The Walking Box Ranch contains two ecosystem types according to the Southwest Regional Gap Analysis Project (USGS 2004): Mojave Mid-Elevation Mixed Desert Scrub and Inter- Mountain Basins Semi-Desert Shrub Steppe. The NNHP further defines the communities on the ranch as Mojave Mixed Scrub as the majority cover, along with small portions of Grassland and Creosote-bursage. Processes that influence wildlife distribution and density on Walking Box Ranch include vegetation patterns, meteorology, and human uses.
Walking Box Ranch contains a variety of wildlife species in four major classes: mammals, reptiles, birds, and invertebrates.
Field surveys were conducted in the summer of 2007 and again in the spring of 2009. A list of species observed during field surveys is provided in Table 3.6, “Species Observed on Walking Box Ranch”. BLM Sensitive Species and State of Nevada Protected Species were observed, as well as species listed as Covered and High Priority MSHCP species. Federally listed species were not directly observed. Information on the diversity and distribution of invertebrates on Walking Box Ranch was difficult to obtain.
Mammal burrows of all sizes were observed in and around Walking Box Ranch. Although juvenile tortoises are known to enlarge rodent burrows for their use, the observed burrows appeared to be too tall and steep for tortoise and were assumed to not be tortoise sign. No other tortoise sign, such as scat or carcasses, were observed within the survey area.
Non-native species and those not typically representative of desert environments were observed primarily in the vicinity of the ranch buildings. This is especially true of the bird species observed, particularly those only seen around the bird feeders at the caretaker’s house.
Table 3.6. Species Observed on Walking Box Ranch
| Common Name | Species Name | MSHCP Tracked | Nevada BLM | State Listed | Year(s) Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mammals | |||||
| Bat (species unidentified) | unknown | 2007 | |||
| Black-tailed jackrabbit | Lepus californicus | 2009, 2007 | |||
| Coyote | Canis latrans | 2009, 2007 | |||
| Desert cottontail | Sylvilagus audubonii | 2009, 2007 | |||
| Desert woodrat | Neotoma lepida | 2007 | |||
| Domestic cat | Felis domesticus | 2007 | |||
| Kangaroo rat (unconfirmed) | Dipodomys sp. | High Priority if D. deserti | 2009, 2007 | ||
| Kit fox | Vulpes macrotus | High Priority | 2007 | ||
| Mojave ground squirrel | Spermophilus mohavensis | 2009 | |||
| Mouse (species unidentified) | Peroganthus sp. | 2007 | |||
| Birds | |||||
| American kestrel | Falco sparverius | 2009, 2007 | |||
| Ash-throated flycatcher | Myiarchus cinerascens | 2009 | |||
| Bendire’s thrasher | Roxostoma bendirei | High Priority | 2007 | ||
| Black-headed grosbeak | Pheucticus melanocephalus | 2009 | |||
| Black-tailed gnatcatcher | Polioptila melanura | 2009 | |||
| Black-throated sparrow | Amphisizia bilineata | 2009, 2007 | |||
| Brewer’s blackbird | Euphagus cyanocephalus | 2009 | |||
| Cactus wren | Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus | 2009, 2007 | |||
| Common ground dove | Columbina passerina | 2009 | |||
| Common raven | Corvis corax | 2009, 2007 | |||
| Eurasian collared dove | Steptopelia decaocto | 2009 | |||
| Flicker (species unidentified, possibly gilded) | Colaptes sp. | 2007 | |||
| Gambel’s Quail | Callipepla gambelii | 2009, 2007 | |||
| Greater roadrunner | Geococcyx californianus | 2007 | |||
| Gray vireo (unconfirmed) | Vireo vicinior | High Priority | Yes | Yes | 2009 |
| House finch | Carpodacus mexicanus | 2009, 2007 | |||
| House sparrow | Passer domesticus | 2009, 2007 | |||
| Long-eared owl | Asio otis | Yes | Yes | 2007 | |
| Mourning dove | Zenaida macroura | 2009, 2007 | |||
| Northern mockingbird | Mimus polyglottus | 2007 | |||
| Red-tailed hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | 2009 | |||
| Sage sparrow (unconfirmed) | Amphispiza belli | 2009 | |||
| Say’s phoebe | Sayornis saya | 2009, 2007 | |||
| Turkey vulture | Carthartes aura | 2007 | |||
| Verdin | Auriparus faviceps | 2009, 2007 | |||
| Western kingbird | Tryannus verticalus | 2009, 2007 | |||
| Wilson’s warbler | Wilsonia pusilla | 2009 | |||
| Yellow-rumped warbler (unconfirmed) | Dendroica coronata | 2009 | |||
| Yellow warbler | Dendroica petechia | 2009 | |||
| Desert horned lizard (sub-species unidentified) | Phrynosoma platyrhinos ssp. | High Priority if P. p. calidiarum | 2009 | ||
| Reptiles | |||||
| Large-spotted leopard lizard | Gambelia wislizenii wislizenii | Covered | Yes | 2009, 2007 | |
| Long-tailed brush lizard (unconfirmed) | Urosaurus graciosus | 2009 | |||
| Mojave green rattlesnake | Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus | Covered | Yes | 2009 | |
| Rosy boa | Lichanura trivirgata gracia | 2009 | |||
| Side-blotched lizard (unconfirmed) | Uta stansburiana | 2009 | |||
| Western whiptail lizard | Aspidoscelis tigris | 2009 | |||
| Zebra-tailed lizard | Callisaurus draconoides | 2009 | |||
| Invertebrates | |||||
| Cabbage white butterfly | Pieris rapae | 2009 | |||
| Dotted blue butterfly (species unidentified) | Euphilotes sp. | Possibly | 2009 | ||
| Swallowtail butterfly (species unidentified) | Papilio sp. | 2009 | |||
| Tarantula hawk wasp | Prepis formosa | 2007 | |||