Wildlife of the Baldwin Hills:
Then and Now

A Prehistoric Crossroads

Long before urban Los Angeles rose around them, the Baldwin Hills stood as an ecological crossroads — a mosaic of coastal sage scrub, grassland, oak savanna, and riparian canyons. These hills once supported a rich and varied community of wildlife, many of which no longer roam the region today.

Animals of the Past

Fossil records, Kizh oral histories, and early naturalist accounts reveal that the Baldwin Hills and surrounding areas were once home to large mammals and apex predators, including:

Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos californicus) – Once common across the Los Angeles Basin, these powerful omnivores roamed the Baldwin Hills in search of acorns, carrion, and coastal resources. The Grizzly Bear pictured on the California state flag was modeled after Monarch, the last grizzly bear captured in the San Gabriel mountains in October 1889.
Mountain lions (Puma concolor) – Top predators that used the hills as corridors between the Ballona wetlands and the Santa Monica Mountains.
Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) – Grazed the native grasses and shrubs that once covered the open hillsides.
American badgers (Taxidea taxus) – Burrowed in soft soils in search of ground squirrels and other prey.
California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) – Soared over the ridgelines, feeding on carcasses of large animals

Archaeological evidence and historical documentation also point to healthy populations of foxes, coyotes, jackrabbits, bobcats, and raptors, alongside countless songbirds, lizards, and amphibians. However, urbanization, agriculture, oil extraction, and habitat fragmentation beginning in the late 19th century rapidly eliminated much of this biodiversity. By the mid-1900s, most large mammals had disappeared from the region, and the hills became isolated islands of habitat surrounded by freeways, subdivisions, and industrial zones.

Modern-Day Survivors and Returnees

Despite habitat loss, many species have persisted or recolonized the Baldwin Hills, especially in areas like Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area and the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. Thanks to habitat restoration, protected parkland, and increasing urban wildlife adaptation, the following species are now commonly observed:

Mammals

Coyote (Canis latrans) – Highly adaptable and now widespread in urban green spaces.
Desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) – Found in open grasslands and restored scrub areas.
Brush rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani) – Prefers denser vegetation and edges of coastal sage scrub.
Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), raccoon (Procyon lotor), and Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) – Nocturnal mammals often seen near water features or in culverts.

Birds

Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) – Often seen soaring overhead or perched on utility poles.
California quail (Callipepla californica) – A keystone ground-nesting bird making a slow return through restoration.
Northern mockingbird, Anna’s hummingbird, lesser goldfinch – Common residents of chaparral and urban edge habitats.
Migratory species such as Western kingbirds, warblers, and sparrows use the hills as seasonal stopovers.

Reptiles & Amphibians

Western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) – Sunbathing on rocks and logs across restored trails.
Southern alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinata), coast horned lizard (Phrynosoma blainvillii) – Rare but present in undisturbed patches.
Pacific tree frog (Pseudacris regilla) – May be heard after rains near restored seeps or seasonal pools.

Insects & Pollinators

Native bees such as valley carpenter bees, leafcutter bees, and sweat bees thrive among restored plant communities.
Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are occasionally seen along milkweed and nectar corridors during migration.

Breeding California Gnatcatchers

(Polioptila californica californica)

A highlight of local biodiversity is the confirmed presence of breeding California gnatcatchers, a federally threatened species closely tied to coastal sage scrub. On June 17, 2025, Matt Teutimez and Stacey Vigallon observed a family group (2 adults, 3 juveniles) of five gnatcatchers (CAGN) in the Baldwin Hills—evidence of active nesting in restored scrub habitat.

The California gnatcatcher is non-migratory and highly site-tenacious, breeding from late February through early August, peaking mid-March to mid-May, constructing nests 4–10 days prior to laying 3–5 eggs, with fledging in approximately two weeks. This represents a notable habitat success given ongoing urban pressure.

The California gnatcatcher is a key species of coastal sage scrub, widely used in conservation planning for habitat connectivity. The shrubland required by gnatcatchers has declined by 70–90% across Southern California due to urbanization. The presence of diverse mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians demonstrates resilient ecosystems within the urban core.

Challenges and Conservation Opportunities

Common threats include fragmentation, limiting movement and genetic exchange, edge effects —predation, invasive species, and nest parasitism and environmental stressors — fire suppression, pollution, human disturbance. Yet recent work shows local breeding of California gnatcatchers — a significant conservation milestone. Genetic studies suggest connectivity even among fragmented coastal scrub patches, supporting the Baldwin Hills’ role in regional ecological networks.

