Bodie Hills

The Bodie Hills, which lie to the north of Mono Lake, support several plant communities typical of the Great Basin. Great Basin sagebrush scrub, with Artemisia tridentata, antelope bush, Purshia tridentata, and rabbit brush, Chrysothamnus nauseosus, covers much of the area and intermingles and grades into a pinyon-juniper woodland, with Pinus monophylla and Juniperus osteosperma.

Quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides, groves occur on the moist slopes and stream borders. There are several meadows in the area.

Four rare or unusual plants are found in the hills, Arabis cobrensis, Cusickiella quadricostata, Lupinus argenteus var. heteranthus and Streptanthus oliganthus.

Animals are relatively abundant. Of interest is the pygmy rabbit, Sylvilagus idahoensis, whose range is limited in California but which occurs here. Others of note are the sage grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus, prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus, and golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos. Pronghorns, Antilocapra americana, which were once abundant but hunted to extinction here, were reintroduced in the 1950's and appear to have reestablished themselves.

There are springs, several creeks and intermittent streams in the hills.

Pliocene volcanics cover much of the area and there are several cinder cones in the eastern part. In the Masonic Peak section, Mesozoic granitics and Miocene volcanics are present.

Integrity: There are trails and jeep roads traversing the hills. Much of the area has been and is grazed which has reduced the bunch grass, Stipa, making way for the sagebrush scrub. There are a number of mines, particularly in the northern, Masonic Peak, area. The mining town of Bodie, now a State Historic Park, lies within the area.

Use: Research, educational, observational. Some private.

April 1981