Rancho Santa Margarita
Ecosystem Overview
The Rancho Santa Margarita ecosystem supports 100 documented wildlife species across 94 taxonomic genera. Located in orange county, california, this area provides critical habitat with diverse natural communities. The location hosts 21 frequently observed species and 19 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. This location ranks #5 for species diversity among 73 orange county County natural areas, placing it in the 93th percentile for biodiversity.
Biodiversity Highlights
Species Distribution
Regional Context
Most Common Species
Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 100 total documented species.
Alopochen aegyptiaca
Egyptian Goose
Cynara cardunculus
Cardoon
Frangula californica
California buckthorn
Eriogonum fasciculatum
wild buckwheat
Pseudognaphalium californicum
California rabbit-tobacco
Fulica americana
American Coot
Branta canadensis
Canada goose
Baccharis pilularis
coyotebrush
Ericameria palmeri
Isocoma menziesii
Limonium sinuatum
Wavyleaf sea lavender
Trichostema lanceolatum
vinegar-weed
Anas platyrhynchos
mallard
Ambrosia psilostachya
Western Ragweed
Kickxia elatine
sharped-leaved fluellen
Artemisia californica
California sagebrush
Cirsium occidentale
western thistle
Astragalus trichopodus
Santa Barbara milk-vetch
Dipterostemon capitatus
Calochortus catalinae
Catalina mariposa-lily
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Nearby Wildlife Areas in Orange County
Discover 8 other wildlife-rich locations near Rancho Santa Margarita. Each offers unique biodiversity and wildlife viewing opportunities.
🌿 Premier Wildlife Areas (8 nearby)
Regional Wildlife Network
These nearby locations complement Rancho Santa Margaritawithin Orange County's wildlife network. Species counts reflect documented observations and help identify the most biodiverse areas for your nature explorations.