Quick Facts:
- 469 acres of grasslands and vernal pools on Highway 65 north of Lincoln
- Protected since April 21, 2005 through Placer Land Trust’s West Placer Habitat Protection Program
Wide Open Spaces for Wildlife
Swainson’s Hawk
Native grasslands provide essential feeding grounds for Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni), listed as threatened by the state of California. Other California State Protected or California Species of Special Concern that can be found on the Preserve include: Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus), White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus), and Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor).
Western Burrowing Owl
A California State listed Species of Special Concern threatened primarily by loss of habitat, the Western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) is a long-time permanent resident of Swainsons Grassland preserve. The burrowing owl is the only owl in the world that lives in a burrow! It is active both day and night which is unusual for owls. Future plans include the installation of artificial nest boxes in hopes of expanding the current resident population. Burrowing owls are found living in close proximity to California Ground Squirrels and they rely on ground squirrels to dig their burrows for them. The cattle grazing on this Preserve not only maintains a low fuel load to reduce risk of catastrophic fire but also keeps grass height short which is critical for raptor foraging. The ranching infrastructure (barn, fencing, and corral) provides protection for ground squirrels and thus supports the burrowing owl population. This is just one example of how ranching and conservation can work together to support California native species while providing a boost for the local economy.
Vernal Pools and Wetlands
Swainson’s boasts 19 acres of vernal pools, 2 acres of seasonal wetlands, 3 acres of seasonal wetland swales, and 6 acres of emergent marsh providing critical habitat for a host of waterfowl as well as the endangered fairy shrimp.
Grasslands
Healthy open grasslands provide habitat for native wildlife, forage for grazing livestock, and the characteristic sweeping vistas of western Placer County.
Swainson’s Grassland Preserve is not open to the public. For a list of our properties that have public trails visit our Trails page.
