The logging industry in Arnold and the surrounding Sierras had a much longer and storied history than I imagined. The logging industry was once a vital part of the economy, from sawmills to camps. However, these facilities were abandoned with the advent of modern machinery and the decline in timber production. I am curious if the wildlife is using the abandoned structures now for shelter.
Doing a little research, I was surprised by the number of logging camps and sawmills in the Arnold area alone. There were so many that I am not surprised by the reports of deforestation. I had difficulty finding information on all the camps and sawmills and their period of operation. So I hope to have better information on this topic in the future.
Note: “Deforestation is the purposeful clearing of forested land. Throughout history and modern times, forests have been razed to make space for agriculture and animal grazing and obtain wood for fuel, manufacturing, and construction.”
This statement and the following photograph were obtained from the following website:
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/deforestation
Some of the abandoned logging camps and sawmills in the Arnold, CA, area are listed below. They were all in operation during the early to mid-20th century:
- Sawmill Camp
- Sawmill 1 (1890-1900)
- Sawmill 2 (1900-1910)
- Gray Eagle Logging Camp
- Buckskin Joe Logging Camp
- Sunrise Logging Camp
- Sunset Logging Camp
- Moonlight Logging Camp
- Logging Camp 1 (1910-1920)
- Logging Camp 2 (1920-1930)
The railroad industry was also once a vital part of the local economy, from sawmills to logging camps.
The railroad companies operated in the Arnold, CA, area were Southern Pacific Railroad, Western Pacific Railroad, and Union Pacific Railroad.
The logging camps and sawmills were abandoned with the advent of modern machinery and the decline in timber production. However, it turns out that the logging industry left behind a legacy of both pollution and conservation. Many of the abandoned facilities are now being used as shelters by wildlife, thanks to the efforts of the Forest Reclamation Program. This program is working to clean up and restore these old logging sites so that all can enjoy them.
While most of the abandoned logging facilities have been reclaimed by the forest, a few are used by wildlife.
What animals might take shelter in old abandoned buildings? So I did more research, and I found the following.
“Groundhogs, foxes, skunks, and other animals that utilize burrows and dens will often take up residence somewhere in the interiors of these structures. In addition, two species of bats, big brown and little brown, frequently use such buildings as daytime shelters.”
Nature is very resilient, and the forest has grown back. And now, after all these years, it is interesting to think about the possibility that the old logging and sawmill structures are being used by wildlife.
Thank you for reading, and if you have any questions or comments about this topic, please leave them in the Comments section below.
© 2019 I Don’t Know All The Answers, Nikki Mastro
All of my photographs and documents are Copyrighted.