Hastings Natural History Reservation

Set in the open foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains in upper Carmel Valley, this 2,500-acre site encompasses habitats characteristic of the interior central Coast Range. Reserve ecosystems include annual and perennial grasslands, oak woodlands, chaparral, and running streams. The reserve lies primarily on south-facing slopes and encompasses three narrow tributary valleys.

Historically a cattle ranch, Hastings Reserve became a Museum of Vertebrate Zoology biological field station in 1937 and joined UC Nature at its formation in 1970. The long history of this reserve includes more than 50 years of research on vertebrate ecology and oak-woodland biology. Detailed ornithological records include sightings of over 165 bird species, nearly half of which have nested on site. Records are also maintained on nine species of amphibians, ten snakes, and seven lizards that live on or near the reserve.

The abundance of acorns and oak seedlings provides forage for many mammals, particularly mule deer and pocket gophers. The reserve is also home smaller mammals, such as California ground squirrels, dusky-footed woodrats, kangaroo rats, voles, and deer mice, as well as larger predators, such as bobcats and mountain lions.