Camp Pendleton Installs Animal Conservation Water Sink > United States Marine Corps Flagship > News Display

As the world industrializes and the California countryside becomes increasingly overcrowded, the habitats of many local animals are increasingly threatened by natural disasters and urbanization. To combat this threat, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton has developed several programs to safeguard the multitude of endangered species that inhabit the base.

One such initiative is Camp Pendleton’s Water Guzzler program.

A water pit consists of a tub and bucket that collects water during the rainy season and has a ramp for small animals to access when natural water levels drop. Servicemen and civilians worked together to install Pendleton’s newest sinkhole near the X-ray impact area on January 15.

U.S. Marine Col. Tim Anderson, Chief of Staff Marine Corps Installations West, MCB Camp Pendleton, sees the importance of this program and dedicates time to volunteering to help install guzzlers in water on the base.

“The Guzzler program is a way to provide water to hundreds of animals during dry seasons when wildfires and drought threaten the maintenance and repopulation of the 19 endangered animals that reside at Camp Pendleton, their home,” Anderson said.

Michael Tucker, Camp Pendleton’s chief game warden, also plays a vital role in the base’s animal conservation program. Tucker closely monitors the many habitats aboard the facility and accounts for all the local wildlife inhabiting the area.

“This program is vital to the wildlife at Camp Pendleton.” Michael Tucker, Camp Pendleton Chief Game Warden

“The land on which Camp Pendleton resides can only be found in this area of ​​the world,” Tucker said. “The Marine Corps has done a great service in preserving 220 square miles of land with such unique habitat. Many of the endangered animals we house can only live in the natural conditions of Southern California. instead of having extinct species, we just have endangered species.

The Guzzler program is one of many initiatives implemented by Camp Pendleton aimed at enhancing environmental stability and wildlife preservation, and continues to enjoy great support from the facility’s leadership. .

“Camp Pendleton is committed to being environmentally friendly,” Anderson said. “Environmental management is one, but so is game preservation.”

The idea of ​​using the practice of hunting as an aspect of wildlife conservation may seem counter-intuitive at first. However, regulated hunting provides a natural homeostasis that is vital to the overall health and stability of local habitats and wildlife populations. To preserve this delicate balance, Game Wardens and Marines aboard the base are permitted to hunt specific populations of animals that compete for limited resources, down to a stable number capable of thriving on available pastures.

U.S. Marine Master Sgt. Brett O’Mara, regional fire chief for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, is an advocate for game preservation and stresses the importance of Camp Pendleton’s conservation programs.

“The guzzlers have trail cameras that will record any animals that come to enjoy the resource,” O’Mara said. “Thanks to these recordings, we can monitor the condition of, for example, mule deer and find out how healthy they are. If game wardens notice a lot of deer that look hungry and the foliage is quickly depleting, that’s a good indicator that the population is too high. If they are overweight, we know that deer need space to repopulate.

Local weather conditions also play a key role in wildlife development in any given year.

“If it’s a heavy drought season, the suckers get more attention,” Tucker said. “This program is vital to the wildlife at Camp Pendleton.”

As a dedicated steward of the environment, Camp Pendleton is able to establish and employ these conservation efforts through the perseverance and dedication of its staff and army of volunteers who personally ensure the natural stability on board. from the base. Without the continued help of these programs and staff, the endangered wildlife aboard Camp Pendleton would be at greater risk of failing.

For more information on conservation efforts and hunting regulations on the base, please visit pendleton.isportsman.net.