Friend: California Mule Deer
What You Need to Know: The mule deer is known for its large, mule-like ears and black-tipped tail. Female deer are called doe, male deer are called buck, and their young are called fawn. Mule deer are migratory in California. Deer are most often seen around dawn and dusk while foraging for food but they may also be active during the day or night.
Fun Facts: Male deer, or buck, have a set of branching antlers. The number of forks, or points, found on the buck’s antlers depends on its age, nutrition, and genetics. It will shed its antlers every year in January or February, with new antlers covered in soft, velvety skin growing in late spring. This velvety skin is shed in mid-summer.
Bucks go into rut in early fall. They may become more aggressive and compete with other bucks during this mating period. A doe’s gestation period is about 200 days, so you can expect to see fawn in late spring to mid-summer. A doe may give birth to one, two, or three fawns. They are spotted at birth but lose their spots within a few months. They will stay with their mothers during the first year.
Diet: Deer feed on grasses, young shrubs, tender shoots, bark, buds, and plant leaves that are high in nutrients.
What to Do: We ask that you please don't feed the deer. If you see one while driving, slow down and keep an eye out for more deer as they often travel in packs. Brake firmly and calmly. Don't swerve your vehicle; stay in your lane. Swerving could cause you to lose control of your car. Keep in mind that deer are unpredictable and may change direction quickly. To scare them off/away from the road, you can try honking. Stay alert when driving close to dawn or dusk as deer are most active at these times.
If you accidentally hit a deer with your vehicle, pull to the side of the road as soon as it is safe to do so. Turn on your hazard lights and remain in the vehicle. Call emergency services anyone was injured or the local police for property damage. Stay away from the deer. If it's still alive, it could be confused, injured and dangerous if approached. When contacting authorities, let them know if the deer is in a dangerous spot on the road so that it can be removed.
Friend: Tarantula
What You Need to Know: Having these spiders around will keep other nuisances at a low level on your property. These large, hairy spiders may look threatening, especially with their large fangs and intimidating size, but they are actually very gentle and are not a threat to people. If provoked, a tarantula may bite. Their venom is low in toxicity, so it rarely causes a reaction in humans but some people may experience inflammation around the bite. When they feel threatened, tarantulas eject bristles (called urticating hairs) from their abdomens. These hairs can cause an allergic reaction in humans, so if your skin comes into contact with them, wash the area thoroughly.
Fun Facts: You will typically see tarantulas in late summer or fall. Mating season is September and October, so you may seem them out and about on trails, grasslands, and roads. They spend most of their lives in their burrows, with females living up to 20 years and males living for 7-8 years, emerging to find their mate and then dying a few weeks later.
Prey: Tarantulas come out of their burrows at night. Insects are their main prey, but they also eat frogs, toads, lizards, and mice. Rather than spinning webs like other spiders, they set a “trip wire” near their burrows to alert them of predators and prey.
What to Do: If you see a tarantula, please keep your distance and leave it alone. If you happen to find one near your home, you can just gently scare it away. Stomping on the ground can cause it to move in the opposite direction. Or you can use a shovel to gently pick it up and put it in your garden.
Friend: Gopher Snake
What You Need to Know: The gopher snake is a constrictor snake (meaning that’s how it kills its prey) and is the most common snake in California. It is very gentle and normally easy to handle. Sadly, this harmless snake is often killed when it is mistaken for a rattlesnake. Be sure to study the differences listed on this page and in the diagram, so that you can clearly identify friend and foe snakes in the area.
They are typically active during the day and may be seen crossing trails, roads, and yards. On hotter days, they try to stay cool and are active in the early morning and late evening hours. When inactive, they may seek cover in rodent burrows and under objects such as rocks and logs. So be sure to gently and slowly move objects as you’re working outside during the day to avoid a surprise for you… and them!
What it Looks Like: A gopher snake is typically 4ft to 6 ft in length. Their underside is creamy or yellow, often with brown or reddish blotches along their back. The patterns on their backs are similar to rattlesnakes and they also coil, vibrate their tails, and may strike when threatened. There are several different types of rattlesnakes in California with varying colors.
How to tell the difference between a gopher snake and a rattle snake: A gopher snake's tail tapers to a thin tip and does not have rattles. A rattlesnake always has rattles (or immature buttons) on its tail unless the rattle has broken off. A gopher snake's head is usually narrow with a round nose and round pupils. A rattlesnake has a triangular head with elliptical-shaped pupils, an upturned nose, and fangs.
Fun Facts: Females may lay up to 15 eggs below the surface, in abandoned burrows and in loose moist soil. Its young is born in the fall, about 8 inches in length.
Prey: It eats mice, gophers, ground squirrels, rabbits, and birds such as quail, ducks, and their eggs. Younger snakes also kill small lizards. They kill their prey by constriction.
What to Do: If you see a gopher snake, leave it alone to keep the rodent population down. These snakes are harmless. In fact, they are beneficial for your property. Gopher snakes are California's most common snake and are frequently mistaken for a rattle snake, but remember that unlike the rattler, a gopher snake is your friend!
