The nests you see along this trail are Woodrat nests, but I have
heard from older locals that there are still some Footrats in this
area.
The Dusky Wooded Footrat is said to be left in only a few
pockets of protected oak lands on the Peninsula. This new species
of wood rat supposedly diverged in the Pliocene Epoch of the
Cenozoic Era, with genetic changes that created significantly
bigger and stronger feet, allowing this rat to grow to a larger
size and inhabit rougher, more heavily wooded, and steeper rocky
areas. Science is still trying to prove or disprove this
legend.
- Standard Open Space warnings apply: there are ticks,
rattlesnakes, mountain lions, and poison oak in this preserve. Be
prepared.
- Park hours are dawn to 1/2 hour after sunset.
- Cache is NOT hidden under a pile of sticks! Most of the large
stick piles in this area are Woodrat nests, and should be left
alone.
- Cache is a custom camoed container, on the big side of
small.