Wildlife Sanctuary

The Wildlife Sanctuary is a 26-acre outdoor classroom and preserve containing diverse ecosystems that are home to local plants, and animal habitats inside the sanctuary, including coastal sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodland, walnut woodland, grassland, and three freshwater ponds. There is also a natural stream that flows year-round and runs through the center of the sanctuary. These habitats contain some of the native trees, shrubs, and flowers which once grew in abundance in the San Gabriel Valley but have since declined due to human development.

The Wildlife Sanctuary also provides protection for the birds and other animals (see Biodiversity Catalog ). who use the sanctuary as a migratory refuge or breeding grounds, including the federally threatened coastal California gnatcatcher. The animal populations in the sanctuary are not held captive, and are free to enter or leave the sanctuary at anytime.

Visitors and students can observe local plants and animals in their native habitats and experience the ecology of the area.

The Wildlife Sanctuary is managed and maintained by the Biological Sciences Department and the Natural Sciences Division of Mt. San Antonio College.

Photography within this website provided by John Barkman, Ph.D., Tim Revell, Ph.D., Tyler Flisik.

Contact Information

- Wildlife Sanctuary Tours
  
  The Wildlife Sanctuary is not open to the public, but free tours are provided by reservation. Tours of the Mt. SAC Wildlife Sanctuary are approximately one hour in length and are available for groups of up to 30 individuals (including teachers or parents). Please make your reservation at least three weeks in advance by clicking on the link below and completing the Smartsheet Form.
  
  From August to December 2024, tours are available at the times shown below.
  
  Mondays: 9 am - 11 am
  Tuesdays: 9 am – 12 pm
  Wednesdays: 9 am – 12 pm
  Thursdays: 9 am – 12 pm
  Fridays: 9 am - 2 pm.
  
  For larger groups, or tours outside of those times, please email wildlife@mtsac.edu with your request.
  
  Tour Reservation Form
  
  Note: Picnics, school lunches, or catered events are not permitted in the Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Contacts
  For access and tour information, please make your reservation at least three weeks in advance by contacting us.
  
  Wildlife Sanctuary
  
  Tyler Flisik
  Mark Cooper
  - Natural Sciences Division
  - Biological Sciences Programs
- Parking
  - Meter Parking is available (quarters only) in Lot W and across the street in Lot D
  - All day parking passes are available for $5.00 per vehicle and can be purchase at the yellow Day-Use Permit kiosks. Parking is most abundant in Lot M.
  - Bike racks are available at main entrance.
- Location
  
  Reservations Required
  
  Locate on Wildlife Sanctuary on
  Campus Map
- Accessibility
  - Most paths in the Wildlife Sanctuary have packed dirt or decomposed granite surfaces. There also are some wooden walkways and bridges across waterways. The paths within the sanctuary are wide enough to easily accommodate a wheelchair.
  - Tours can be adapted to accommodate any accessibility needs.
  - The Wildlife Sanctuary has three all gender bathrooms, drinking fountains, and a water bottle filling station.

View Campus Map
Biodiversity Catalog
Donate to the Wildlife Sanctuary

Social Media:
mtsac.wildlife

Future Plans of the Sanctuary

The biology department faculty are passionate about enhancing the educational experience for visitors to the Wildlife Sanctuary, as well as protecting the native species that call the sanctuary home. Faculty and students are currently working on various habitat restoration and enhancement projects within the sanctuary. These projects provide our students with hands on experience designing and implementing habitat restoration and enhancement projects within the sanctuary. If you are interested in volunteering within the sanctuary, please contact Mark Cooper and Tyler Flisik.

Some future plans include:

The creation of a desert ecosystem that includes representative plants from the Mojave and Sonoran deserts.
Planting of a butterfly garden, with native plants that support local pollinators
Restoration of the grassland ecosystem, with native grasses and wildflowers
Enhancement of the lake and swamp ecosystems, through invasive species removal and the planting of native species.
The creation of a fungi garden
Construction of a bat box to provide a roosting location for native bat species
Construction of additional habitat signs to enhance public walking tours
Install a greenhouse in the Wildlife Sanctuary where students can participate in native plant propagation
Improved bird habitats and observation opportunities for students and the public
Community nature walks that are open to the public

Our students have an endless enthusiasm for improving the ecosystems within the Wildlife Sanctuary; however, funding of these projects is often limited. If you are interested in helping support our habitat restoration and enhancement projects, please donate through the Mt. SAC Foundation and select "Mt. SAC Wildlife Sanctuary".

Donation to the Wildlife Sanctuary

History of the Wildlife Sanctuary

Mt. SAC's 10-acre Wildlife Sanctuary was constructed in 1964 as a way to preserve the natural habitat of the Walnut Valley. When the College opened its doors to the community in 1946, an abundance of wildlife existed in an area untouched by urban development. College alumni fondly talk about living in the old army barracks converted to dormitories for returning war veterans. They often hunted for wild game from the windows of their "dorms!" Today, the rolling Walnut hillsides are full of housing units and the wildlife struggles to live a peaceful coexistence with the dogs, cats, and people now living in this valley. Ten acres of college land was then develop as a sanctuary to the plants and animals of this region.

Wildlife Sanctuary Entrance Around the 50th anniversary in 2017, the Wildlife Sanctuary added a new pedestrian bridge where Mt. SAC Way once cut through. Around this time, the wildlife sanctuary expanded from its original 10 acres to its current size of 26 acres. In February of 2024, the Wildlife Sanctuary, received a facelift. The entrance has become more welcoming, offering a place for students and the community to gather for classes and tours. And the facility has added restrooms.

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