Foe: Bobcat
What You Need to Know: You may see bobcats during the day, but they’re usually active at night and during the twilight hours. By nature, they are wary of people. Unprotected pets and livestock may be at risk to bobcats in the area. Please take all the proper precautions to protect your beloved animals.
What it Looks Like: A bobcat typically weighs between 12-40lbs. This medium-sized wildcat is known for its short (4-6") bobbed tail, round face, and pointed ears. It has dark, transverse bars on its tail and prominent white dots on the upper back side of its ears. The outside of its legs are covered with brownish to light gray fur with black spots and bars. The tip of the tail is black on top, but white on the underside.
Fun Facts: Bobcats can be found throughout most of California. Bobcats are generally a solitary animal, with males and females only associating with each other during courtship and mating. They may hide in or create a den in areas with dense brush cover, cavities in rocks, logs, and stumps. Bobcats typically have a litter of about three kittens. They give birth between April and July.
Prey: Bobcats prey upon a variety of animals, including rodents, rabbits, raccoons, deer fawn, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates. They usually stalk or ambush their prey from the ground, trees, logs, or rocks. Bobcats may occasionally eat fruit or grass.
What to Do: Bobcats typically don’t pose a significant threat to human safety. Prevention is key to preventing loss of pets and livestock to these predators. Safely secure your pets and all your animals. Remove all potential food sources for them. And please do not feed wildlife.
Foe: Mountain Lion
What You Need to Know: Mountain lions generally exist wherever deer are found. They are solitary animals. By nature, they will avoid humans. In recent years, there have been ever-increasing interactions between people and mountain lions throughout California. Mountain lions are most active at dawn, dusk, and night so please exercise extra caution around these times.
What it Looks Like: A mountain lion is a large, tan-colored cat with a whitish-gray belly and chest. It has black markings on the tip of its tail, ears, and snout. A male mountain lion generally weighs 115-220 lbs and a female weighs 64-141 lbs.
Fun Facts: More than half of California is mountain lion habitat. Unlike other large cats, mountain lions cannot roar. Instead, they growl, shriek, hiss and purr (similar to house cats). Mountain lions are territorial. They use pheromones and physical signs (like claw markings or feces) to define their territory.
Mountain lions breed year-round. Females typically give birth every two years with litters ranging from one to six cubs. They usually separate after 15 months but the young may stay with their mother up to 26 months. In the wild, a mountain lion can be expected to live up to 10 years. (In captivity, they may live up to 21 years.)
Prey: Mountain lions primarily eat deer, but they may also prey on vulnerable pets and livestock. So please do everything you can to protect your animals. They also eat rabbits, skunks, coyotes, sheep, grouse, wild turkeys, and fish. Mountain lions hunt at night. They often lay in wait for prey or silently stalk it before pouncing from behind to swiftly kill their pray.
Prevention: Avoid planting things that deer like to eat as this will not only attract the deer, but the mountain lions. Don’t feed deer; it is illegal to feed deer and other big game in California. Trim any brush to reduce hiding places for mountain lions. Work together with your neighbors on these initiatives. Install motion-sensor lighting around your home/property.
Don’t leave small children or pets outside unattended. And please don’t let pets outside at dawn, dusk or at night as these are the times when mountain lions are most active. Bring pet food inside so that you don’t attract wildlife that may also serve as mountain lion prey. Be sure to provide sturdy, covered shelter for your livestock and vulnerable animals.
What to Do: If you see a mountain lion, do not run! (Running can cause them to chase and attack with intent to kill.) Don’t turn your back on them. Pick up small children. Stay calm. Face the mountain lion, make noise and wave your arms or open your jacket to try to look bigger. Throw rocks or other objects. Never approach a mountain lion. Give them an escape route. Don’t crouch down or bend over as you may appear to be four-legged prey to them. Speak calmly and be vocal. Don’t use high-pitched tones/screams.
If a lion attacks, fight back. (Research has shown that many potential victims have successfully fought back with rocks, sticks, garden tools, and their bare hands). Try to stay on your feet. If you get knocked down, protect your head and neck. If a mountain lion attacks a person, immediately call 911.
To avoid encountering a mountain lion, don’t hike, bike, or jog alone. Stay alert on trails. Don’t hike or jog at dawn, dusk, or night as this is when mountain lions are most active. Keep your dog on a leash when walking on trails. Closely watch small children. Teach your family and visitors how to respond. Report unusual mountain lion behavior to your local CDFW regional office.
Foe: Coyote
What You Need to Know: Although they are by nature fearful of humans, coyotes lose caution and fear when given access to human food and garbage. They may begin to harass domestic livestock and pets and could threaten human safety. Please do your part to proactively deter coyote visitors. Coyotes are more active in the spring, when feeding and protecting their young.
