A Sanctuary and a Good Neighbor
Tucker serves as a neighborhood to thousands of researchers, scholars and community visitors
March 1, 2007
By Russ Hudson
Cal State Fullerton’s Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary and its neighbors at the end of Modjeska Canyon Road in Modjeska Canyon enjoy an easy peace.
The neighbors are “so great. They help clear weeds, repair signs, help with the animals, even bake cookies for some functions,” said Karon Cornell, director of the sanctuary.
In return, she said, the people at Tucker take part in neighborhood events, such as potlucks and a recent fundraising garden tour.
Those are the neighbors, but Tucker serves an even larger “neighborhood.” Thousands of researchers, scholars and community visitors have been on Tucker’s wildlife walkway or been on tours past the turtle pond, have seen Pistachio the one-eared opossum and Henry the 65-year-old desert tortoise, and have spent time in the glassed-in bird-watching area that overlooks trees, a huge wisteria vine and the creek.
Hundreds of Boy and Girl Scouts have learned about animal and plant life at Tucker and, in return, have completed projects for their badges or Eagle Scout status: building and installing signs; building benches and a bridge on the pathway; installing a wheelchair ramp to the bird-watching platform; and painting and repairing wherever needed.
Thousands of school children have visited the sanctuary for field trips based on state standards for science education, and Tucker has raised funds to provide tours for underprivileged children who live in urbanized environments.
“Bill Hoese, one of Cal State Fullerton’s faculty from the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, brings his students here to study the flora, fauna and ecosystems,” Cornell said. “So do educators from other colleges and high schools.”
Harding Truck Trail, which serves as the trailhead for a network of paths in the adjacent Cleveland National Forest, is part of the Tucker property. It is an important entry point not only for hikers and scholars, but also for rescue operations and firefighting.
“We provide access to the Orange County Fire Department, the Irvine Ranch Water District and the County of Orange for emergency and maintenance vehicles. In return, they maintain the road for us,” said Cornell, pointing out another of Tucker’s “fair trade” agreements.
“We have other exchanges, too,” she said. “We provide field research opportunities to Cal State Fullerton student geologists, hydrologists, biologists and others. In return, they share their information with us so we can build our educational value.”
Produced by the Office of Public Affairs at California State University, Fullerton.