Rattlesnake Slope Wildlife Area

Upland birds love this sprawling desert prairie. The ground-hugging birds sprint among the tufts of plants. They take refuge, and find dinner, in such glorious wildflowers as balsamroot, large-headed clover, wild onion, and canyon-bottom communities of beautiful orange globe mallow.

Of course, where upland birds (pheasants, quail, and partridge) are found, coyotes are sure to be present. Hike a short distance in any direction and you'll find coyote signs. Tracks and scat can be found all over the place, as well as holes freshly dug by rodents as "safe houses," some of which have been enlarged by coyotes breaking into those sanctuaries. You might also find badger burrows in the hillsides of the small side canyons. This region has vast areas of native bunchgrass, and local land managers have seeded more than 1000 acres of the wildlife area with sagebrush to try to reestablish the native ground cover, which had suffered from many successive years of uncontrolled fires.

The top of this mountain is closed to the public, but it may be possible to follow a trail up the canyon for a short ways for a quick out-and-back hike.