News & Insights
All Blog Posts
The 19th Amendment to the Constitution - granting women the right to vote - was certified on August 26, 1920. In commemoration of this, in 1973 Congress designated August 26 as "Women's Equality Day" to remind us of the heroic women who advanced the Women's Suffrage movement. In recognition of Women's Equality Day, Tuleyome is highlighting three women who are dedicated to conservation: Sheila Pratt (Cache Creek Conservancy), Corky Quirk (NorCal Bats and Yolo Basin Foundation), and Cathy Little (Yolo Habitat Conservancy). Please share in a round of applause for our friends for their passion and dedication to conservation.
The 19th Amendment to the Constitution - granting women the right to vote - was certified on August 26, 1920. In commemoration of this, in 1973 Congress designated August 26 as "Women's Equality Day" to remind us of the heroic women who advanced the Women's Suffrage movement. In recognition of Women's Equality Day, Tuleyome is highlighting three women who are dedicated to conservation: Corky Quirk (NorCal Bats and Yolo Basin Foundation), Sheila Pratt (Cache Creek Conservancy) and Cathy Little (Yolo Habitat Conservancy). Hear about Cathy's journey below and learn about Sheila here and Corky here. Please share in a round of applause for our friends for their passion and dedication to conservation. I received my Bachelor’s Degree at UC Davis in Plant Biology and immediately moved into environmental consulting when I graduated. For the next few years, I had the opportunity to botanize and see lands throughout California. I was working on large river projects and became interested in restoration of riparian habitat and decided to go back to school and get my master’s degree at Chico State. I continued working on restoration projects and started to be more interested in conservation work. I spent the last 16 years working for the Center of Natural Lands Management where I directly managed and acquired lands with listed species and sensitive habitats and led the northern California group. Recently I made a career move to the Yolo Habitat Conservancy where I am now contributing to conservation work in my local County. Through growing up in California I have been able to spend a large amount of time in vast beautiful wilderness areas, but have also witnessed conversion of many lands to development. I have always had a draw to natural lands and observing the amazing intricate ecosystems that they support. When I was working in environmental consulting on designing, building, and monitoring restoration sites, I saw these lands being transferred to entities that managed them in perpetuity, and I knew that I wanted to be part of the effort. I have spent most of my career now doing just that. Throughout my time working in conservation, I have had so many long-term field ecologists inspire me to continue doing this work. Watching others work tirelessly over many years to manage and protect natural lands, and collaborate and share their knowledge, has been so motivating. There is nothing more enjoyable than spending a day in the field with other ecologists and sharing enthusiasm about some small moment of observation, and always learning some new tidbit of information about a certain species or behavior or management tool. My advice to young women starting their career in the environmental/conservation/non-profit sector would be to just get out there and start gaining experience in whatever seems interesting and then collaborate and talk to as many people to learn about all the different opportunities. There are so many aspects of conservation and environmental work and the more time you spend working in it, the more you will be able to figure out how you want to contribute to the community as a whole. I would suggest taking as many opportunities as you can and working with as many different people as possible. Listening to people’s backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can be valuable in navigating your path. I would recommend always advocating for yourself, being open and honest about your abilities, and committing to and communicating your beliefs regarding your work.
The 19th Amendment to the Constitution - granting women the right to vote - was certified on August 26, 1920. In commemoration of this, in 1973 Congress designated August 26 as "Women's Equality Day" to remind us of the heroic women who advanced the Women's Suffrage movement. In recognition of Women's Equality Day, Tuleyome is highlighting three women who are dedicated to conservation: Corky Quirk (NorCal Bats and Yolo Basin Foundation), Sheila Pratt (Cache Creek Conservancy) and Cathy Little (Yolo Habitat Conservancy). Hear about Corky's journey below and learn about Cathy here and Sheila here. Please share in a round of applause for our friends for their passion and dedication to conservation. I came to bats late. I have been involved with outdoor recreation and environmental education most of my life. I have a BS in Natural Resources with an emphasis in Environmental Education from Humboldt State. But, it was learning about them at the Yolo Basin Foundation (YBF) where I found my love for bats. When I started at YBF, there was a woman who we contracted to do 3 programs a summer and I started volunteering for her organization in 2004. I was inspired to work in the conservation/preservation/ecology sector because my parents loved nature. We did many trips to State and National Parks where we camped and hiked. Over the years I have met many people who work in the conservation field and have encouraged me. I greatly enjoy sharing knowledge with the various bat biologists from environmental consultants, to the State to the US government agencies. There are two projects that I am most proud of. I started NorCal Bats in 2006 and now see almost 40,000 people each year to educate them about bats from schools, libraries, garden clubs, festivals, campgrounds and more. I'm also very proud of how popular the Yolo Basin Foundation Bat Talk and Tour program has become. When I took over the program in 2006 we did about 3 nights a summer, now we are conducting about 70. Some of the most profound moments and memories for me are of all the people who have learned about bats both through the Yolo Basin Foundation's Bat Talk and Tour programs and the presentations through NorCal Bats. I don’t have a specific favorite memory but I am proud of the number of times people come to me and say that they were hesitant or afraid of bats, and no longer are due to the presentation. Periodically, when I take the bats to schools through NorCal Bats, I'll have a student who is very fearful. Sometimes they hide under a desk or sit very close to the teacher. I'm most proud when they overcome that fear, ask questions and especially if they say that the bat is cute.
