Transition Habitat Conservancy

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Piñon Hills, CA
Transition Habitat Conservancy

A non-profit conservation organization located in the West Mojave Desert. Caring for the land goes beyond acquisition. Come out and visit us someday!

We utilize many tools and methods to steward the land so that it can be healthy and resilient into the future. In 2005 some women riding on their horses in Pinon Hills, California spoke about the wonderful natural paradise they were riding and hiking through. Concerned that urban development would soon destroy that that playground, they decided to unite and preserve the unique pinyon-juniper and J

oshua tree woodland. As a result of this, and the desire of the community to create parks and preserve open space, Transition Habitat Conservancy began. Since then, we have established project areas within San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties, and have worked diligently to protect and improve habitat in the West Mojave. Pinon Hills has its own reserve now available to hikers and horseback riders but closed to motorized vehicles.

05/08/2026

This week, the Urban Conservation Corps joined us here at the Roberta Dewey Discovery Center!

Pictured here at the center, this amazing crew helped our staff and volunteers get 54 milkweed plants in the ground at Puma Canyon Ecological Reserve. They also cleared 7 dead trees to help reduce fire risk—all in a single day! From improving monarch butterfly habitat to boosting fire resiliency, it was an incredible team effort. 🦋🔥

05/06/2026

Field Notes: A Look Back at Last Month

A healthy habitat doesn't happen by accident—it’s built by a team that shows up every single day. Here is what our crew accomplished last month:

Wendy bridged the gap between people and conservation.

Chase was on the ground restoring and protecting vital land.

Carol took on the heavy lifting of policy updates and accreditation.

Wesley and Vern leveled up our field capacity with fire training and trail construction.

Max stayed vigilant, monitoring wildlife and changing conditions across DWMA land.

Real progress, powered by people.

04/30/2026

Pre-grazing and post cattle grazing on Portal Ridge

04/25/2026

Finishing mile 3 of the 45lb pack test in style!

This kicked off our training: 3 miles carrying 45 lbs in under 45 minutes. Finishing on time at Portal Ridge is a brutal challenge. Between the 30 mph desert gusts and sandy footing, simply completing the distance is a bold accomplishment.

This is the first of three sessions aimed at prepping LA County for more prescribed burning. Huge thanks to our instructors from FFRP, James Salazar, and the LAC PBA for helping us build this capacity.

04/22/2026

🎶 Go short tree, it’s your Earth Day 🎶
In the West Mojave like it’s your Earth Day
And you know we don’t even care you aren’t a short tree! (You’re a Yucca, technically)

𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙-𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙅𝙤𝙨𝙝𝙪𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙖𝙜𝙚

Sponsor yours here: https://www.transitionhabitat.org/store/

When you sponsor a Joshua tree on our website, you aren’t just protecting the desert—you’re getting a new friend. With every sponsorship, we’ll send you the exact Lat/Long coordinates of your adopted tree so you can actually go visit it in the wild!

We’ll also keep you in the loop with updates on our conservation efforts through our newsletter. As a nonprofit, we rely entirely on donations from nature lovers like you to keep the West Mojave thriving.

Consider adopting a Joshua tree today—they also make incredibly unique, eco-friendly gifts!

04/21/2026

Along with human herders onsite, the use of livestock guardian dogs and herding dogs are also employed.

Dogs are used in two different ways during the process. There are the livestock guardian dogs. Usually large, fluffy white dogs such as Great Pyrenees or Akbash that can weigh up to 150 pounds, these dogs live only to protect the herd. This protective nature has been bred over hundreds of years. It is ingrained in them. They travel and live with the herd and are highly attuned to the environment around the animals protecting them from predators in the wild. Then there are the herding dogs.

These are usually Border Collies, highly intelligent dogs with a drive to herd animals. Completely in tune with their handlers, working as an extension of the herder directing them. They have been bred for generations to do the specific task of moving animals in tune with their human handlers. While most herding dogs nip and bite at the heels of animals to move them, Border Collies also employ what is known as “the stare” to control sheep. They use a low-crouched, intense stare to apply psychological pressure, guiding animals precisely. It’s pretty amazing to watch!

Check out the full blog post at the link in our bio to learn more about how we’re protecting the natural heritage of the Mojave.

transitionhabitat.org/blog

04/18/2026

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄𝙨 𝙏𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜? (versus commercial grazing)

𝙄𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙤𝙖𝙡-𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙:
Targeted grazing works closely with the land managers to make sure that we're achieving specific goals and priorities. What that means is that our grazing prescription is very precise.

𝙄𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙖:
To control exactly where the animals graze, we use portable electric netting, portable water systems, and herders on site at all times which allows us to have a very precise impact.

