33-566: Conejo Recreation and Park District ( CRPD ) is the park management agency for most of the parks in the Conejo Valley, California . Established in 1962, CRPD later established Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) in 1977 through a joint effort with the City of Thousand Oaks . COSCA administers over 15,000 acres of open space and 140 miles of trails, while CRPD administers over 50 community parks. In 2019, CRPD's annual operating budget
66-598: A diary of the expedition, and gave Conejo Valley one name that survives today – Triunfo (Spanish for "triumph"). Crespi gave the name El triunfo del Dulcísimo Nombre de Jesús (in English: The Triumph of the Sweetest Name of Jesus ) to a camping place by a creek – today's Triunfo Canyon Road begins between Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village. Later, explorer Juan Bautista de Anza used Portolá's shortcut on his way north in 1774, mentioning in his diary
99-552: A joint city-park district, was established in 1977 as a joint effort between City of Thousand Oaks and the agency. 50 parks are operated in Conejo Valley: 34°11′12″N 118°53′05″W / 34.18666°N 118.88459°W / 34.18666; -118.88459 Conejo Valley 34°21′36″N 119°09′00″W / 34.36000°N 119.15000°W / 34.36000; -119.15000 The Conejo Valley ( Spanish : Valle del Conejo , meaning "Valley of
132-637: A population of 100-200 in each village, and were settled around 2,000 years ago. These former villages, known as Ven-65, Ven-260 and Ven-261, are located on private lands near Ventu Park Road in Newbury Park. A smaller village, known as Yitimasɨh, was located where Wildwood Elementary School is located today. Artifacts retrieved in nearby Wildwood Regional Park include shell beads , arrowheads, and stone tools. Local villagers' first contact with Europeans came in 1770. The Spanish exploratory party led by Gaspar de Portolá , returning from its journey up
165-697: A portion of the Rancho El Conejo land grant) in 1910. A ranch, named the Janss Conejo Ranch , was utilized as a farm and to raise thoroughbred horses with the Santa Susanna Mountains and Simi Hills framing it. Television Westerns such as The Rifleman , Gunsmoke , and Bonanza were filmed in Janss Conejo between the 1950s and 1960s. It was also used as the filming locations for Disney's Davy Crockett, King of
198-1137: A series of runways that directly connects high-use areas within brush habitat. Intraspecific sociospatial behavior appears to be variable and may reflect local resource conditions. Several rabbits have been observed to feed in the same area simultaneously, but maintained interindividual distances of 0.3 to 7.3 meters (1 to 24 ft) before aggressive chases occurred. Females tended to not overlap, while males showed relatively extensive overlapping; this may indicate that females are territorial. Groups of brush rabbits may serve social purposes, such as predator detection, but this has not been proven. The brush rabbit's breeding season varies from north to south. In Oregon, breeding begins in February and ends in August, while in California it begins in December and ends in May or June. Litter size also varies between regions. Studies have found
231-456: A stop at "El Triunfo". On de Anza's second expedition (1775–76), diarist Father Pedro Font referred to "many watering places, like those of El Triunfo and Los Conejos". Harold and Edwin Janss purchased ten thousand acres (40 km²) of land of what is now central Thousand Oaks from the heir of John Edwards, who had purchased the land from the de la Guerra heirs (all of the land was originally
264-532: A swimming pool at Newbury Park High School , which was constructed at the school in 1972. The district purchased the 30-acre Borchard Community Park in Newbury Park in February 1969. The Thousand Oaks Community Center was built in 1971, and the district acquired large parts of Lang Ranch in 1972. Among the last prime pieces of parkland was acquired in the mid 1980s, which included the 240-acre Wildwood Mesa. The Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA),
297-612: Is a daily newspaper published in Camarillo, California and serves all of Ventura County , including the Conejo Valley. The Acorn is a local weekly newspaper covering Agoura Hills , Hidden Hills , Oak Park , North Ranch and Calabasas , while Thousand Oaks Acorn covers the cities of Thousand Oaks , Newbury Park and Westlake Village . KCLU is the only public radio station in Ventura County . In 2013
330-667: Is a species of cottontail rabbit found in western coastal regions of North America, from the Columbia River in Oregon to the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula . Its range extends as far east as the eastern sides of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges. The brush rabbit is a small rabbit with short legs and a short tail. It is dark gray on the sides and back, and pale gray on
363-467: Is considered critically endangered. Brush rabbits are a natural carrier of the myxoma virus , a poxvirus in the genus Leporipoxvirus . This virus causes only a mild disease in brush rabbits, but causes a severe and usually fatal disease called myxomatosis in European (pet) rabbits . The disease is usually transmitted from one rabbit to another by biting insects. Three geographic subspecies of
