The sun has set, campfires crackle in nearby campgrounds, and the last glow of daylight fades from the Topatopa Mountains. As the evening air cools, hikers make their way back to the trailhead, and the Ojai Valley settles into evening. Once our preserves close for the night, they become something different: a quiet space where wildlife can move undisturbed until dawn. Nights have a way of revealing what daylight often keeps hidden, and this month we’re giving you a glimpse into that hidden world. Do you ever wonder what critters are out lurking after dark? We’re excited to acquaint you with a few nocturnal creatures that could scurry across your moonshadow. This month’s creature feature is dedicated to one of the best parts of summer in Ojai: the cooler nights. 

Not to be mistaken for the showy blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) of eastern North America, the California scrub jay (Aphelocoma californica) is a nonmigratory species that occupies a swath of the West Coast. Taxonomically, the California form was recently split from the Inter-Mountain west and mainland Mexico form that is now known as Woodhouse’s scrub jay. Ranging from Washington to Baja California, California scrub jays inhabit a variety of habitat types, including mixed evergreen forests, riparian and oak woodlands, chaparral, sage scrub, and suburban gardens.