Sand to Snow National Monument lies approximately 50 miles north, northwest of Palm Springs, California, and about 50 miles east of San Bernardino, California. Rising from desert lowlands, its mountainous high desert and cascading streams create panoramic views, tranquility and solitude. But, recent visitors have been surprised by members of a herd of 150 feral cattle that are territorial and not afraid of people.
The cattle are destructive to the ecology and habitat of the park. Beyond the risk to humans, the unmanaged herd is a disease risk to Big Horn sheep in the park. To add insult, there’s also a pack of wild pit bulls keeping the cattle and visitors on their toes.
Source: Los Angeles Times, March 2, 2018.
With no one claiming ownership of this herd, it will take time to remove them from a diverse terrain that’s home to imperiled wildlife, such as the California desert tortoise, arroyo toads and Nelson’s bighorn sheep, which thrive on the monument’s cliffs and rocky outcroppings. “The destruction to natural habitat is widespread and heartbreaking,” Jack Thompson said. “An eradication plan can’t come soon enough.”
INSIGHTS: With a management plan in place, the cattle may be easier to eliminate than the dogs. It is easy to imagine coyotes crossbreeding with the dogs creating a substantial predator in the park and surrounding area.