To Our Ojai Community:

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we recover from the damage from the Thomas Fire on our trails. In the coming months trails will likely open and close depending on rain and changing trail conditions. Click here for current information and trail notifications »

Ventura River Preserve Animals

badger

American Badger

Taxidea taxus

The badger is a brown fur-covered mammal with short legs and low profile. The head appears pointed and small for the body. They have short ears and a short , furry tail. Read More »


Big-eared woodrat

Big-Eared Woodrat

Neotoma macrotis

Prefers forest habitats with moderate canopy, year-round greenery, a brushy understory, and suitable nest building materials.  Read More »


bobcat 1

Bobcat

Lynx rufus

(subspecies: Lynx rufus californicus (Mearns))

The bobcat resembles other species of the Lynx genus, but is on average the smallest. Read More »


black_bear

California Black Bear

Ursus americanus californiensis

The coat of a black bear is shaggy and usually black but it can also be dark brown, cinnamon, yellow-brown, and grey-blue depending on location. Read More »


Mule Deer

California Mule Deer

Odocoileus hemionus californicus

It is named for its ears, which are large like those of the mule. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer. Read More »


Cougar

Cougar

Puma concolor

Cougars are slender and agile members of the cat family. They are the 4th largest cat; adults stand about 24 to 35 in (60 to 90 cm) tall at the shoulders. Read More »


Coyote

Coyote

Canis latrans

The color of the coyote’s pelt varies from grayish-brown to yellowish-gray on the upper parts, while the throat and belly tend to have a buff or white color. The forelegs, sides of the head, muzzle and paws are reddish-brown. Read More »


EASTERN FOX SQUIRREL

Sciurus niger

The eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) is a relatively large North American squirrel with a long, bushy tail and very variable coloration. Its scientific name, niger, means ‘black’ and refers to the black fur of the first individual to be described. Read More »


Gray Fox

Gray Fox

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

The gray fox is a peppery gray on top, reddish-brown on its sides, chest and the back of its head. Its legs and feet are also a reddish color. Read More »


Gray Squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis


Monarch Butterfly

Monarch Butterfly

Danaus plexippus

Monarch butterflies are bright orange with black and white markings. The body of the monarch is black. The head has a set of antennae. Read More »


raccoon

Raccoon

Procyon lotor

The raccoon has gray to brown fur. It is a stocky mammal about 2 to 3 feet long and weighs 10 to 30 pounds. It has a black mask around its eyes with white fur around the mask. Read More »


Squaw-ringtail-28073.jpg
Ringtail

Bassariscus Astutus


Southern Pacific Rattlesnake

Crotalus oreganus helleri

The thick body of Southern Pacific rattlesnakes ends in a short stubby tail. The rattles at the end of the tail are made up of a series of loosely jointed, dry, hollow segments of skin. Read More »

 

 


Western spotted skunkSpotted Skunk

Spilogale


Striped Skunk

Striped Skunk

Mephitis mephitis

The striped skunk has a black body with a white stripe along each side of its body.; the two stripes join into a broader white area at the nape. Read More »


opossum

Virginia Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

The opossum is about the size of a house cat, has coarse grayish fur, a pointed face, and hairless, rounded ears. Read More »

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