Santa Rita Ranch Bioblitz

To celebrate California Biodiversity Day, we are partnering with the California Central Coast Chapter of The Western Section of The Wildlife Society and the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County to conduct a bioblitz at Santa Rita Ranch. Join your fellow naturalists in a rapid-style biological survey at the 1,715-acre preserve in San Luis Obispo County on rural lands between Cayucos and Templeton. You will be participating in a community science project by recording observations of plants and wildlife species on the preserve through the iNaturalist or Seek cell phone applications. On Friday, September 13th, enter the gate at Santa Rita Ranch off Old Creek Road (specific address provided during registration), then drive on the well-maintained dirt road approximately 400 feet to the main ranch buildings where we will get organized (there are bathrooms at the main ranch buildings). The gate will be open only between 8:00 and 8:10 am; you will not be able to access the preserve or participate if you arrive after 8:10 am. After a brief overview of the Santa Rita Ranch preserve, we will break into small groups and head out into the preserve. Some groups may go to the pond, some may head up into the native grass meadow, and some may stroll around the oak riparian woodlands. Each group will collect as many species observations (plants and animals) as they can. Then we will re-group and share results.

Before the bioblitz day, please download the iNaturalist app or the similar Seek app on your cell phone if you don’t already have it, create an account, join the CA Biodiversity Week Project on iNat, and spend a little time learning how to upload data. Or, if you don’t feel inclined to use the apps, you can participate as a botanical or wildlife spotter. This event may involve hiking short distances, possibly off-trail or over uneven terrain. Provide your own water and/or snacks, come dressed for a variety of weather, and bring whatever you need to protect yourself from possible mosquitos and poison oak.

A plant list is available for Santa Rita Ranch here.

SIGN UP FOR THIS EVENT here and sign the electronic waiver here beforehand. The Land Conservancy gate to the the Santa Rita Ranch Preserve is on the EAST side of Old Creek Road at these latitude/longitude coordinates: 35.527907, -120.856991, and here is a link to that location on Google Maps. Do not be confused by other map features that say “Santa Rita Ranch” – there are several historic and contemporary land developments also called Santa Rita Ranch. 

Email president@cccctws.org with questions.