Because of the camp's location in the mountains, an occasional bear might come to scavenge at Mather. Bears have a terrific sense of smell and have been known to follow the smell of an open can of tuna from 20 miles away. We ask that campers be particularly careful with food stuffs, wrappers and bottles around cabins and tents. Specifically, do NOT leave food or ice chests on cabin porches, or empty food-scented wrappers or containers on the grounds around tents and cabins. We do not want to provide easy meals encouraging these potentially dangerous animals to return. Lock all edibles in a container such as an ice chest inside your cabin or car. Tent sites are provided with bear-proof lockers.
Tule Elk
is smaller and paler in color than either the Rocky Mountain or Roosevelt elk. During the 20th century, the population of the tule (or dwarf) elk sharply declined, through habitat loss and unregulated hunting, and the species was threatened with extinction. (Conflicting accounts as to the lowest population of these elk range from a dozen animals to only a single pair.) As Devereux Butcher wrote in his 1963 book, Exploring Our National Wildlife Refuges:
The tule elk, smallest elk on the continent, once ranged through the valleys of California west of the Sierra Nevada, particularly the lower San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys. By the early 1920’s, the total population of the species…was confined to a herd of about 400 animals on a ranch… in the San Joaquin Valley. Because there always was the danger that disease or some other cause might wipe out the elk while confined to one small area, a group of Californians interested in preserving the species had a few of the animals moved to a fenced area in Yosemite National Park. The high country here was not the natural range of the elk. By 1933, the policy of the National Park Service, with regard to wildlife, had crystallized, requiring that no animal shall be kept under fence in the national parks, and that no species not native to a park shall be introduced or retained there. The Yosemite animals were moved, therefore, from the park to Owens Valley in 1933
Stellar's Jay
is a resident of the western forest. With its high crest and long tail it looks like a twin to its eastern cousin, the blue jay, except for its deeper blue coloring and charcoal black head. Like all jays, it loves hearing the sound of its own voice. Jays are artful mimics, and in its repertoirs are a scream much like that of the red-tailed hawk, which it uses to send smaller birds rushing for cover. It then robs the nests, devouring either eggs or nestlings. Jays can be preyed upon themselves, and if something intrudes into their territory they protest loudly. On a summer's morning at Mather you can hear the squawks and complaining as the Stellar's Jays announce their ownership of Camp. These jays are happy to help you gobble up any food that is left unprotected.
We would love to get more information on:
- Lizards and reptiles
- Trees
- Fish
- Deer
The mission of Friends of Camp Mather is to promote, enhance, and support the recreational, social, environmental and aesthetic aspects of Camp Mather.
Friends of Camp Mather is not involved with the San Francisco Park and Recreation reservation process for Camp Mather. For information call the SF Park + Rec Camp Mather desk at 831-2715, or go to 501 Stanyan - application here.
Friends of Camp Mather is not involved with the San Francisco Park and Recreation reservation process for Camp Mather. For information call the SF Park + Rec Camp Mather desk at 831-2715, or go to McLaren Lodge, 501 Stanyan, SF 94117.
