Endangered Species’ Habitat Set to Burn, to Critics’ Dismay

Firefighters will conduct a controlled burn of critical habitat for endangered species on five acres in San Onofre State Beach this morning, weather permitting.

Critics say it could do more harm than good.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials requested the burn to try to create better habitat for the tiny Pacific pocket mouse, said David Pryor, an ecologist with the state Department of Parks and Recreation.

David Hogan of the Center of Biological Diversity, which has successfully sued fish and wildlife officials to designate critical habitat for many species, said: “I think a controlled burn will do far more harm than good.” The small, silky mouse with fur-lined cheek pouches was listed as endangered in 1994. Its range once stretched from Marina del Rey to Mexico. There are now three small populations left, including 40 mice in the state park.

Pryor admitted conducting a controlled burn for endangered species is “fairly rare.”

“You’re really walking a tightrope, balancing habitat improvement and destruction of the species,” he said.

But he said the mice are not on the site, just nearby, and that they are “insulated in deep burrows,” so are unlikely to be harmed.

He said the fire would leave open areas for foraging, which mice prefer. Currently, there is 70-year-old dense growth in the area.

Hogan said that any disturbance causes the mice to surface, meaning many could die.

Although Pryor said one or two mice may die, he said “the cost-benefit ratio is going to be on the side of the mouse. We’re being very careful.” He said threatened California gnatcatcher birds in the area would be able to fly away, and that endangered Southwestern arroyo toads haven’t been spotted, but are also capable of escaping.

County firefighter officials said the burn on the site near the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course will also be done to limit the spread of potential fires that could damage homes.

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Times staff writer Seema Mehta contributed to this report.