An intimate look at a fascinating native plant. — Most people know how important milkweed is to monarch butterflies — their caterpillars must feed on milkweed in order to develop into adult butterflies, and the plants impart natural toxins that protect both caterpillar and butterfly from predators. …

In March, the Heritage Fire breached Palisades Ranch, burning 34 acres of this special wildlife haven. We now know that at least 300 mature trees burned in the fire and 10% of the riparian habitat was affected. This 1,647-acre property spans 3.7 miles of the Mojave River and has 440…

Prairie falcons rely on special nesting sites that are under threat. The Mojave Desert Land Trust has launched a new conservation program to help tackle the problem in the California desert. — By Jessica Graybill, Social Media Manager The Mojave Desert Land Trust is excited to be launching a new, donor-funded Prairie Falcon Conservation Program that will establish a database of active nesting sites (“eyries”) within the California Desert Conservation Area and evaluate and address threats impacting these majestic birds of prey.

Birdwatching interns with the Women In Science Discovering Our Mojave program have closed a gap in the data about avian species in Mojave Trails National Monument. — By Mary Cook-Rhyne, MDLT Education Coordinator and Women in Science Discovering Our Mojave (WISDOM) program manager A quick glance at the eBird citizen science application and website shows the incredible diversity of avian species within one area of the Mojave Desert. …

The desert tortoise population is in steep decline — in some areas, the population has decreased by 90%. Each year, the Mojave Desert Land Trust heads out to areas of critical tortoise habitat looking for signs of hope for this threatened species. — By Jessica Graybill, Mojave Desert Land Trust Social Media Manager Tortoise surveys are an exercise in concentration and in being present. …

By Lauren Alba, Women In Science Discovering Our Mojave intern After graduating from UCLA with a degree in Environmental Studies and Geography, I am driven to be an advocate for the environment, to help cultivate an interest in STEM in younger generations through teaching and mentorship, and ultimately to pursue…

Research by WISDOM interns help us understand the quality and the importance of the Mojave Desert’s dark night skies. Last fall a cohort of three college women began monitoring the night sky quality in the western portion of Mojave Trails National Monument. Their research will help the Bureau of Land…

How to identify native and non-native seedlings popping up in the high desert this summer — Text and photos by Madena Asbell, Director of Plant Conservation Programs, Mojave Desert Land Trust If you live in the high desert, you have probably noticed the landscape has become unusually green recently. Monsoonal rains across the Mojave Desert this summer have led to the germination of summer annuals like…

Corina Godoy felt she had a calling to work in conservation. Along the way, she didn’t see many people who looked like her. Undeterred and embracing her passion, she forged ahead, knowing that she would have to clear her own path. —