For many weeks, if not months, many Californians stayed home and many businesses closed to slow the spread of the coronavirus (or more specifically, Covid-19). The arrival of the coronavirus and subsequent on-site orders resulted in less vehicular traffic across the state, as well as the closure of some state and provincial parks to avoid the crowds trying to spend their free time outdoors. have in the end. Both of these factors can have some interesting implications for the rest of the snake season, and some implications may already be occurring.
The first factor is vehicle traffic. While there was still plenty, total vehicle volume was reduced by more than half at times and in certain locations (LA Times). This decrease was most noticeable along the major motorways/expressways. A decrease in vehicular traffic on freeways would not have a very significant impact on most rattlesnake populations, since most of the decrease in vehicular traffic occurred in relatively urban areas (e.g., Sacramento) where rattlesnakes are most commonly found outside of the American River (and perhaps the Sacramento River). However, it is reasonable to assume that the large-scale traffic reduction may have trickled down from relatively urban roads to surface roads in the suburbs and more rural areas, at least to a small extent.
Osprey
With a diet consisting entirely of fish, the osprey dominates the Kern River as the number one hunter. Seeing an osprey dive into the core with unrelenting force and reemerge with a trout is some of the best wildlife viewing along this wondrous river. That happens more often than you think. Lower Kern has a particularly robust osprey population. Last September we saw almost 20 in one day!
Gold trout are California’s state fish and are found only in the headwaters of the Kern River. A portion of the Wild and Scenic Kern River has been designated a Golden Trout Wilderness area to protect this beauty’s remarkable habitat. Closely related to rainbow trout, golden trout have golden flanks with vertical red bands. The rare and beautiful nature of this fish attracts anglers from all over the world to the banks of the Kern River.
Is it possible to swim in Lake Isabella?
Lake Isabella is a beautiful lake in Wofford Heights, a small town about an hour north of Bakersfield. It is fed by the mighty Kern River. We were there in June 2019 during high tide. Access to the lake is free and there are beaches that are good for swimming during our stay.
Cyanotoxins in algae are assigned an ‘action level’ based on the level of toxins sampled at each site. And while Lake Isabella is currently in the deliberation phase, Corson says it’s still very harmful to the human body. “If you are human and take it, you may become nauseous.