The Baldwin Hills exhibit a notable ecological rebound—from near-empty oil fields to thriving pockets of native habitat. The personal observation of breeding California gnatcatchers on June 17, 2025, is a testament to the efficacy of restoration and conservation in urban landscapes. Continued support for native plantings, disturbance control, and wildlife-friendly planning will be key to sustaining this biodiversity. However, the Baldwin Hills continue to face significant ecological pressures. Habitat fragmentation limits genetic diversity and movement of wildlife. Light and noise pollution, invasive species, and proximity to oil operations reduce ecological integrity. Vehicle collisions and illegal dumping present daily threats to animals in the corridor.

However, the hills also offer hope. With coordinated efforts in native plant restoration, wildlife corridor planning, and public education, it is possible to support a return of greater animal biodiversity.

A Living Ecosystem in an Urban Core

Today, the Baldwin Hills represent a vital ecological refuge—an island of native habitat within a sea of urbanization. Scientists and conservationists now use the area as a living laboratory to study urban wildlife adaptation, ecological restoration in post-industrial landscapes, pollinator network resilience, and migration stopover dynamics. With continued indigenous engagement and stewardship, these hills can continue to serve as a beacon for biodiversity and cultural resilience in Los Angeles.

Citations & References

Atwood, J.L., & Bontrager, D.R. (2001). California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica). In: The Birds of North America, No. 574. Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Baldwin Hills Conservancy. (2002). Baldwin Hills Master Plan. California Resources Agency.

Beier, P. (1995). Dispersal of Juvenile Cougars in Fragmented Habitat. Journal of Wildlife Management, 59(2), 228–237.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) regional species records

Crooks, K.R. (2002). Relative sensitivities of mammalian carnivores to habitat fragmentation. Conservation Biology, 16(2), 488–502.

Faulkner, S. (2010). Urban Wildlife: A Handbook for Wildlife Planning and Policy. Island Press.

Frankie, G.W., et al. (2005). Native bees are a rich natural resource in urban California gardens. California Agriculture, 59(3), 113–120.

Gehrt, S.D., Riley, S.P.D., & Cypher, B.L. (Eds.). (2010). Urban Carnivores: Ecology, Conflict, and Conservation. Johns Hopkins University Press.

Harris, J.M. (1985). The Fossil Record of the Los Angeles Basin: Vertebrate Paleontology of the La Brea Tar Pits. In: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Contributions in Science.

Jepsen, S., et al. (2015). Conservation Status and Ecology of the Monarch Butterfly in the United States. NatureServe and Xerces Society.

Longcore, T. & Rich, C. (2004). Ecological light pollution. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 2(4), 191–198.

Riley, S.P.D. et al. (2014). Individual behaviors dominate the dynamics of an urban mountain lion population isolated by roads. Current Biology, 24(17), 1989–1994.

Runte, A. (1990). Yosemite: The Embattled Wilderness. University of Nebraska Press.

Schoenherr, A.A. (1992). A Natural History of California. University of California Press.

Shaffer, H.B., Fisher, R.N., & Davidson, C. (1998). The role of natural history collections in documenting species declines. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 13(1), 27–30.

Snyder, N.F.R., & Snyder, H.A. (2000). The California Condor: A Saga of Natural History and Conservation. Academic Press.

Soule, M.E., Bolger, D.T., et al. (1988). Reconstructed Dynamics of Rapid Extinctions of Chaparral-Requiring Birds in Urban Habitat Islands. Conservation Biology, 2(1), 75–92.

Storer, T.I., & Tevis, L.P. (1955). California Grizzly. University of California Press.

Teutimez, M., & Vigallon, S. (2025). Field observation of breeding California gnatcatchers in the Baldwin Hills. Unpublished field record, June 17, 2025.

USFWS. (1993). Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Threatened Status for the Coastal California Gnatcatcher. Federal Register, 58 FR 16742.

Vandergast, A.G. et al. (2019). Genetic connectivity of coastal California Gnatcatcher in southern California. Biological Conservation, 236, 131–142.

Zink, R.M., et al. (2000). Genetics, taxonomy and conservation of the threatened California Gnatcatcher. Conservation Biology, 14(5), 1394–1405.