Who’s Who in the Desert: Burrows & Scat Identification (UCRX 1 Unit)
Schedule
Sun May 17 2026 at 09:00 am to 01:00 pm
UTC-07:00Location
9800 Black Rock Canyon Rd, Yucca Valley, CA 92284, USA | Yucca Valley, CA
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The desert is full of signs of wildlife — burrows, mounds, and droppings — that tell us who lives nearby. Discover the diversity of ground holes, elevated holes, divots, mounds, and scat, as well as the clues, you’ll need to discern which animals made them. Curious visitors as well as seasoned naturalists will enjoy peeking into the secret lives of desert dwellers and discovering who’s behind all of that digging and dropping! This class takes place in the Black Rock area of Joshua Tree National Park, with the classroom portion being held in the Black Rock Nature Center. Anyone may attend! No experience or expertise is required. Park pass not included and not required for this area of the park. No meals or equipment are provided. The indoor portion of this class is ADA accessible. It requires very little travel with ADA accommodations, such as accessible parking, available. This outdoor portion is moderate. It requires approximately 3 miles of walking with limited elevation gain on somewhat variable terrain and/or more than one hour outdoors in the elements. Activities can be modified to accommodate participants. Please email [email protected] if you need specific accommodations. Meet Your Instructors! Candice Weber, M.A., is an adjunct professor of natural resources at College of the Desert, teaching courses in Conservation and GIS, and leading students abroad to the cloud forests of Costa Rica. Raised in rural Ohio, she lived and worked in a sanctuary for rescued animals. She majored in environmental studies and has extensive experience working with animals of all kinds (wild and domestic), including many years as a zookeeper and animal trainer at the Living Desert, the Long Beach Aquarium, and other marine parks. For the past 15 years, she has resided in the Coachella Valley and now considers the desert her home. Kurt Leuschner, M.S., Wildlife Ecology, is a Professor of Natural Resources at College of the Desert. Leuschner's specialties include ornithology, entomology, and desert ecology. He has led hundreds of field trips both locally and as far afield as Africa. He teaches natural history courses for the Bureau of Land Management, UCR Extension, the Desert Institute, the Living Desert, California State Parks, Riverside County Parks, and many other conservation organizations. Equipment list: A minimum of 2 to 3 liters of water, food and snacks, closed-toe athletic shoes or hiking boots — no sandals are permitted, including hiking sandals, sun protection, including hat, sunglasses, sunscreen — light-colored long-sleeved shirts are recommended, daypack to carry equipment and personal items, notebook and writing utensil, binoculars, camera, and small mirror for illuminating inside burrows (optional). Students who complete the UCRX Desert Ecology Certificate Program are eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Students receive digital course badges through Accredible and earn CEUs (hours of instruction) that appear on official transcripts. Transcripts available for purchase through the UCRX website. Photo credit: NPS Robert Zuniga
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9800 Black Rock Canyon Rd, Yucca Valley, CA 92284, USA, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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