Mc Cain Valley Mountain Sheep Area
Map SatelliteIn this rugged area, which includes most of the In-Ko-Pah Mountains and very little of the McCain Valley, there is a variety of habitats ranging from creosote bush scrub in the lower reaches, through dense chaparral, to pinyon, Pinus quadrifolia, woodlands in the higher elevations.
A major habitat for the endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis cremnobates, some of the highest concentrations of the animal in this county are found here. It is used as a lambing ground. Other important concentrations are found in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
A number of reptile species are present. This area and vicinity are significant as the range limit for some species or the borderland between a number of subspecies. There is an influx of species from the south, including the granite night lizard, Xantusia henshawi, and the granite spiny lizard, Sceloporus orcutti. The chuckwalla, Sauromalus obesus, and the Western diamondback rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox, are at their western distributional limits. The small-scaled lizard, Urosaurus microscutatus, is near its northern limit here, as is the banded rock lizard, Streptosaurus mearnsi.
Integrity: Relatively undisturbed, though there are some trails and off-road-vehicle traces in the area. It is part of a cooperative wildlife management area and has been proposed as a Natural Area.
Use: Research, educational, observational.
April 1977
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman