San Luis NWR

The more I study the changing seasons in California, learn how the environment is adapting month over month, and watch the behavioral patterns in wildlife, the more it drives me to explore new places. On a recent road trip, I noticed that San Luis National Wildlife Refuge sat at a perfect stopping point on the route and grabbed the chance to see something different.

Initially, I was excited to see San Luis’s tule elk population and observe this species outside Point Reyes. Still, a large fence enclosed their grounds, and the elk were far enough from the perimeter that I couldn’t find good opportunities to photograph them. The refuge was almost deserted, though, which was fine by me, and I got to see some cool birds, old and new, including double-crested cormorants and western kingbirds.

The highlight, however, was a giant snake sunbathing on the dirt-track road. The car disturbed it, and it was already slithering away by the time I got out. I didn’t get a chance to photograph or identify it, but watching its large body descend into a hole in the ground was pretty cool. I couldn’t help but think the ground squirrels nearby must be watchful in their burrows.