MGS Conservation

MGS Conservation To gather and disseminate information the Mohave Ground Squirrels and its habitat. To maintain active public information and conservation education programs.

The Mohave Ground Squirrel Conservation Council is a nonprofit organization functioning to assure the perpetual survival of viable populations of Mohave Ground Squirrels throughout their historical range and any future expansion areas. The objectives of the MGS Conservation Council are:

To support and advocate for ensuring the continued survival of the Mohave Ground Squirrel populations and the

maintenance of their habitats in a natural condition. To stimulate research on the ecology, biology, management, and conservation of Mohave Ground Squirrels and their habitats by conducting and disseminating research contributing to the long-term survival of the species. To serve in a professional advisory manner on matters involving research priorities, management, conservation, and protection of Mohave Ground Squirrels and their habitats, which may include habitat acquisition. To support appropriate, applied research leading to better conservation actions for the protection of western Mojave Desert ecosystems. To recognize and commend outstanding actions and dedication by individuals and organizations promoting the mission and objectives of the MGS Conservation Council.

is looking for volunteers!Do you mind dirty nails, early mornings, and the potential for some bad squirrel puns? Maybe...
04/22/2026

is looking for volunteers!
Do you mind dirty nails, early mornings, and the potential for some bad squirrel puns? Maybe you are scrappy, handy, a little feral? Dare I say... squirrelly?

This isn’t a “stand around and look cute” situation. That job is clearly for the squirrels (the unionized recently). We're talkin' long days, field conditions, and please bring some better jokes.

🐿 Lodging at Ridgecrest house for most roles
😎 Most require ~5-day commitment

QUESTIONS ❔️
Check the schedule and reach out directly with your availability & experience. Link in bio for full details. More opportunities coming soon.

Thanks for your continued support preventing the extinction of a species that is really, really good at being cute. It's important work.

Our favorite heroes show up dusty and mildly dehydrated. You want to to inconvenience yourself for a rodent? Well, champ...
04/11/2026

Our favorite heroes show up dusty and mildly dehydrated. You want to to inconvenience yourself for a rodent? Well, champ... this is it.

If there’s a bird nearby, Karl already clocked it. Cuckoo clocked it! ...I know that was a reach. Please laugh.Back to K...
04/09/2026

If there’s a bird nearby, Karl already clocked it. Cuckoo clocked it! ...I know that was a reach. Please laugh.

Back to Karl... he is originally from Corvallis, Oregon, and has been birding seriously since he was eight (life list and all). He went on to Oregon State University where he double majored in Fisheries and Wildlife Science and International Studies, and somehow turned volcanoes into homework?? By comparing bird communities from Mount St. Helens to Arenal Volcano.

He’s fluent in Spanish, loves to travel, and recently summited Mount Kilimanjaro with his wife Karla. Why? Male birds are always trying to impress the female, duh. As MGSCC’s Budget Chair, he brings that same attention to detail to keeping things balanced and on track.

When he’s not birding or managing budgets, he’s making custom drinks like a professional. Ask him about his new concoction: a tepache cocktail.

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I wouldn't want to talk trap success with Karla Flores. She would mop the Flores with me! Yeah, I thought of that one al...
04/09/2026

I wouldn't want to talk trap success with Karla Flores. She would mop the Flores with me! Yeah, I thought of that one all by myself.

Back to Karla: she started with Mohave ground squirrels in 2007 at Mills College on Dr. Phil Leitner’s China Lake plots, then went on to trap mammals on Mount St. Helens, work at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, and casually hit near 100% trap success like it’s not a direct attack on everyone else in the field.

Along the way she met her husband Karl, handled top-tier mammals (northern flying squirrels and bushy-tailed woodrats), and got so efficient at processing animals it’s low-key unfair.

Now she co-runs Dipodomys Ecological Consulting LLC and is powered by coffee, loyal to dogs, and reading . Which, to me, is a top tier reading material. The board is lucky to have someone with such good taste.

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The Mohave Ground Squirrel Conservation Council ( ), teaming up with the Western Section of The Wildlife Society, is bri...
04/08/2026

The Mohave Ground Squirrel Conservation Council ( ), teaming up with the Western Section of The Wildlife Society, is bringing you a workshop all about the one and only Mohave ground squirrel (MGS): a California state-threatened species and one of the most mysterious and elusive residents of the Mojave Desert.

We’ll cover the juicy goss; natural history, regulations, and how to actually survey for these real-life beanie babies. Day one (June 4) is a virtual lecture, so you can learn in comfort on your couch with a pizza on the way. Then we take it to the streets. You’ll pick one field day (June 5 or 6), where you’ll rotate through hands-on sessions covering capture, ID, and processing of desert squirrels. Feeling extra? Okayyyy. You can also opt in to spend an additional day walking trapping grid lines with the pros.

Seeing a Mohave ground squirrel in the wild is part skill, part speaking it into existence, and part "the desert decides your fate". No promises, only vibes. Access your inner Ace Ventura. Wear a Hawaiian shirt. Sorry. I love Hawaiian shirts and Jim Carrey. This is biased.

Important note before anyone gets too powerful: this workshop alone will not authorize you through CDFW to independently work with MGS under CESA. That takes more experience than we can cram into a few days. But this is your foot in the door. You’ll walk away with a solid foundation in MGS natural history, habitat requirements, field sampling techniques, and conservation planning. And field fashion; if you talk to me.

This is exactly how you start building the qualifications needed for a CESA Memorandum of Understanding to capture and handle MGS, or to be recognized as a qualified biologist under a CESA Incidental Take Permit. Saucy, no?

Come learn. Come wander the desert. Come maybe see a squirrel. 🐿️

I’ll be the paparazzi; capturing pictures of you giggling and kicking your feet because you’re getting such great experience and you're wearing our cute merch. Which is currently only available at the workshop... just sayin'.

And I'm still looking for where I left my flagging tape... Cecile Shohet and Nikki Rivera after a long day at the new st...
03/30/2026

And I'm still looking for where I left my flagging tape...

Cecile Shohet and Nikki Rivera after a long day at the new study site.

Onkar Singh and Nicole Plotkin are definitely in need of an intervention.
03/30/2026

Onkar Singh and Nicole Plotkin are definitely in need of an intervention.

Botanist Hondo Brisbin giving plants the kind of attention most people can only dream of at the new study site.
03/30/2026

Botanist Hondo Brisbin giving plants the kind of attention most people can only dream of at the new study site.

Over here ar , we know we're hilarious. We don't need validation.What we do need: likes and reposts and shares.Spread t...
03/28/2026

Over here ar , we know we're hilarious. We don't need validation.

What we do need: likes and reposts and shares.

Spread the word. And consider dumping him. Your time is better spent volunteering to protect species that don't really care about you at all but are cute. And wasn't that him anyways?

Why are ground squirrels so good at fundraising?They gather like it’s their job! And they just called a staff meeting to...
03/25/2026

Why are ground squirrels so good at fundraising?
They gather like it’s their job! And they just called a staff meeting to tell you about our next board member.

Our Fundraising Chair, Milena Mokhayesh, was born and raised in Poland before moving to the United States over 20 years ago. Eventually landing in Las Vegas, she began her career as a desert tortoise biologist. Since then, she’s been working in desert ecosystems and hasn’t looked back.

She got involved with after seeing the impact the organization was making early on, and wanted to be part of something meaningful while learning from others in the field. When the opportunity came up to join the board, she stepped forward, and we’re glad she did.

Outside of work, she’s usually running, strength training, or deep into a true crime documentary. And hunting wild mushrooms! No... not that kind.

Milena brings energy, focus, and the "tupet" (meaning brazen confidence in Polish) that the team requires. Do you have fundraising ideas? Volunteer and work with Milena and others to gather all the money.

We have to pay the squirrels!
No, seriously. They will strike if we don't.

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It's on our website: Sometimes Jacob Robinson mouth-calls Mohave ground squirrels. Field biologists contain multitudes. ...
03/07/2026

It's on our website: Sometimes Jacob Robinson mouth-calls Mohave ground squirrels. Field biologists contain multitudes. Also, kind of a slay.

Jacob is a Member-at-Large and the Director of Conservation Biology for Wildlands. He earned his B.S. in Wildlife Management from Humboldt State University in 2004 and has spent his career working in desert conservation and mitigation banking.

Today he oversees the management and monitoring of more than 53,000 acres of habitat across the Colorado and Mojave Deserts. including over 10,000 acres within the range of the . He first encountered in 2012 while conducting reconnaissance camera-trapping surveys near Black Mountain. Since then, he has deployed hundreds of camera traps throughout the West Mojave Desert. Another TAG member, as well.

When he’s not managing desert habitat, he spends his time hiking, camping, practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and generally being outdoors, which, conveniently, is also most of his job.

Monday we started installing camera traps at the Rudnick site to document ground squirrel activity (squirrel drama). Cam...
03/07/2026

Monday we started installing camera traps at the Rudnick site to document ground squirrel activity (squirrel drama).

Cameras are going in near burrows and along travel corridors to capture who’s living there, who’s passing through, and who’s clearly ignoring the concept of personal space.

The squirrels seem unconcerned about the surveillance so far, which probably means they think they’re getting away with something.

Come help us give the squirrels their reality show they deserve. Become a volunteer and learn to set a camera. How else are the squirrels going to get careers in showbiz? We are basically their agents.

Link in bio to volunteer 🎥

Address

P. O. Box 1660
Wrightwood, CA
92637

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