The UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science

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The UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science

Santa Monica Mountains Field Station; Managed by UCLA & Supports California Conservation Science

At the UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science we conserve California’s biodiversity and ecosystems through research, education and public programs. We work with a broad set of partners to fund scientific research and educational activities that inform and enable conservation management through university-agency cooperation to meet the conservation challenges facing 21st century C

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Our goal is simple: to leverage UCLA’s world-class environmental scholars to achieve applied conservation solutions based on cutting edge research. We are affiliated with a diverse network of UCLA faculty, postdocs and students, and we work closely with our partners, including the U.S. National Park Service, the Museum of Natural History of Los Angeles County, The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and the Natural Communities Coalition. Our collective goal is to protect and restore California’s biodiversity, in ecosystems ranging from urban LA landscapes to pristine national parks. To make a reservation at the La Kretz Center visit: https://rams.ucnrs.org/.

For all other questions, please contact David Blake at [email protected].

09/01/2026

Thank you UCLA Newsroom for highlighting our upcoming CA Biodiversity Day bioblitz on September 12th🪲🌻 Check the Linktree in our bio to read the full article and interview with Assistant Director David Blake.

We’re quickly approaching the week-long celebration of California Biodiversity! From Sept. 5th - 13th, events will be occurring all across the state that are all devoted to supporting California biodiversity conservation!

Wondering how you can make impact? Stunt Ranch Reserve has you covered! Join us on Sept. 12th at our annual bioblitz, where all are invited to hike the reserve’s trails and collect wildlife observations via the iNaturalist App. See the Linktree in our bio to RSVP!

08/25/2026

Attention UCLA! Start preparing your proposals for the 2027 Research Awards🏆Don’t miss out on this opportunity to receive funding to achieve your California conservation research goals. See the Linktree in our bio for more information on how to apply.

The UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science & UCLA Stunt Ranch Santa Monica Mountains Reserve Research Awards are an opportunity for UCLA student scientists to receive funding for research proposals related to environmental, ecological, evolutionary, and/or conservation science in California. Since 2015, this annual research grant has funded UCLA undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral scientists studying various subjects contributing to California conservation science. Applicants can be awarded anywhere from $500-$6,000 to apply toward supplies, equipment, and travel expenses related to their research goals. The call for this annual award is released at the beginning of the UCLA Fall quarter. Multiple applicants may be awarded funds each year. Awardees are given approximately one year to spend their funds.

Any questions about the awards can be directed to La Kretz Center staff by emailing [email protected].

08/14/2026

Give back as a community scientist on California Biodiversity Day by participating in our annual bioblitz! See the Linktree in our bio to RSVP for a fun filled morning of hiking and outdoor discovery!

Save the date! On Saturday, September 12th, Stunt Ranch invites the public to contribute to habitat conservation by documenting wildlife found along the reserves hiking trails. A “BioBlitz” is a casual outdoor gathering where folks explore nature together, spotting and logging the plants and animals living right in our community. It’s a great way to connect with nature — and with each other — while discovering the incredible biodiversity all around us.

No experience needed, just bring a smartphone! We’ll be using iNaturalist, the game-changing naturalist app that lets anyone snap photos of nature and have them confirmed by wildlife experts

🙋 Volunteers needed! If you’d like to help guide hikers and support beginners with iNaturalist, let us know in your RSVP.

See the Stunt Ranch Reserve website for the full event page. Any questions can be emailed to [email protected]. ⠀
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07/31/2026

Huge thanks to the Santa Monica Mountains Fund seed collection team and our Stunt Ranch Volunteer Stewards for an amazing week of native seed collection!

Even with the heat wave, we had incredible turnout to help gather seeds from native plants across the reserve. Seed timing is everything — it varies by species and season — and this week Golden Yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum) was right at its peak, so that became the group’s focus. Following SAMO Fund’s ethical seed collection protocol, volunteers gathered seeds in the field, then headed back to the field station to separate them from the chaff.

