Subtle Beauty: Windwolves Preserve
By Josiah Birkbeck
Kern country has some beautiful spots tucked away far from visitors. One of these spots is Windwolves Wildlife Preserve. Windwolves has been in operation since 1996 and is the largest preserve on the West Coast, boasting 93,000 acres of topsoil management. The preserve has a large collection of wildlife and a visitor can possibly see tule elk, deer, bears, and a large assortment of lizards, snakes and birds. In years with cold damp winters, the flowers in the preserve bloom during the spring in an impressive manner, showing a brighter side than what outsiders usually equate with Kern County.
Visitors can help on volunteer days to assist the park rangers plant trees, clear debris, and maintain the grounds of the preserve; 5,000 volunteer hours are available. There are an estimated 30,000 visitors a year streaming through the preserve seven days a week to enjoy the peace and quiet of the great outdoors. Activities that guests can partake in include night hikes, mountain bike trails, and nature hikes. Students at Taft College may be interested in the internships for biology, environmental, and teaching related degrees that Windwolves Preserve offers.
Additionally, Wildwolves works with cattle and sheep herds to keep the introduced vegetation under control so that it does not cancel out local wildlife and vegetation. The grazing practices also keep the fire risk at a minimum allowing endangered wildlife a place to live without being threatened.