Griffith Park Natural History Survey

(clockwise from upper-left) Leptodactylon californicum, Clarkia bottae,
Dudleya lanceolata, Keckiella cordifolia; ph. Jorge Ochoa

Welcome to the Griffith Park Natural History Survey (GPNHS), a joint project of Griffith Park supporters, and the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP).

Griffith Park is L.A.'s largest park, covering more than 4000 acres of rugged chaparral and sycamore-lined canyons at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains. Before GPNHS was founded in 2007, scientific data about wildlife and flora of the Park was almost non-existant. GPNHS and this website were established to help remedy this situation. In 2007, under the supervision of GPNHS' scientific advisor Dan Cooper, President of Cooper Ecological Monitoring, Inc., a series of surveys were initiated to study bird, herptile and mammal populations in the Park. Reports from these projects can be seen and printed from the "Species Info" section of the site.

Shortly after the surveys began, Griffith Park was engulfed by the May, 2007, devastating fire that burned almost 1,100 acres, causing the closure of large areas throughout the Park. Subsequently, GPNHS was encouraged by RAP to complete our surveys, and Dan Cooper was invited to join the Fire Recovery Task Force. Dan was given the task of assessing the damage to wildlife, and developing a comprehensive Wildlife Management Plan. Kudos to RAP for their wise decision to develop such a program.

You can see the resulting Management Plan at the following links:

1. - An overview or the flora, fauna, and natural features of the Park.

2. - This PDF file lays out a detailed preservation strategy for Griffith Park's wildlife and can also be printed.

GPNHS is dedicated to implementing these programs. Details of how you can help are described in the "Support Us" section of this website.

Have a question about a bird? Seen a lizard? Want to volunteer? Follow the links and help us explore and protect Griffith Park's precious natural resources.

Click here to send us your e-mail comments.