Ventura, Calif.—Hundreds of residents and dozens of organizations and local businesses are urging approval of a strong wildlife corridor ordinance at tomorrow’s Board of Supervisors hearing. The new guidelines aim to protect wildlife by ensuring that they can move between the Los Padres National Forest, the Santa Monica Mountains, and other key habitat areas throughout the county.
The ordinance—crafted over the course of two years following several stakeholder and community meetings—would specify the types of outdoor lighting, fencing, and development within wildlife corridors, balancing the needs of landowners with the need to protect Ventura County’s few remaining wildlife corridors. These strips of land are identified by biologists as the most important movement pathways for animals like bobcats, bears, mountain lions, badgers, coyotes, foxes, and other animals.
“Residents throughout Ventura County overwhelmingly support the protection of our region’s iconic wildlife,” said ForestWatch Conservation Director Bryant Baker. “As our cities and towns continue to grow, this reasonable ordinance will ensure safe passage for wildlife to move between core habitat areas like the Los Padres National Forest and the Santa Monica Mountains. We urge the Supervisors to heed the will of the community and approve a strong wildlife corridor ordinance.”
Residents
More than 700 residents, representing every city within the county, have submitted comments to the Board of Supervisors in support of the wildlife corridor ordinance. Letters continue to pour in, representing the largest expression of public support to an issue under consideration by the Board of Supervisors in recent memory.
Cities
Four cities—Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Ojai, and Agoura Hills—have submitted letters of support to the county. The National Park Service and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have also voiced their approval of the measure.
Conservation Organizations
Forty-one land, water, and wildlife conservation organizations authored a letter supporting the wildlife corridor ordinance. Groups joining the letter include Los Padres ForestWatch, Center for Biological Diversity, National Parks Conservation Association, California State Parks Foundation, Earthjustice, GreenLatinos, California Native Plant Society, Defenders of Wildlife, California State Parks Foundation, Ojai Raptor Center, California Chaparral Institute, Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources (SOAR), Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation, Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, Ventura Citizens for Hillside Preservation, Wildlife Care of Southern California, and many others.
“Adoption of a strong ordinance will position Ventura County as a leader in wildlife protection not only throughout the state but throughout the nation as well,” the letter states. “This major step forward will ensure that our children and their children will get to experience both the wonder of our local wildlife and the vital benefits that wildlife provide to the healthy ecosystems on which we rely.”
Local Businesses
Seventeen local businesses—led by Ventura-based Patagonia, Inc.—submitted a joint letter supporting the ordinance as well. “In short, healthy ecosystems are good for business, good for our employees and their families, and good for the community in which we live, work, and play,” the local business letter states.
Details for Tuesday’s Hearing
Interested residents can attend the Board of Supervisors hearing beginning at 1:00pm at the County Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave. in Ventura. The hearing is expected to be heavily attended.
“We encourage all residents who care about our region’s wildlife to attend the hearing,” said ForestWatch Public Lands Advocate Rebecca August. “Wildlife need our help and this is an excellent opportunity to participate in the process and make a difference.”
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