The bald eagle has sometimes been considered the largest true raptor (accipitrid) in North America. The only larger species of raptor-like bird is the California condor. The bald eagle has a body length of 28–40 in. Typical wingspan is between 5.9 and 7.5 ft and mass is normally between 6.6 and 13.9 lbs. Females are about 25% larger than males. The bald eagle is usually quite sensitive to human activity while nesting, and is found most commonly in areas with minimal human disturbance. While wintering, bald eagles tend to be less habitat and disturbance sensitive.
Also known as the American desert hare, the Black-Tailed Jackrabbit is a common hare of the western United States and Mexico. Like other jackrabbits, the black-tailed jackrabbit has distinctive long ears, and the long powerful rear legs characteristic of hares. Reaching a length about 2 ft, and a weight from 3 to 6 lb, the black-tailed jackrabbit is the third-largest North American hare, after the antelope jackrabbit and the white-tailed jackrabbit. The ears are black-tipped on the outer surfaces, and unpigmented inside. The black-tailed jackrabbit does not migrate or hibernate during winter and uses the same habitat year-round.
Overall, it is probably the second largest-bodied species of rattlesnake, behind only its close cousin the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, and is also the second largest of North American venomous snakes (the bushmasters, which attain probably similar weights and greater total length, occur up as far as Nicaragua). Males become much larger than females, with ddults commonly growing to 4 ft in length. Specimens over 5 ft are infrequently encountered, while those over 180 cm (6 ft) are very rare.
The yellow-billed magpie (Pica nutalli) is a large bird in the crow family that is restricted to the U.S. state of California. It inhabits the Central Valley and the adjacent chaparral foothills and mountains. Apart from its having a yellow bill and a yellow streak around the eye, it is virtually identical to the black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia) found in much of the rest of North America. The yellow-billed magpie is gregarious and roosts communally. There may be a cluster of communal roosts in one general area made up of a central roost containing many birds and several outlying roosts with fewer.
The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the best-known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. These birds are dark brown, with lighter golden-brown plumage on their napes. Immature eagles of this species typically have white on the tail and often have white markings on the wings. Golden eagles use their agility and speed combined with powerful feet and massive, sharp talons to snatch up a variety of prey, mainly hares, rabbits, marmots and other ground squirrels.
The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most widely distributed bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in search of food. Sometimes they become attracted to human communities because of the immediate availability of food. The American black bear is the world's most common bear species. American black bears are reproductively compatible with several other bear species, and have occasionally produced hybrid offspring.
The cougar, is also commonly known as the puma, mountain lion, panther, or catamount. Its range, from the Canadian Yukon to the southern Andes of South America, is the widest of any large wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. An adaptable, generalist species, the cougar is found in most American habitat types. It is the biggest cat in North America and the second-heaviest cat in the New World after the jaguar. The cougar is an ambush predator that pursues a wide variety of prey.
Known as the American mourning dove or the rain dove, and erroneously as the turtle dove, and was once known as the Carolina pigeon or Carolina turtledove. It is one of the most abundant and widespread of all North American birds.. The plumage is generally light gray-brown and lighter and pinkish below. The wings have black spotting, and the outer tail feathers are white, contrasting with the black inners. Below the eye is a distinctive crescent-shaped area of dark feathers. The eyes are dark, with light skin surrounding them.
California’s wild pigs are descendents of the European wild boar, introduced to Monterey County, California in the 1920s; and domestic swine, imported by European settlers in the 1700s. Domestic swine foraged freely, eventually becoming semi-wild, or “feral.” Over time, they interbred with the European boar. Today’s California wild pig is actually a wild boar/feral pig hybrid. The physical characteristics of a California wild pig vary significantly throughout the state. Some exhibit the long hair and snouts, small erect ears and angular shaped bodies of their wild boar ancestors, while others have short hair, long floppy ears, and a barrel-shaped body.
The species that calls Southern California home is actually the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), the only marsupial living in the wilds of North America. Opossums have 50 teeth, more than any other North American land mammal, and opposable, clawless thumbs on their rear limbs. Opossums have 13 nipples, arranged in a circle of 12 with one in the middle. In the United States, it is typically referred to simply as a possum. It is a solitary and nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat. It is a successful opportunist.