What It Looks Like: Coyotes may be mistaken for a medium-sized domestic dog. They have a long, bushy tail with a black tip. Their fur can vary from light brown to gray-ish with white fur on their stomach. They have pointed ears and a narrow face.
Fun Facts: Coyotes howl and “sing” to communicate with each other and keep track of their family members. Their den may be a burrow dug into the ground or under a tree or bush. They will mark the area with their scent and defend it from others. The den is both a place to sleep and to rear pups. If the area gets disturbed, the mother may move her pups to a new location. In the wild, coyotes live between 10-14 years.
Prey: Coyotes are omnivores, so you may find them eating anything from flowers to insects to rodents, rabbits, lizards, birds, and snakes. When hunting small prey, they usually stalk it and pounce on their next meal. However, they will hunt larger prey, such as deer, in packs and work together to kill it.
Precautions: Never feed or attempt to tame coyotes as this can lead to loss of life for your pets or livestock. Don't leave small children or pets outside unattended. Trim bushes around your property to prevent them from creating hiding places. Install motion-sensitive lighting outside your home/property.
Put garbage in tightly closed containers that cannot be easily tipped over. Pick up any fruit that has fallen from the trees and cover compost piles. Remove sources of water and pet food. Bring pets in at night. Ensure that your rabbits, chickens, and livestock are secured in a covered enclosure.
What to Do: If you are followed by a coyote, make loud noises. If this fails, throw rocks in the animal’s direction. If a coyote attacks a person, immediately seek medical attention and contact the nearest Department of Fish and Wildlife or law enforcement office.
Foe: Rattlesnake
What You Need to Know: Rattlesnakes, often called rattlers, for the rattles on the end of their tail are widespread throughout California. They are common in Orange County and you may come across one in your yard. They prefer brushy areas and hiding under wood piles. They are generally not aggressive and will likely retreat on their own if given room or not deliberately provoked or threatened. What you may not know is that startled rattlesnakes may not use their rattles to warn you before striking in defense. Most bites occur when a rattlesnake is handled or accidentally touched by someone walking or climbing in their vicinity. On rare occasions, rattlesnake bites have caused severe injury – even death.
What It Looks Like: These venomous snakes have large bodies and triangle-shaped heads. The “rattle” found at the tip of the tail is composed of a series of interlocking scales, which the snake adds to each time it molts. Muscle contractions cause the scales to click together, resulting in a rattling sound. They may reach 6 feet in length.
Fun Facts: Rattlesnakes can swim! They are ectothermic (cold-blooded), meaning they cannot regulate their body temperatures like warm-blooded animals. Instead, they rely on their surroundings to provide heat. Rattlesnakes don’t lay eggs. Females carry the eggs for about three months and then give birth to live young. A rattlesnake’s typical lifespan is 10-25 years.
Prey: Rattlesnakes eat mostly rodents, but may also eat insects and other reptiles. Its young consume mostly lizards and young rodents. Adults eat live prey. To catch their prey, rattlesnakes use heat-sensing organs located in the pits near the eyes to sense when prey is closeby. Then it strikes with two large fangs that inject venom, subduing and killing its prey, which is then swallowed whole. An adult rattlesnake only needs to eat once every two weeks.
Precautions: Around your property, encourage and protect natural competitors like gopher snakes. When venturing out in the area, don’t hike alone. Carry a cell phone and let friends and family know where you're going and when you will check in. To protect your dog from finding a snake and getting bitten, keep it on a leash when you're out for a walk or a hike. Speak to your veterinarian about canine rattlesnake vaccines and what to do if your pet is bitten.
Stay alert at all times. Only hike on well-used trails, avoiding tall grass, weeds, and heavy underbrush as snakes may hide in these during the day. Wear sturdy boots and loose-fitting long pants. Don't go barefoot or wear sandals while walking through brushy, wild areas. Children should not wear flip-flops while playing outdoors in snake country. Don't step or put your hands where you cannot see. Step onto logs and rocks, never over them, and be especially careful when climbing rocks or gathering firewood. Before sitting down, look around stumps and logs. Shake out sleeping bags before use. Teach children to respect snakes and leave them alone.
What to Do: Remain calm. Don't panic. Stay at least 5 feet from the snake. Don't throw anything at it, such as rocks or sticks, as rattlesnakes may then move toward you rather than away from you. Alert others to the snake's location. Keep children and pets away from the area. Do not handle a freshly killed snake, as it can still inject venom.
If you hear a rattle, don't jump or panic. Try to locate where the sound is coming from before you react, so you don't step closer to the snake or on top of it.
If someone gets bitten by a rattlesnake:
• Stay calm but act quickly.
• Remove watches, rings, etc., that may restrict swelling.
• DON’T apply a tourniquet.
• DON’T pack the bite area in ice.
• DON’T cut the wound with a knife or razor.
• DON’T use your mouth to suck out the venom.
• DON’T let the victim drink alcohol.
• Take the victim to the nearest medical facility.
• For more first aid information, please call the California Poison Control System at (800) 222-1222.