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#1732790693566396-517: Is geographically found in west-central California—from San Francisco to the north end of Monterey Bay and inland from Solano County south to Santa Clara County. It is smaller in size but has longer ears. This subspecies of Sylvilagus bachmani is geographically found on the west side of the San Joaquin River in northern Stanislaus and southern San Joaquin counties. This subspecies is pale and gray-sided. Sylvilagus bachmani riparius
429-598: Is located near Chumash Indian Museum in Oakbrook Regional Park . This park is also home to 4-6,000 year old pictographs , which can be observed on docent-led tours. Satwiwa, which was first settled 13,000 years ago, was located at the foothills of Mount Boney , a sacred mountain to the Chumash people. The Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center is available for visitors. Two additional Chumash villages were found by Ventu Park Road. These had
462-482: Is not hunted as are many other cottontail species, probably because of its small size. It is not a major cause of damage to crops or other human developments in its habitat. While the overall population of brush rabbits is stable, one of its subspecies, the riparian brush rabbit ( S. b. riparius ), is listed as an endangered species by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service . Formerly numerous along
495-570: The San Francisco Bay Area , the brush rabbit was found to concentrate its activities at the edge of brush and exhibits much less use of grassy areas. It uses the interior brush of the wilderness, and this may be a better environment for it than the chaparral one. Studies done on the brush rabbit in Oregon also showed that it rarely left the brushy areas it inhabits. Brush may be used more in the drier seasons, while grasses are used in
528-760: The San Joaquin River and Stanislaus River , it is now reduced to a population of a few hundred in the Caswell Memorial State Park and is being reintroduced to the adjacent San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge in the San Joaquin Valley, California. This population has been negatively impacted by the destruction of the riparian habitat . Another subspecies, the San José brush rabbit ,
561-814: The Santa Monica Mountains to the south. The valley is located in the Santa Monica Mountains on an elevated area. The largest non-retail employers in the Conejo Valley include Amgen , the Conejo Valley Unified School District , Los Robles Regional Medical Center , Anthem Blue Cross, California Lutheran University , Shire Biotechnology, Skyworks Solutions, PennyMac Mortgage and Sage Publications. Other notable employers include Jafra Cosmetics, Teledyne, J.D. Power, Dole Food Company, Guitar Center, Bank of America and Teradyne. The Ventura County Star
594-857: The Conejo Valley Tourism Improvement District (CVTID) was formed by the cities of Thousand Oaks and Agoura Hills. CVTID is a non-profit corporation that markets Conejo Valley as a Tourist Destination. Conejo Valley's two largest tourist attractions are the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Brush rabbit The brush rabbit ( Sylvilagus bachmani ), or western brush rabbit , or Californian brush rabbit ,
627-600: The Rabbit") is a region spanning both southeastern Ventura County and northwestern Los Angeles County in Southern California , United States . It is located in the northwestern part of the Greater Los Angeles Area . Communities in the Conejo Valley are Thousand Oaks , Newbury Park , Westlake Village , Oak Park , Agoura Hills , Lake Sherwood and a portion of Calabasas . In 1803,
660-662: The Spanish land grant in the area was given the name Rancho El Conejo . In Spanish , conejo means " rabbit ", and refers to the rabbits common to the region, specifically the desert cottontail and brush rabbit species. The Chumash people inhabited region for thousands of years. Notable Chumash villages included Satwiwa ("The Bluffs") in Newbury Park , Sap'wi ("House of Deer") in Thousand Oaks , and Hipuk in Westlake Village . Sap'wi (Šihaw Ven-632i)
693-658: The Wild Frontier and Westward Ho, the Wagons! both starring Fess Parker . Conejo Valley is a 900-foot-high (270 m) valley. The area is bordered by the San Fernando Valley and the city of Los Angeles to the east, Simi Hills to the north, Las Posas Hills and the Santa Rosa Valley to the northwest, Conejo Mountain (also known as Conejo Hills) and Oxnard Plain to the west, and
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#1732790693566726-538: The agency's first accomplishments was the construction of the valley’s first public swimming pool at Thousand Oaks High School in 1964. The agency received its largest land donation in December 1966, when Potrero Homes donated 1,250 acres of canyon- and mesa lands near California Lutheran University , now known as Wildwood Regional Park . The agency branches out throughout the late 1960s, sponsoring overnight camps, ball games, nature walks, and other activities. The agency made efforts since 1970 aimed at acquiring funds for
759-516: The areas of San Francisco, pregnant female brush rabbits can be found from the first week of December until the ends of June. Female brush rabbits have about four litters per year. Its predators include cougar , coyote , fox , bobcat , weasel , and various raptors and snakes . Its survival strategies include remaining immobile when in brushy areas, and zig-zag running when found in open spaces. It also climbs onto low branches to escape from predators and other perceived threats. The brush rabbit
792-501: The average litter size in Oregon to be 2.8, in northern and central California to be 3.5, and in west central California to be 4.0. The brush rabbit is one of the less fecund members of the genus, producing about 15 young in five to six litters per year. The gestation period of the brush rabbit is about 22 days, and kits are altricial . Male brush rabbits breed from around October to November through June to July. The brush rabbit's most reproductive activity occurs from January to April. In
825-767: The belly and the underside of the tail. The whiskers are mostly black, although some have white tips. Adult rabbits measure anywhere from 30.3 to 36.9 cm (11.9 to 14.5 in) in length, and range in weight from 511 to 917 g (1.127 to 2.022 lb). Large numbers of geographically defined subspecies have been proposed, including in Oregon, ubericolor ; in California , cinerascens , mariposae , riparius , tehamae and trowbridgii ; and in Baja California, cerrosensis , exiguus , howelli , peninsularis and rosaphagus . Subspecies bachmani , macrorhinus and virgulti are less geographically restricted. Of
858-674: The brush rabbit are acknowledged as follows. This subspecies of Sylvilagus bachmani is geographically found from the Rogue River Valley, Jackson County, Oregon, through Northern California, along the inner coast ranges, to southern Lake County and along the Sierra Nevada to Placer County. It is also found in the Sacramento Valley. The subspecies is medium in size, paler in color, has larger ears and shorter hind feet. This subspecies of Sylvilagus bachmani
891-543: The brush rabbit has in parts of Oregon developed the white cottontail although retaining its smaller size. Brush rabbits require dense bramble clumps or other thick, brushy habitat. These bramble clumps often have extensive networks of trails and runways. The species occasionally uses burrows made by other species, but does not dig its own. The home range is very small, less than 2,000 m (22,000 sq ft). Brush rabbits most commonly live in chaparral vegetation , but are also found in oak and conifer habitats. In
924-628: The coast as far as San Francisco , entered the valley from the northwest. On the outward bound journey, the explorers had traveled up the Los Angeles River , then north to Castaic Junction , then followed the Santa Clara River back down to the coast. On the return trip, they sought a shorter route to the San Fernando Valley , and were guided by natives up and over the Conejo Grade . Franciscan missionary Juan Crespi kept
957-536: The mid-morning, but are otherwise secretive and wary. They thump the ground with their back feet when startled. The brush rabbit feeds mainly on grasses and forbs , especially green clover . It also eats berries and browses on shrubs. A trapping study of the brush rabbit in the Berkeley Hills in Northern California indicated that males had larger home ranges than females at all times of
990-409: The various proposed subspecies, only the following are currently recognized, the others are synonyms: S. b. ubericolor , S. b. cinerascens , S. b. bachmani , S. b. exiguus , S. b. howelli , S. b. cerrosensis . It has been noted that numbers of the eastern cottontail were brought west to reproduce and provide a food source for the settlers. The interbreeding of the two species has occurred where
1023-539: The wetter seasons in relation to growth of annual vegetation. Use of habitat also probably is related to the breeding season. The brush rabbit is confined to the Pacific Coast, from the Columbia River in the north to the tip of Baja, Mexico in the south. It does not occur east of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountain ranges. Brush rabbits forage alone or in small groups. They can be seen sunning in
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1056-434: The year, and especially in May when females were moving the least. The home ranges of the brush rabbit are estimated to average just under 4,000 square meters (1 acre) for males and just under 2,000 square meters (0.5 acres) for females. The shapes of these home ranges are usually circular, but depending on the vegetation, can differ in size and shape. Range use probably is not circular in shape or uniform, but rather consists of
1089-595: Was $ 20 million, of which about 70% comes from property taxes. It was previously headquartered in the historic 1910 Crowley House, which is City of Thousand Oaks Historical Landmark No. 7. However, CRPD is now housed near Hillcrest Center for the Arts . Conejo Recreation and Park District was established in January 1963 by a vote of Conejo Valley residents. Its first park board consisted of Luther C. Schwich, Roy Dehm, Marvin W, Burow, Donald M. Roberts, and Joan McGillis. One of
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