Coastal Ranches Conservancy

10/08/2026

Major News Alert of local significance! But, also in securing a national biodiversity priority. Strongly aligned with our vision to Keep Gaviota Wild, Naples has the opportunity to be saved once and for all. As the article says, this is built on decades of advocacy by many, and we are thrilled the Wild America Fund is focused on the Gaviota Coast and able to “do deals on behalf of biodiversity and “move at the speed of business,” putting a real dog in the fight for natural spaces”. We are proud to call Michael Bell one of our own, our most recent addition to our Board of Directors and very much making an impact for our local biodiversity! !
https://www.independent.com/2026/10/08/saving-naples-once-and-for-all

With a purchase agreement in place, the Land Trust faces a $16 million fundraising push to secure a permanent preserve.

10/06/2026

Yes!

Yesterday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 1250 into law.

The law requires that decision-makers consider wildlife needs, like crossings and fencing, early in roadway planning.

“SB 1250 recognizes that crossings are an essential part of transportation planning, not an afterthought,” said Mari Galloway, Wildlands Network California Program Director.

For example, the law requires leaders to use data to identify barriers to wildlife, reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, and plan for crossings in coordination with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

By bringing wildlife connectivity into state planning processes, the law helps support healthy ecosystems and saves lives on both sides of the windshield.

Read the full story on our blog at the link below.

📸 Pathways for Wildlife / Wildlands Network

10/06/2026

1,000,000 wild vertebrates die on America's roads every single day, with Wildlife Vehicle Collisions tending to peak in the fall. Are you Wild Aware? If so - we need you, and you can still participate in the 2026 Roadside Wildlife Count running through October 11, 2026. Remember - never collect data while driving! This data is helpful on larger and finer scales - broadly raising awareness that wildlife crossings help provide safe passage and connectivity on the landscape, but also locally by identifying what species are crossing and being impacted by unsecure passage in certain stretches of road to help design and properly site impactful crossing projects. Join Coastal Ranches Conservancy, Environment California, Center for Large Landscape Conservation, and many more!

10/01/2026

Thank you Assemblymember Gregg Hart! This is what Ocean leadership looks like. 🙌🏼

09/29/2026

Join us and volunteers statewide!

Become a roadside wildlife tracker now.

09/21/2026

Wild Cherry Canyon in Avila Beach will be the first of three sprawling properties to win permanent protection around the Central Coast’s Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant.

09/08/2026

This morning a mountain lion was killed north of the Gaviota Pass Tunnel close to the rest areas. What’s all more frustrating, is the Gaviota Pass wildlife crossing stakeholder meetings asked stakeholders where crossings should go and what crossings should be prioritized - both stakeholders and a ICF connectivity report commissioned by Caltrans says - north of the tunnel - where road kill is more of an issue. We reiterated this at an August meeting. Where is Caltrans siting the crossing? South of then tunnel, where roadkill numbers are less. The reasoning they cannot articulate for the natural resources, only that it’s easier to add onto the $44M paving project. State Parks owns the land at Las Cánovas culvert - a known CDFW fish and terrestrial crossing priority. There is no limiting factor of land ownership to pursue the crossing improvement where it will make the most difference. Can we not waste $8 million dollars in the wrong location? Phone your representative - Congressman Carbajal! https://carbajal.house.gov and read more about the current limited project in our summer newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/coastalranchesconservancy/gaviota-guardian-summer-2026

09/02/2026

Beach Cleanup on the Gaviota Coast! Thank you

09/02/2026

The summer edition of The Gaviota Guardian is out! Fish rescues, wildlife crossing updates, and more here:

Summer is such a beautiful time on the Gaviota Coast – but honestly, I could say that about any time of year here. Meanwhile, the need to advocate on behalf of our wildlife and wild spaces continues apace. From steelhead relocations to seeing mule deer repelled from crossing Highway 101 at an unde...

08/31/2026

Los Ángeles can learn a thing or two from our very own North Campus Open Space project, at UC Santa Barbara. Where a golf course was reimagined and accommodated both housing and wetland restoration, and saved residents FEMA flood insurance. There can be win wins, and if there is will, then there can be a way to balance wildlife and housing needs.

A Los Angeles housing fight has found an unlikely new obstacle: the mountain lion.

A developer planned to use a state housing law to fast-track nearly 400 homes on a Woodland Hills golf course. City officials say the property qualifies as mountain lion habitat, forcing the project onto a slower approval track and setting up a lawsuit.

Read more about the fight — and why the developer says “golfing mountain lions may take the prize” — at the link in the comments.