re leaner and tougher, with coarser hair and longer tusks. They can weigh up to 350 pounds, be as long as five feet from snout to rump, and run up to 30 miles per hour. They also have excellent vision and are often active after dark, even though they’re not fully nocturnal.

No matter the time of day, your chances of encounter increase while you’re walking a dog, which, according to studies, swine seem to perceive as a threat. Approaching an injured or cornered pig or getting too close to piglets also top the list of things not to do if you’re hoping to avoid a run-in.

WHAT TO DO IN AN ENCOUNTER
When wild pigs do get aggressive, things can turn ugly. The animals tend to charge and maul their victims with their tusks, biting or goring legs and feet. And because they have so much bacteria in their mouths, infection is a serious concern.
To deter an attack upon spotting a hog, give it a wide berth. Often, this is all that’s required to quell a violent encounter. If you see one nearby, it will likely turn tail and make its own speedy escape. If it doesn’t—possibly because it’s never encountered a human or is content to wallow in a cool, muddy creek bed—just put plenty of space between you and the animal. Whatever you do, don’t try to get close to, feed, pet, take photos of, or provoke the animal. Read: If a wild hog wants to protect itself, it’s not letting you get away without a fight.

That said, there are still ways to deescalate the situation. Once the swine starts running toward you, climb a tree, boulder, even a car to get out of the animal’s reach. Try and get high: Pigs can’t climb, but large ones can work their way up a tree trunk with their front legs to reach objects that are several feet above the ground.

If there’s nothing tall nearby, turn tail and sprint. You can’t outrun a wild pig, but in a best-case scenario, they’ll think they’ve neutralized the threat and give up chasing. Use anything at your disposal—a tripod, walking stick, golf club—to fight back. Do your best to stay on your feet because, “if you get knocked down, things get considerably worse real fast."

Whether or not there’s a physical encounter, report the sighting to your local wildlife-management agency so they can trap or euthanize the invasive species.

Climate change is affecting the Pacific Crest Trail experience

7/9/2022

Whether looking for a quick escape into nature or planning several months off the grid, the Pacific Crest Trail draws countless people from all over. The trail stretches 2,650 miles from the Canadian border to the Mexican border, passing through some incredibly scenic spots in Washington, Oregon and California.

The PCT was established as a National Scenic Trail by Congress in 1968 and has been providing an escape into nature ever since. But those who know the trail best say that the trail experience is changing.

"Climate change and increased use on the trail are two of the significant pieces that we've seen in the last several years," said Jennifer Tripp, the trail operations manager for the Pacific Crest Trail Association.
A recent study by scientists at Brown University as well as the National Center for Atmospheric Research has the data to support those observations. According to the study, hotter summers, winters with less snow, more intense droughts and longer wildfire seasons are all having an impact on trail conditions.

Over the last two years the Caldor, Dixie and Tamarac fires combined to close down hundreds of miles of trail. Even once the flames died out, smoke remained a problem.

"We see a lot of people altering their trip plans because of smoke, because of fire impacts," Tripp said.
Climate change also increases the risk for heavy rain events as a warmer atmosphere is able to hold more water. When the rain does come to Northern California, that is a worry for trail tenders.
"Trail really doesn't like fast-moving water. That will erode the trail, that will bring down more trees, and that means we need more volunteers to get out and do those repairs," Tripp said.

Those volunteers are a big reason why the Pacific Crest Trail Association has been able to keep the well-traveled trails in good shape. More than 2,000 volunteers contribute millions of dollars worth of labor each year. That labor, whether it's tree clearing or hauling in rocks to build a new water diversion, is done without powered machinery.
Tripp said that whatever challenges climate change may bring, she and the PCTA team are committed to preserving the unique beauty of the trail system.

"It continues to be something that our association is learning how to work into our work plans and how to integrate into how we do our work," she said. "We want this to be protected so that your children and your children's children can keep coming out and having the same experience that we're fortunate enough to have right now."

See the original article and video on KCRA channel 3 CLICK HERE.

ALERT: Legislation to add CLASS 3 (!) motorized e-bikes to all trails on California State Parks and State Recreation sites, letters needed before Aug. 1

7/7/2022

Hikers, equestrians, bird watchers, dog walkers, seniors...be aware that CLASS 3 MOTORIZED E-BIKES WILL BE ALLOWED ON ALL TRAILS IN STATE PARKS AND RECREATION AREAS if this bill passes.

This alert was sent out by Back Country Horsemen of California. All trail users should be concerned about this legislation!

AB1909 is a CA bill <https://openstates.org/ca/bills/20212022/AB1909/> which will amend the CA vehicle code to allow Class 3 electric motorized bikes to be considered the same as Class 1 and 2 bikes. This would allow Class 3 bikes which are faster (28 mph legally, more if altered) and more powerful "...or any class of electric bicycle on an equestrian trail, or hiking or recreational trail."

It also states that, "The local authority or governing body of a public agency having jurisdiction over an equestrian trail or hiking or recreational trail, may prohibit by ordinance the operation of an electric bicycle or any class of electric bicycle on that trail." It also prohibits a jurisdiction from requiring any bicycle to be licensed.

This bill *DOES NOT APPLY* to National Forests, BLM Lands or National
Parks. It *DOES* apply to State Parks and State Recreational Sites.

*What does this mean for you? *
If you hike or ride or work in a State Park or State Recreation area you will see all classes of electric motorized bicycles on the trails. It means that in order to prohibit electric bicycles, the State Park or Recreation area must pass an ordinance to prohibit them. It means that in order to keep out these high speed Class 3 electric bicycles, each individual State Park or Recreational area must be lobbied to do so.

*What can you Do?*
Please try to write, call or email your Senator before they reconvene on August 1, 2022 and tell them that you object to including Class 3 e-bikes to the California Vehicle Code in this fashion, remove the reference to equestrian trails, hiking and recreational trails so they would not be including Class 3 electric bikes, and would like State Parks and State Recreation areas to be excluded from this bill. That you believe Class 3 electric bikes are a danger to equestrians and hikers and should NOT be allowed in any State Park or State Recreation Area. They are fine in cities with sidewalks and bike lanes, but they are too fast for backcountry trails.

To find your State Senator go to: <https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/>

Most of us will have:
Senator Brian Dahle
Email: <https://dahle.cssrc.us/e-mail-senator>
Mail: 1021 O Street, Room 7230
Sacramento, CA 95814
Local office:
11310 McCourtney Road, Unit E2/E3
Grass Valley, CA 95949
(530) 271-1022

BoR Grazing Goats This Summer On Auburn Shaded Fuel Break to Reduce Wildfire Threats

Wild Pigs at Spenceville - heads up!

Climate change is affecting the Pacific Crest Trail experience

ALERT: Legislation to add CLASS 3 (!) motorized e-bikes to all trails on California State Parks and State Recreation sites, letters needed before Aug. 1

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