It is adjacent to the long since fallen, now dead, Eucalyptus tree* & palm tree in dire need of thinning of dead palm fronds. Further upslope, there are several dense Eucalyptus trees towering above the palm tree, also in need of trimming, as they are looking dry too.
However, care needs to be taken when thinning out the dead palm fronds and dense trees as they do provide habitat for Great Horned Owls & Cooper's Hawks, as well as other urban wildlife like skunks, opossums, raccoons, coyotes. Earlier this year, a neighbor called me to document a Cooper's Hawk harassing a Great Horned Owl in this canyon. After a good 20 minutes, the owl finally sought refuge in the dark, dense branches between the palm tree & Eucalyptus.
Red Car Canyon is the only part of the Red Car Property where both predators are routinely seen & heard by neighbors (usually not at the same time).
Eucalyptus throughout the neighborhood are dying & creating a fire hazard. The LAFD Brush Clearance Unit noticed the Red Car Property owner to clear this lot (APN 5440-030-033) of dead trees, dry brush & debris last week. Neighbors on both the Lake View Ave & Corralitas Drive sides of Red Car Canyon are very concerned about these conditions. City Council District 13 Deputy Adam Bass has been notified of the problem & is working on solutions for this & other ongoing issues on the Red Car Property.
* 9-19-13, UPDATE: The long since dead Eucalyptus went down in January 2010.