The 19th Amendment to the Constitution - granting women the right to vote - was certified on August 26, 1920. In commemoration of this, in 1973 Congress designated August 26 as "Women's Equality Day" to remind us of the heroic women who advanced the Women's Suffrage movement. In recognition of Women's Equality Day, Tuleyome is highlighting three women who are dedicated to conservation: Corky Quirk (NorCal Bats and Yolo Basin Foundation), Sheila Pratt (Cache Creek Conservancy) and Cathy Little (Yolo Habitat Conservancy). Hear about Sheila's journey below and learn about Corky here and Cathy here. Please share in a round of applause for our friends for their passion and dedication to conservation. Growing up in the western foothills of Sonoma wine country, I developed a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors and a deep respect for the independence of entrepreneurship, inspired by my father’s career as an insurance broker. My own entry into the insurance field was serendipitous. While navigating my college years and exploring potential career paths, I began assisting at a friend’s State Farm Insurance office. What started as a temporary role evolved into a professional mainstay; I eventually earned my agent’s license and managed that branch, along with several other offices in the area. When our family relocated to Yolo County, I chose to step away from the insurance industry to focus on my husband and children. Embracing our new home, we spent much of our time outdoors, falling in love with the region's extraordinary agricultural abundance. In 2005, a friend mentioned an opening for part-time administrative support at the Yolo County Resource Conservation District (RCD). Stepping into that role marked a profound turning point. Witnessing firsthand the critical work being done to protect and restore our natural resources deeply resonated with me. It brought a clear realization: we are given only one planet, and how we manage and steward its resources matters immensely. My father was my first and greatest inspiration. Growing up on several acres, I have fond memories of sitting in the soil with him, learning about the ecology of the small organisms around us. He possessed a true passion for cultivation, growing everything he could and constantly experimenting with unique plant varieties. Paul Robins, currently the Executive Director of the Monterey County Resource Conservation District, was incredibly influential during my early days at the Yolo RCD and provided me with an excellent professional foundation. When Paul transitioned to Monterey, Dan Effseaf stepped in as Executive Director, offering me a broader perspective on leadership and district operations. Dan now serves as the District Manager of the Paradise Recreation and Park District, and both leaders have left a lasting impact on my approach to stewardship. When I transitioned to the Cache Creek Conservancy, Nancy Ullrey was an amazing example of a strong woman in business. Over the years, we have completed numerous environmental restoration projects. In fact, many have succeeded so thoroughly that they have seamlessly melted into the surrounding landscape, looking as though they have always belonged there. However, my favorite daily memory is simply being on-site. The same friend who initially introduced me to the RCD eventually transitioned to the Cache Creek Conservancy (CCC) to support their financial administration. She reached out and encouraged me to visit, promising I would love the environment. She was entirely correct. It is a rare privilege to come to work every day at a place that genuinely brings you joy, essentially getting paid to be in your "happy place." Given my administrative background, the milestone I am most proud of is the successful replacement of our administrative facilities. When the Cache Creek Nature Preserve opened to the public in 2000, they purchased a 20-year-old modular building for office space. It was already well past its prime. By the time I joined part-time in 2017, the structure suffered from severe leaks during rainstorms and lacked adequate insulation. Recognizing the need for a stable foundation, we began intentionally allocating capital for a new facility. By 2023, we had successfully saved enough to pay cash for our new administrative offices, a milestone achievement reached entirely debt-free. I never actively aspired to become an Executive Director. I did not apply for the position, I did not seek the associated stress or high-level responsibilities, and on paper, I did not possess a traditional ecological background. I originally agreed only to serve as the Interim Director as a supportive gesture while the board conducted a comprehensive search. However, after two consecutive rounds of recruitment yielded no permanent match, the board formally requested that I accept the permanent appointment. My professional strengths have always leaned toward behind-the-scenes operations; I viewed myself as a facilitator rather than a frontline visionary, specializing in putting the pieces of a great concept together. Public speaking, leading high-profile meetings, and networking lunches were far outside my comfort zone. The prospect of being the visible face of the Conservancy was quite daunting. Through this challenge, I learned a valuable perspective: we are ultimately all just individuals doing our best to serve the greater good. I found strength in Winston Churchill’s insight that "Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision." Every day, I choose to lean into the discomfort and tackle the most challenging leadership tasks first thing in the morning, which sets a positive, rewarding tone for the rest of the day. Despite having more to learn about this specialized industry, stepping into this role has been incredibly rewarding. My foremost advice is to build a team of exceptionally talented, knowledgeable professionals, their expertise will elevate the entire organization. Because my background is rooted in administration rather than environmental science, I intentionally hire staff with strong technical backgrounds. While I occasionally joke that the administrative side of operations might face a steep learning curve when I eventually retire, I am entirely confident that our conservation and restoration initiatives will continue to thrive because of the exceptional team we have built. It is inspiring to see so many women leading the way in this field. I often wonder if the nurturing and protective qualities naturally found in women that drive this career path, sparking a shared dedication to care for the Earth and protect the vital life forces that keep humanity healthy and thriving.
