Editing Oak Park, California (section)

==Flora and fauna==

An [[Environmental Impact Assessment]] of Oak Park was conducted in 1982 which recorded local flora and fauna <ref>Oak Park Environmental Impact Report, 1982</ref>

===Fauna===

85 species of birds have been observed with breeding activity of 32-64 probable. 12 species of raptors were observed. Nesting of 7 was confirmed including [[American kestrel]] (''Falco sparverius''), [[Western barn owl|barn owl]] (''Tyto alba''), [[screech owl]] (''Otus asio''), [[red-shouldered hawk]] (''Buteo lineatus''). The [[turkey vulture]] (''Cathartes aura'') and the [[prairie falcon]] (''Falco mexicanus'') breed on adjacent slopes. [[Cooper’s hawk]] (''Accipiter cooperi'') and [[northern harrier]] (''Circus cyanus'') may nest in Oak Park. [[Golden eagles]] (''Aquila chrysaetos'') lack suitable nesting habitats and probably live in nearby areas. Two non-raptor birds are classified as sensitive including coastal black-tailed gnatcatcher (''Polioptila melanura californica''). Possibly less than 1600 pairs of this bird remain alive. The second is grasshopper sparrow (''Ammodramus savannarum'').

5 species of reptiles were observed including the [[western fence lizard]] (''Sceloporus occidentalis'') and [[western rattlesnake]] (''Crotalus viridis'') and more may exist.

Three species of amphibians were observed in Oak Park: [[western toad]] (''Bufo boreas''), [[Pacific treefrog]] (''Hyla regilla''), and [[American bullfrog|bullfrog]] (''Rana catesbeiana''). 8 other amphibians occur in this area and may be present.

35 mammals may be present including [[bobcat]] (''Felis rufus''), [[coyote]] (''Canis latrans''), and desert cottontail (''Sylvilagus auduboni'').

The Oak Park area and the [[Simi Hills]] are part of a wildlife corridor that link the [[San Gabriel Mountains]] (Los Padre National Forest) and [[Santa Susana Mountains]] to the [[Santa Monica Mountains]]. This is a critical path between mountain ranges where animals can find others of the same species for mating.

===Flora===
Oak Park ecosystems include several within the [[chaparral]] (inland [[Lamiaceae|sage]] scrub, rocklands, northern slope chaparral scrub, southern slope chaparral scrub) and [[riparian]] woodland ([[coast live oak]] riparian forest, [[valley oak]] woodland, southern willow scrub, [[Walnut tree|walnut]] stands, and oak [[savanna]]). Southern California grassland has largely disappeared from the site by overgrazing and housing.

The chaparral and grassland are frequently altered by fires started by natural causes and humans. Both Indians and ranchers have altered the local landscape through fire and grazing. Oak Park had a large uncontrolled fire on October 8, 1982. The most recent uncontrolled fire was the [[Woolsey Fire]] on November 8–9, 2018 that burned through Oak Park and surrounding areas.

The recorded flora during the last EIR of Oak Park included 202 vascular plant species distributed among 52 families. Half are found in 5 families: [[sunflower]](Asteraceace), grass (Poaceae), pea (Fabaceae), [[Mustard plant|Mustard]] (Brassicaceae) and figwort (Scrophulariaceae). Non-native plants constitute 13% of the flora. There are 4 plants classified as sensitive: Catalina Mariposa Lilly (Calochortus catalinae), [[Wind poppy]] (Stylomecon heterophylla), [[Santa Susana Mountains|Santa Susana]] Tarweed (Hemizonia minthornii ), and Nolina Parii