WILDLIFE AT BUSHY LAKE
Western Pond Turtles
Bushy Lake houses one of California’s only native freshwater turtle species, the Western Pond Turtle. Unfortunately, Bushy Lake is also filled with invasive turtle species such as the Red-Eared Slider and Yellow Bellied Slider.
Bees
Many bees can look alike – especially when in flight. Knowing the basic anatomy of a bee can be critical in identifying its’ species.
Beavers
Beavers were first discovered at Bushy Lake in 2019. They are a keystone species and an ecosystem engineer. Evidence of beavers at Bushy Lake includes the felling of trees, two lodges, canals or “beaveways,” an upcoming beaver dam, and visual encounters. A single beaver has been observed at a time, however based on the large-sized lodges with freshly cut vegetation, it is hypothesized that a colony resides at Bushy Lake.
Butterflies
While these are some of the most common butterflies found in habitats like Bushy Lake, there are 50+ more species you could see that are not listed here.
Avian Diversity
Historically, Bushy Lake has provided vital habitat for a variety of birds and is a popular birding location (Audubon Society).
By Daniel Williams