𝙄𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜:
We’re able to move animals with ease and expediency so that the grazing impact can be focused to do exactly what we want it to do and have no negative impacts on the land. Then once we achieve our goals, we can move on. By focusing on "small sections, the team prevents overgrazing and ensures the land can recover between treatments.

𝙄𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜:
The best strategy requires “proper timing and approach.” For example, grazing is timed in the springtime when grass is palatable to “catch many of the seeds before they drop” and “interrupt the reproductive cycle.”

𝙄𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘 𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩:
Sheep are deliberately chosen over goats due to the sensitive nature of the Joshua tree woodlands." Because goats tend to browse more, sheep are used so they "do not harm the Western Joshua tree sprouts.

𝙄𝙩 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨:
The process requires human herders on site at all times, alongside working dogs. Livestock guardian dogs live with and protect the herd, while herding dogs (Border Collies) use a low-crouched “stare” to apply psychological pressure, guiding animals precisely.

04/17/2026

Sheep vs. Megafires (Full blog on our website)

transitionhabitat.org/blog

Managing invasive plants in California isn't just about ecosystem health—it’s a critical part of building climate resilience. That’s why we’ve partnered with Star Creek Land Stewards on a specialized fire mitigation strategy in the West Mojave.

With catastrophic wildfires becoming more frequent, controlling "fuel loads" is a top priority. We chose sheep for this project because they are uniquely suited for the sensitive Joshua tree woodlands we manage. Unlike goats, sheep focus on the underbrush and don’t harm the young Western Joshua tree sprouts.

By timing the grazing to hit invasive grasses and Sahara mustard before they drop their seeds, we’re able to:

⭐ Interrupt the reproductive cycle of dangerous, fast-growing weeds.

⭐ Clear out the "tinder" that fuels intense fires.

⭐ Protect our landscape in areas where herbicides aren't allowed or hand-pulling is impossible.

As land managers, we believe the land actually manages us. Our job is to listen and adjust. This project proves we don’t have to choose between fire safety and ecological integrity—we can have both through intentional, mindful action.

Check out the full blog post at the link in our bio to learn more about how we’re protecting the natural heritage of the Mojave.

transitionhabitat.org/blog

04/16/2026

THC worked with the Hayfork Watershed Center and Los Angeles County Prescribed Burn Association last week to bring healthy fire back to the landscapes in LA County.

Field Day & Tactical Fire Training

DATES:
April 7 – April 9, 2026

VENUE:
Portal Ridge Wildlife Preserve, northern Los Angeles County

DETAILS:
This three-day intensive included an RT-130 refresher, a 45-lb arduous pack test, and shelter deployment on April 7.

The following two days (April 8-9) focused on Tactical Training, covering radios, communication, water handling, safety, and leadership.

This training was made possible by funding from Transition Habitat Conservancy through the Conservation Lands Foundation and the Watershed Center. Our amazing cadre of instructors brought their knowledge and equipment, including our new friends at FFRP, “retired” firefighter James Salazar, Captain Kevin Montoya of the LA County Fire Dept, and of course the Los Angeles County Prescribed Burn Association! This was the first of a series of 3 trainings hosted by THC, aimed at increasing the capacity for prescribed burning in and around LA County.

04/09/2026

THC is working with the Hayfork Watershed Center and Los Angeles County Prescribed Burn Association to bring healthy fire back to the landscapes in LA County.

Field Day & Tactical Fire Training

DATES:
April 7 – April 9, 2026

VENUE:
Portal Ridge Wildlife Preserve, northern Los Angeles County

DETAILS:
This three-day intensive included an RT-130 refresher, a 45-lb arduous pack test, and shelter deployment on April 7.

The following two days (April 8-9) focused on Tactical Training, covering radios, communication, water handling, safety, and leadership.

This training was made possible by funding from Transition Habitat Conservancy through the Conservation Lands Foundation and the Watershed Center. Our amazing cadre of instructors brought their knowledge and equipment, including our new friends at FFRP, “retired” firefighter James Salazar, Captain Montoya from LA County Fire, and of course the Los Angeles County Prescribed Burn Association! This is the first of a series of 3 trainings hosted by THC, aimed at increasing the capacity for prescribed burning in and around LA County.

04/02/2026

March Staff Field Updates

Last month, Wendy connected people to conservation, Chase worked on restoring and protecting the land, and Max kept a close eye on wildlife and changing conditions.

Thank you for supporting our organization.

Address

1681 Hillview Road
Piñon Hills, CA
92372

Website

https://www.transitionhabitat.org/donate

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