These seeds will help grow the next generation of native plants in Stunt Ranch’s nursery and support habitat restoration around the reserve. 🌱

Want to get involved or learn more about our restoration work? Email us at [email protected]

07/22/2026

Summer bird banding at Stunt Ranch Reserve! 🪶

Researchers from UCLA and USC — Maeve Secor, Tania Romero, and Joseph Curti — are teaming up to trap, band, and sample molting scrub-jays around the Stunt Ranch field station. Their goal: build a deeper understanding about feather coloration. By collecting samples from birds like the California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica), the team can investigate the gene expression programs behind certain feather colors. Thanks to extensive training and careful handling, they’re able to gather these samples with minimal impact on the birds, then band them to track their movements over time.

As a UC Nature Reserve, Stunt Ranch is devoted to giving researchers wild space and resources to learn more about the Santa Monica Mountains and its wildlife. Check the Linktree in our bio to visit our website, where you can read about past projects, browse environmental data, and learn how to apply to do work at the reserve.⠀
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07/17/2026

The UCLA La Kretz Center is now accepting applications for the 2027 postdoctoral fellowship. The deadline to apply is September 28th, 2026. See the Linktree in our bio for the full call for applications.

For over a decade, the UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science’s postdoctoral fellowship program has supported scholars whose research bridges cutting-edge science with the conservation and management agencies leading California’s conservation efforts. Postdocs work across a range of disciplines — all united by a shared mission: advancing the science needed to protect, manage, and restore California’s at-risk species, environments, and ecological communities.

Visit the UCLA La Kretz Center’s website to learn more about the postdoc fellowship and other programs sponsored by the Center.

05/01/2026

Thanks to all who participated in the GSOB Bioblitz last Saturday! 🌳
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Luckily, no evidence of Gold Spotted Oak Borer (GSOB - See first photo for example) was found at Stunt Ranch! However, for the sake of the oaks, its important to stay vigilant and the event was a great opportunity to learn about identifying signs of GSOB infestation among our oak trees here in southern California. Special thanks to Willow Coleman, for organizing and hosting the event, and to LA County Fire representatives for assisting during the blitz 🙌
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Theres lots more to come in May at Stunt Ranch! Only a few spots remaining for our upcoming Guided Nature Walk and Crafting event. See the Linktree in our bio to RSVP and save your spot!⠀
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04/16/2026

Lots of great Saturday events coming up at Stunt Ranch Reserve!

Check out the linktree in our bio for links to RSVP for the GSOB Bioblitz (04/25/26) and Guided Nature Hike (05/09/26). All free and open to all ages

Join us for fun times exploring the Santa Monica Mountains and be a part of the Stunt family!

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04/14/2026

Stunt Ranch had the pleasure of welcoming students who participated in the California Envirothon!

The Envirothon involved teams of rising high school students taking part in activities that test their understanding of fieldwork and environmental testing. Judged by a panel of resource professionals, students were tested on their knowledge of soil, water ecology, wildlife, and forestry. The winning team will be moving on to a national competition to compete for scholarships & prizes. You can find out more by visiting www.envirothon.org.

We’re extremely proud of these rising environmentalists and congratulate all the students who competed!

Looking for a space to host an outdoor event like the Envirothon? Check out our website and contact our staff to see if Stunt Ranch Reserve is a good fit for your outreach event.

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12/22/2025

As 2025 comes to a close, we want to take a moment to reflect on all the amazing work completed at Stunt Ranch this year! From tree planting to biodiversity surveys to guided hikes, it has been a nature-packed year, and we’re incredibly grateful for the volunteers, researchers, and nature enthusiasts who spent time at Stunt Ranch.

Wishing everyone happy holidays and a happy New Year, and we can’t wait to make continued progress with our conservation and restoration efforts in 2026!

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Address

31557 Mulholland Highway
Malibu, CA
90265

Website

https://www.ioes.ucla.edu/lakretz/

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