The federal Endangered Species Act protects more than 1,200 different plant and animal species that are on the brink of extinction. The Los Padres provides habitat for 26 of these protected species, more than any other national forest in California.

Species classified as endangered (E) are in danger of extinction, and species classified as threatened (T) is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future. Candidate (C) species have declined to such a level that they qualify for endangered or threatened status, but the federal agency in charge of officially adding them to the list has not yet done so.

In addition to the federally-protected plants and animals listed above, the Los Padres National Forest is also home to an additional 92 "sensitive" species. The population viability of these species is a concern due to current or predicted downward trends in population numbers or habitat capability. Whenever the Forest Service undertakes or approves an activity on public lands, officials are required by law to avoid or minimize impacts to these sensitive species.

The "sensitive species" found in the Los Padres National Forest are: 

California black bear
Coast redwood
Pronghorn antelope
Tule elk

Management Indicator Species

Management Indicator Species ("MIS") are plants and animals that are monitored by the U.S. Forest Service because they indicate the effects of land use activities on the Los Padres National Forest. When monitoring indicates that their populations are declining, the Forest Service knows to make adjustments to how it manages the area. The Los Padres National Forest contains twelve MIS, including:

Mountain lion
Mule deer
Arroyo toad
Song sparrow
Blue oak
Engelmann oak
Valley oak
Bigcone Douglas-fir
Coulter pine
California spotted owl
California black oak
White fir

High Priority Migratory Bird Species
 

California Bird Species of Special Concern

California Fully Protected Species
The State of California has classified certain wildlife species as "Fully Protected," which means that they may not be killed or "taken" at any time. The classification of Fully Protected was the State's initial effort in the 1960s to identify and provide additional protection to those animals that were rare or faced possible extinction.

Unarmored threespine stickleback
Blunt-nosed leopard lizard
American peregrine falcon
California brown pelican
California condor
California least tern
Golden eagle
Greater sandhill crane
Southern bald eagle
White-tailed kite
Bighorn sheep
Ring-tailed cat
Southern sea otter
Northern elephant seal

 

Los Padres NF
Species List
April 2010

Los Padres NF
"Plants and Animals" website

Each month, we highlight unique wildlife and plant species in our region. Click on the links to the left to read more about creatures that we've featured in the past - and check back next month!