Better than Pokémon

By Trevor Ducote and Jonathan Riggs, UCLA Newsroom

Your chances of spotting a Pikachu pika-pika-ing across UCLA’s Royce Quad are low. (But never zero, according to certain Bruins.)

Even so, living in California offers remarkable opportunities to see an astonishing variety of real-world wildlife. And an amazing Bruin-centric place to do just that is the UCLA Stunt Ranch Reserve, located in one of the world’s largest urban national parks, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Located about 30 minutes northwest of campus, Stunt Ranch Reserve, one of the 42 reserves in UC Nature, is celebrating California Biodiversity Day on Saturday, Sept. 12 by hosting its third annual bioblitz, which is open to all ages and free of charge.

To find out more about this real-life Pokémon-style hunt for incredible California creatures, we spoke with David Blake, assistant director for the UCLA Stunt Ranch and an alumnus who received his bachelor’s in environmental science from UCLA in 2022.

What exactly is a bioblitz?

A bioblitz is a collective effort to gather as many wildlife observations as possible in a specific area over a set period of time. It can be focused on a particular species or group, such as counting how many bumblebees you can spot, or open to any and all observations, which is exactly what we’re doing to celebrate California Biodiversity Day! Bioblitzes benefit conservation on multiple fronts: They bring people together around a shared cause, generate valuable data, and highlight just how important it is to get outside and engage with the natural world.

The way a bioblitz “catches” species data reminds me of Pokémon GO. Any similarities?

They’re pretty similar, thanks to innovations in wildlife surveying. Now, apps like iNaturalist capture the time, location and other details of your sightings automatically, which makes submitting an observation to experts as simple as snapping a photo. On top of that, these apps have fun features that get people excited about nature, like AI-powered species identification and badges for reaching data-collection milestones. I hope bioblitz attendees will feel that same sense of discovery and see the real-world plants and animals they’ve walked past a hundred times as something worth stopping for.

What species might people be surprised to find at Stunt Ranch?

A few eye-catching ones are Humboldt’s lily (Lilium humboldtii), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and my favorite, the California newt (Taricha torosa). While very uncommon, a family of black bears (Ursus americanus) was caught on camera in the reserve last year! [Footage courtesy of TreePeople Land Trust.] What’s really amazing about Stunt Ranch is its habitat diversity. That’s why we can really use support at the bioblitz — there is just so much to document.

California Biodiversity Day is celebrated for an entire week (Sept. 5–13). Why is it so important?

It is important to remind ourselves of what conserving biodiversity means for our society and acknowledge the important role that California plays as a biodiversity hot spot. As biodiversity declines, habitats deteriorate and the natural resources that we rely on are depleted, leaving a scary situation for future generations. Also, the California Floristic Province — which covers 70% of our state — is one of only 36 recognized biodiversity hot spots worldwide. That means it has an extremely high rate of endemic species found only in the state, and more than half of the state’s native habitats are threatened.

Wherever they are around the world, how can all readers celebrate a bioblitz?

Explore what organizations are holding bioblitzes near you and go; if there aren’t any, consider starting your own. There are many conservation organizations, like the California Academy of Sciences, that offer resources and guides to help anyone develop a bioblitz.

What makes UCLA Stunt Ranch so special?

Stunt Ranch Reserve is an incredible resource that provides unmatched opportunities for UCLA students, faculty and staff. It enables researchers to conduct studies in a natural setting while giving educators the chance to deepen their students’ curiosity by stepping outside the classroom. The reserve instills a sense of wonder, excitement and tranquility in visitors, leaving a lasting impression that makes any event unforgettable. We’re truly devoted to supporting university affiliates and welcome anyone to reach out about collaboration.

We also offer many ways for students to get involved. Our volunteer steward program is a great opportunity to contribute weekly at the reserve by joining ongoing projects like growing plants in our native plant nursery or monitoring wildlife trail cameras. If visiting the reserve isn’t feasible for you, there are still plenty of ways to help. For instance, our small team can always use help spreading the word about the reserve, sorting through data, organizing events or creating resources that showcase what the reserve has to offer.

Every contribution makes a difference, and our staff will find ways to build on your skills and interests. I encourage anyone to reach out to [email protected] if they have questions about the reserve and/or how to get involved.

How can we all live the spirit of California Biodiversity Day every day?

With increasingly extreme weather and technology pulling us indoors, the next generation risks growing further disconnected from nature. Right now, the odds aren’t in favor of environmentalism and conservation, but we can change that. Start with small steps, such as sharing a conservation event on social media or spending a few hours volunteering at a local park. Even these little efforts can make a big impact and inspire others to keep pushing for change.

All are invited to the Sept. 12 UCLA Stunt Ranch Reserve bioblitz!