STATE PARK OFFICIALS CALL FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS
MENDOCINO, CA » With February soon closing in on March, our local state beaches will become active breeding grounds for native animal life. Due to consistent human presence, coastal animals such as harbor seals and the Western Snowy Plover are now vulnerable in their habitats. The Western Snowy Plover has been on the Federal Endangered List since 1993. Our world-renowned, recreational coastline is home to fragile ecosystems dependent upon us for survival. The vast numbers of beach visitors take their toll.
Stationed at Russian Gulch State Park, Terry Bertels, the District Superintendent of Sonoma-Mendocino Coast State Parks bears responsibility for the coastline stretching from Westport Landing to Bodega Bay. His state-mandated mission is twofold and contradictory — to provide and maintain recreational areas for the public’s enjoyment and to protect the natural resources within those lands. He said he hopes to give people “a higher level of awareness to just exactly what kind of impact they may be making.”
Superintendent Bertels acknowledged that “people are often unaware of park regulations.” He has no desire to write citations for unintentional infractions. He would prefer that visitors have a good time reading all posted signage, respecting fenced-off areas, leaving their dogs at home, and carrying out their trash. Unfortunately, said Bertels, “The state does have fencing and signage, but it doesn’t seem to last, and it certainly doesn’t seem to get a lot of attention.” These state limitations exist to protect particular fragile resources, not interfering with visitor fun. He cited Big River-Mendocino Headlands and Ten Mile Dunes as the two most impacted locations. Both contain Marine Protected Areas designated by the state.
Bertels identified five kinds of visitor-driven damage that occur regularly—dogs, drones, horses, bicycles, and, unfortunately, clueless people. He explained these problems using harbor seals and the Western Snowy Plover as examples of how humans accidentally harm the very animal life they want to see. Bertels does not make accusations.
He simply wants the public to understand how they should enjoy the coast but leave it intact. Nesting and birthing season is vulnerable for animals, spanning from March to September. Bertels noted that this time “coincides with people coming back after winter. It’s tough to see a mother seal and her pup chased into the water. People want to get close because they see the pups as loveable, cuddly-looking animals.” However, the pups end up separated from their mothers.
Bertels stressed that the most frustrating problem rangers face is man’s best friend. Dogs are not allowed unleashed in any state recreational unit. Unleashed dogs do not stay on trails, leave wildlife alone, or decline to eat what looks appealing. Smaller wildlife view dogs as predators and will react accordingly. The Western Snowy Plover is a prime example of a native bird struggling to survive where humans come to enjoy themselves. As of 2020, approximately 2,500 of these plovers remain on the Pacific coastline from the northern border of the state of Washington past the border of Mexico. Their numbers along the Mendocino and Del Norte coasts are so few that the 2007 state goal of increasing the count to150 nesting birds has yet to be met.
This small shoreline bird, white with speckled brown markings and weighing about two ounces, makes its nest at the border of grass and sand. Nests are shallow scoops in the sand lined with small twigs and other debris. These plovers generally lay only three camouflaged eggs. The adult plover’s response to a predator is to run even when on the nest. Depending on the outcome, the nest may remain abandoned, and none of those eggs will hatch that season. The Western Snowy Plover logically views kites and drones as predators. The plover has other predators resembling our domesticated animals as well. Unfortunately, people, dogs, and horses too close to nesting areas also unwittingly increase the odds of unsuccessful hatchings.
Protected coastline areas depend upon visitors to be mindful of nature’s cycles. With nesting, brooding, and pupping season on the horizon, a quick review of any state beach or river area will boost visitors’ awareness levels of wildlife needs. It’s about them, not us. Read all the signage after you park. Keep your dogs leashed, or ideally, leave them at home. Recreate closer to the water with your kites, drones (if allowed at all,) horses, and sports equipment. Stay on designated trails. You’d be surprised by how difficult it is to spot a plover nest. Don’t feed any wildlife, no matter how cute they are. Human dependency has no good outcome for wildlife. Take your trash with you.
Better yet, take the time to check out your destination’s website, especially for certain regulations specific to particular times of the year. For example, Seaside Beach has an off-leash dog park just north of the Ten Mile River. The mouth of the river is blocked by sand during the breeding season. Visitors and their dogs at Seaside Beach often unknowingly wander south across this temporary sand barrier onto the protected Ten Mile Beach area, where no dogs or vehicles of any kind are permitted. Even state park employees abide by the Ten Mile regulations and bring no equipment along while on patrol.
Park employees carry no special status, which exempts them from any regulations. As District Superintendent Bertels remarked, “We don’t want to scare the plovers off their nests any more than we want somebody or their dog or their horse to do that.” He hopes that a more informed public will ease the challenges of welcoming visitors but protecting the environment. He acknowledged that serving the interests of the public and nature has its challenges. Still, he counts on local people at the state beaches to set an informed example so that out-of-town visitors will get the message.