‘Snakes and Skins’ at Louis Stelzer County Park

On Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside, spreading over 310 acres, lays Louis Stelzer Park, one of the wildest natural preserve areas in the county. The park offers a playground, picnic areas, barbeques and trails for horseback riding and hiking. The settings are right into the heart of the surrounding mountains along Wildcat Canyon, home for the bobcats, coyotes and mountain lions. The park is a heaven for bird watchers and wildlife photographers. 

On Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside, spreading over 310 acres, lays Louis Stelzer Park, one of the wildest natural preserve areas in the county. The park offers a playground, picnic areas, barbeques and trails for horseback riding and hiking. The settings are right into the heart of the surrounding mountains along Wildcat Canyon, home for the bobcats, coyotes and mountain lions. The park is a heaven for bird watchers and wildlife photographers. 

The park organizes different events for children and youth to familiarize them with the Native American history and culture, as this place is a Kumeyaay sacred land.

Children also learn about the Nature Awareness and General Ecology, flora and fauna of San Diego County and the birds of Stelzer Park through hands-on activities and field trips.

“Skins and Snakes” is a program that introduces children to the fascinating world of animal fur and animal skin. The event took place last weekend and it’s a regular occurrence to help kids learn about different animals that live in the wild throughout San Diego County, such as raccoons, bobcats, coyotes, mountain lions, birds of prey and snakes. Ranger Christine brought in a variety of skins for the kids to study, touch and guess which one belongs to which animal. 

“The older I get, the more I come to appreciate the fighting spirit of the badger,” said ranger Christine. ”This little fury creature can take on a coyote if needed. The most fascinating fact is that sometimes a badger could partner up with a coyote and hunt together for food. If they catch a squirrel, they would fairly divide it and Mr. Badger would politely decline a second helping to favor Mr. Yote.” 

The dozen of children present who left the playground so they could touch the various animal skins were also very proactive in telling stories about the creatures they knew or raised at home as pets. Children volunteered information to teach the ranger a thing of two about what mice could eat when they don’t find cheese. You may not want to know about that one.  

“Who eats mice?” The kids were fast and excited to acknowledge the incredible facts about the barn owl that flies low at night to hunt small rodents and swallows them whole. The barn owls are rapidly declining recently due to loss of habitat, so it’s important that children get educated about environmental conservation. 

Rattlesnakes are a common sight up the mountains and along the trails surrounding the park, along with gophers, king and rosy boas. The children got to pet Rocky, a rosy boa who got his name from Balboa and patiently played with the kids, being pampered by their warm and gentle hands. 

Visitors are able to see a variety of reptiles in the museum room located at the entrance to the park, same place to say “hello” and “good bye” to two bearded dragons and a tortoise.

For more information about the park and the events, visit the website at www.sandiegocounty.gov/parks/picnic/stelzer.html