Our wildest areas are under threat. In June, the Administration moved to weaken protections for our wildest public lands - those designated as wilderness, Wilderness Study Areas, Lands with Wilderness Characteristics, and recommended Wilderness. What do these areas represent? Millions of acres of untrammeled backcountry. The Department of the Interior, US Forest Service and National Park Service initiated the first step in unraveling these protections. They’ve called for a “review” of eight policies, opening the door to weaken protections and paving the way for short-term extractive industries, commercial development, and resource fragmentation at the expense of long-term conservation management of some of our wildest remaining public lands. Nearly 200 million acres of wildlands across the west could be impacted by this review, including approximately 120 million acres of Wilderness Study Areas and wilderness quality lands, and 75 million acres of designated wilderness areas. This includes the nearly 94,000 acres in Cache Creek, Cedar Roughs and Snow Mountain Wilderness areas in Berryessa Snow Mountain Nation Monument right here in our own region. These policies guide how federal agencies identify, manage, and steward designated Wilderness Areas, Wilderness Study Areas, and lands with wilderness characteristics. Together, they influence the management of millions of acres of federal public lands and translate statutory requirements into day-to-day management decisions. Continuing to protect wilderness qualities is consistent with protecting recreation. In many cases, wilderness-quality land provides the best opportunities for backcountry recreation; a CA outdoor industry responsible for 545,448 direct jobs valued at $38.1 billion. The total value-added worth of CA outdoor recreation is $81.5 billion, 2.2% of our gross domestic product. The Department of the Interior’s actions present a false choice between stewarding wilderness lands and providing opportunities for recreation. Let’s tell the Administration that we oppose these rollbacks and are committed to protecting our wild places. Sign on to the Wi lderness Review- National Sign-on Letter opposing five different actions across the three agencies by August 12th. Together, we can show this administration that we care about protecting these special places today and into the future. Sandra Schubert Executive Director
I first heard about Tuleyome when I retired early from UC Davis eight years ago. I was looking for local organizations for volunteer opportunities. I discovered Tuleyome and got connected with Bill Grabert and Nate Lillge. I helped them lead hikes and school programs, then took the CA Naturalist course through Tuleyome. My capstone project was to lead a backpacking trip into the Cache Creek wilderness, which I did just as COVID was descending on us. I was, and still am, impressed at how such a small local non-profit has both ensured preservation of important wild areas and invested heavily in outreach to local schools. Working with kids from Lake County in the Redbud area was eye-opening and extremely gratifying. Some of them had literally never been on a hike in spite of growing up so close to all that spectacular wild land! I donate to Tuleyome to help them keep up the great work!!! I’ve spent countless days hiking in and enjoying the Cache Creek area; what a gem of a local resource! And, only last spring was I able to get up to Snow Mountain…so glad it’s preserved and accessible for camping and hiking. Wow! A wilderness area near my home - that’s amazing. I’m incredibly grateful for Tuleyome’s hard work that resulted in preservation of these important wild places, and I look forward to seeing what’s next.
Driving around the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument one rainy day revealed a network of dirt roads that were slick as snnn… well, you probably know. The wet weather made driving less than optimal for the Subaru we were in but for our amphibian friends, the low-riding California newt, the warm, misty conditions were sublime. California Newts ( Taricha torosa ) are endemic to California, which means that they are extra special because they are only found here. They occur below 6,000 feet along the Coast Ranges from Mendocino County south to San Diego County. They are also found in the foothills and western slopes of the Sierra Nevada in the San Joaquin Valley with a few isolated populations in southern San Diego County. They utilize both wetland habitat including natural and artificial pools and ponds, reservoirs, creeks and streams for breeding during winter and spring, and upland areas such as chaparral and woodland habitats where they spend summer and fall. California Newts have stubby little toes attached to short, stocky legs. Adults range from about two and three quarters inches to about three and a half inches long, not including the tail. Their bellies and undersides of their neck and chin are bright golden yellow to orange with a reddish-brown to slate gray back. California Newts reproduce from late fall to early summer depending on rainfall amounts and habitat conditions. Adults migrate from their upland refugia to their preferred wetland to breed. Eggs are attached to submerged vegetation or under rocks and females can lay up to six masses of nearly 50 eggs a day. The eggs hatch in two to six weeks depending on water conditions and temperature. Larvae are aquatic and have gills and fins. After several months the larvae begin to exit the pond and set about metamorphosing into adults and do not return to the pond again until they are ready to breed. Larvae eat small aquatic invertebrates and organic matter; adults eat insects, slugs, snails and worms as well as other amphibian eggs and larvae. Adult California Newts are highly toxic. Like other members of the genus Taricha , adults have glands on their skin that secrete the potent neurotoxin tetrodotoxin - the same toxin that is found in harlequin frogs and pufferfish. Side note, this makes them poisonous rather than venomous (like rattlesnakes). Tetrodotoxin is hundreds of times more toxic than cyanide and potent enough to kill most vertebrates. The toxin affects sodium channels and makes it so neurons are unable to fire which results in lethal muscle paralysis. One of the only predators of adult California Newts are garter snakes. Garter snakes are one of the very few organisms that have evolved to develop a resistance to the tetrodotoxin produced by the newts. Garter snakes can ingest the toxic newts with limited effects which has created an evolutionary arms race (coevolution). As the garter snakes develop stronger immunity to the toxins only the most poisonous news survive which in turn results in future generations of news with even stronger toxins. This leads to a population of garter snakes that have developed a resistance to the stronger toxin levels and and on it goes. Loads of them were bumbling along the edges of the wet dirt road that rainy day. We made several stops to relocate those that were attempting to cross but seemed to stall out in the middle, always placing them facing the direction they were aimed. I don’t know if they were heading out to their natal ponds to mingle and breed, or on their way back to nap in their upland refugia but they were definitely enjoying the day. The California Newt is currently a California Species of Special Concern due to habitat loss and invasive non-native species introduction which makes seeing so many of these little stumpy legged tetrapods enjoying the Monument even even more groovy!
It’s always exciting to hear where the boots from our Youth Boot Bank program have ended up! Local mom Chelsea sent us this photo of her kids on the trail with the message: “Thanks Tuleyome! In the last 6 months your boots have taken my kids through Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Zion, Rocky Mountain, Grand Tetons, Jackson, and Yellowstone. We are very thankful for the boot loan.”
California is home to about 50 different native species of snakes. Some of the more commonly observed species include gopher snakes, California king snakes and rattlesnakes. Included in those 50 species are seven species of rattlesnakes found in California and most of their ranges are defined by our diverse geography. These include the Mojave rattlesnake aka Mojave green ( Crotalus scutulatus ) found in the desert and foothills of southeastern California. The Panamint rattlesnake ( C. stephensi ) are found in the high, inland deserts of northern portions of Southern California. The Red-diamond rattlesnake ( C. ruber ) is found south of Los Angeles to Baja California. Sidewinders ( C. cerastes ), sometimes called horned rattlers because of the raised scales above each eye that look like horns, are the smallest rattlesnake in California and are found in Southern California deserts from below sea level to about 6,000 feet. Speckled rattlesnakes ( C. mitchcellii ) are found in the Colorado, Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of Southern California south to Baja California. The Western diamond-backed rattlesnake ( C. atrox ) is relatively rare within its range of far southeastern Southern California. The Western rattlesnake ( C. oreganus ) is the most common and wide-ranging species of rattler in California. They are found throughout the state from sea level to about 7,000 feet making it the species most likely to be encountered in the Central Valley, Inner Coastal Range and the Sierra Nevada foothills. There are three subspecies of Western Rattlesnakes. The Northern Pacific rattlesnake ( C.o.oreganus ) is found throughout Central and coastal Northern California. The Southern Pacific rattlesnake ( C.o.helleri ) is found along the Southern California coast and the Great Basin rattlesnake ( C.o.lutosus ) which is found in the northern Sierra Nevada. The species we are most likely to encounter in the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument region is the Northern Pacific rattlesnake. Rattlesnakes have large venom glands at the back of their jaw that gives them their distinct triangular-shaped heads and are known for their unmistakable rattling tail. The rattling sound is a warning that they are there and don’t care to be fiddled with. Which is very considerate and convenient seeing as how a rattlesnake bite requires very prompt medical attention. Rattlesnakes are fairly common on hiking trails and in rural areas throughout the region. They are generally active from April through October and when the weather gets chilly they enter brumation - a period of slow body activity and deep sleep shared by other cold-blooded organisms and me during the shift to standard time in the winter. Rattlesnakes are born pre-loaded with venom and producing more of it requires energy so the snakes don’t dole it out willy-nilly. Meaning, you’re too big for them to eat so they’d rather not waste the venom on you, hence the warning rattle. However, a threatened snake may bite without the warning sound so when outdoors paying attention to where your feet, hands, and dog are at all times is imperative. The rattle itself is made up of keratin and grows a new segment each time the snake sheds its skin. Older snakes may have several buttons on their rattles or none at all if it’s been broken off so being able to identify them based on other characteristics is important. They can be found in a variety of diverse habitats from the coast to the foothills. They can be found in rural and urban areas, along stream and river banks, in parks, on golf courses, under landscaping and even under trash cans or along retaining walls in urban developments. They take refuge in wood piles, under rocks and in brushy areas and they like open areas for basking. To minimize the possibility of encountering a rattlesnake, the California Poison Control System and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends that you: Stay on clear, well-used trails and avoid wandering into tall vegetation and thick brush. Always pay attention to where you’re stepping and when encountering a large rock or log, step on top of it to avoid stepping in front of a snake that may be snoozing on the other side. Wear sturdy boots and long pants. Be sure to investigate rocks and logs with your eyes, not your hands, before you have a seat. Hike with a buddy and keep children close. Do not mess with snakes, even if they appear to be dead. Muscle contractions may continue after the snake is dead and bites can still happen. Keep your pets on a short leash to keep them from sticking their noses into places where snakes could be dozing. As always with any hike, leave with a fully charged cell phone, tell others where you plan to hike and what time you plan to return. If you do encounter the tell-tale sound or a rattler itself on the trails or anywhere else, stop moving immediately and determine where the snake is. Slowly back away and try to maintain a six foot distance (you know how to do this from COVID protocols), big snakes can strike from a substantial distance. Do not touch, relocate or kill the snake, most bites happen when people get too personal with them. If something terrible transpires and you or someone in your party does get bitten, call 911 immediately and remove constricting things like rings, watches and shoes. Severe and even life-threatening symptoms are possible and can begin occurring within minutes of being bitten. If your dog is bitten, get him or her to the vet as quickly as you can. Administration of anti-venom as soon as possible can save human and canine lives. Do NOT: Apply ice or heat to the area Cut or slice around the area (eww) Suck the venom out (this is a gross old cowboy movie myth) Take any medicine or consume alcohol or caffeine Use a tourniquet to restrict blood flow or to contain the venom Lots of Fun Facts and Side Notes: Sidewinders are named for their sideways gait; their method of locomotion reduces the time that any one part of their body is in contact with the hot sand. Did you know that there is an approved rattlesnake vaccine for cats and dogs? Your veterinarian can tell you more. There are also canine rattlesnake aversion training classes. Ruben and I are enrolled for one in August, shoot me an email if you’d like information on it. Do you know the difference between a venomous animal and a poisonous animal? If it bites or stings you it’s venomous (rattlesnakes, spiders) and if you consume, inhale or absorb the toxin, it’s poisonous (toads and newts). Although they lack venom and fangs, an agitated gopher snake can mimic a rattler by flattening its head and vehemently shaking its tail. Bless their little three-chambered hearts for trying so hard to be scary. California king snakes not only eat rodents but they also consume rattlesnakes and are unbothered by their venom. All rattlesnakes have temperature-sensitive “pits” (hence the name pit viper) on each side of the head that allows them to locate prey in the dark. Rattlesnakes along with several other species of snakes are live bearers meaning they don’t lay eggs but give birth to several tiny snakes. The babies stay with momma and she cares for them for one to two weeks after birth. Rattlesnakes can swim! All snakes, including rattlesnakes, play an integral role in our ecosystems and contribute to a healthy and diverse environment. Leaving them to their work is the best thing for everyone. If you need a rattlesnake removed there are services that will come catch and relocate the snake.