In 2022, an Interior Live Oak (Quercus wislizeni) at Bobcat Ranch was added to the California Big Trees Registry. The majestic tree stands at 63 feet tall with a trunk circumference of 30 feet. California’s native oaks are powerhouses that provide essential food, shelter, and nesting locations for birds like Acorn Woodpeckers, Western Scrub-Jays, Oak Titmice, and Western Bluebirds.

Bobcat Ranch features 6,800 acres and hosts a rich blend of habitats, including Blue Oak Woodland, native perennial grassland, annual grassland, seasonal wetland, and chaparral. The ranch is home to a diversity of bird species, including Lark Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Golden Eagle, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Oak Titmouse, Burrowing Owl, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, and Yellow-billed Magpie. Mammal species include Bobcat, Mountain Lion, Black-tailed Deer, American Badger, and Black Bear. 

This flagship location is the first property in California to be certified by the Audubon Conservation Ranching (ACR) initiative. This is where Audubon is leading the nation on working lands solutions that benefit bird habitat, climate, and ranchers. Learn more: https://ca.audubon.org/conservation/conservation-ranching

North America's grasslands are among the most imperiled ecosystems in the world.  Climate change, invasive species, aquifer depletion, and poor grazing practices also degrade large portions of grasslands. As a result, grassland birds have declined more than any other bird group in the continent, by as much as 80% for some species.

To slow the loss of rangelands, stabilize declining populations of grassland birds, and contribute to climate mitigation, Audubon created ACR. We’re enlisting and assisting California’s ranchers—the stewards of our remaining grassland landscapes—to implement conservation ranching practices on thousands of acres. When consumers purchase beef from Audubon Certified bird-friendly lands, they are simultaneously restoring grassland bird habitat, building rural economies, and protecting the ranching way of life. It’s a win-win-win solution.

For thousands of years, the land that we call Bobcat Ranch has been the home of Patwin people. Today, there are three federally recognized Patwin tribes: Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians of the Colusa Indian Community, Kletsel Dehe Band of Wintun Indians, and Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. The Patwin people have remained committed to the stewardship of this land over many centuries. It has been cherished and protected, as elders have instructed the young through generations. Bobcat Ranch is honored and grateful to be here on their traditional lands.