It's up to all of us to create Healthy Habitats. Here are some suggestions from the City:

Embrace Urban Green Spaces

• Visit parks and gardens: Spend time in local parks, botanical gardens, and green spaces. But please mind park signs and rules before entering. Leave parks and open spaces better than you found it. Pick up after your pets, keep dogs on leashes, and throw away trash. These areas provide essential habitat for wildlife and contribute to cleaner air and water.
• Volunteer for tree plantings: Participate in tree-planting events. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, and enhance urban biodiversity.
• Keep a safe distance away from wildlife. Do not remove them from their environment, especially young animals. Although young can appear to be abandoned, the mother will almost certainly return within 24 hours. If you encounter an injured wild animal, contact a certified animal rescuer in your area.
• Respect habitat areas: Stay on trails and respect posted signage especially in areas that support endangered or critical species. For example,  Ellwood Mesa Beach which is home to the Western Snowy Plover an endangered shorebird. Please keep your distance, keep dogs on leashes, and respect posted signage and temporary fencing around nesting sites. 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

• Minimize waste: Practice responsible waste management. Reduce single-use plastics, recycle materials, and please throw your trash in appropriate bins when visiting our Parks and Open Spaces.
• Support local recycling programs: Educate yourself about local recycling guidelines and encourage others to participate.

Wildlife-Friendly Practices

• Avoid pesticides: Choose natural pest control methods to protect beneficial insects, pollinators, small mammals and birds.
• Create wildlife habitats: Install bird feeders, butterfly gardens in your backyard.
• Plant native species: Plant native species of flowers, trees, and bushes in your yard. This gives wild animals food, shelter, and a place to raise families.

Educate and Advocate

• Spread awareness: Use social media, community events, and workshops to educate others about environmental issues.
• Advocate for Green Policies: Support local initiatives for cleaner air, water, and sustainable development.

Local Efforts:

• Volunteer  with organizations in your area to restore native forests, grasslands, and coastal ecosystems by planting native species, and manually removing invasive plant species.
• Participate in or hold your own local trash clean-up to help protect the habitats of imperiled species and other wildlife.
• Go Green Goleta: Learn more about the City's campaign for the planet.

Habitats are all around us - click the images below to learn more about healthy habitats in Goleta.

Lake Los Carneros and the Urban Forest are also beloved habitats in Goleta.

Thank you for doing your part!