Early risers can explore the wild side of one of Pasadena’s most historic burial grounds when Pasadena Humane hosts a Cemetery Wildlife Walk at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena on Sunday, November 30.
The 6:30 a.m. walk through the approximately 60-acre cemetery offers participants a chance to observe birds, squirrels, coyotes and other animals that call the grounds home, while also learning about native plants and some of the cemetery’s locally famous residents — including science fiction author Octavia Butler, Nobel laureate physicist Richard Feynman, seismologist Charles Richter, Superman actor George Reeves, and Black Panther leader Eldridge Cleaver.
The 90-minute walk costs $7.18 per person. Registration is available through Eventbrite and the Pasadena Humane website.
According to Lauren Hamlett, director of wildlife education and services at Pasadena Humane, the walk is an opportunity to understand the ecological importance of the cemetery and to observe how urban wildlife thrives in unexpected places. Pasadena Humane is one of only two animal shelters in Southern California licensed to rehabilitate wildlife.
The cemetery holds particular significance given its resilience during recent challenges. Mountain View Cemetery was established in 1882. During the January Eaton Fire, the cemetery faced extraordinary circumstances when staff worked to evacuate human remains while flames approached.
“The fire did come up to our administration building, and we were actually putting the flames out while we were removing people’s loved ones,” said Keith Brown, the cemetery’s operations manager. Despite the proximity of the fire, Mountain View Cemetery survived with only minimal damage, losing only a few maintenance buildings. The cemetery has since become an important symbol of community resilience in Altadena.
Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water, as the terrain varies throughout the cemetery grounds.
Cemetery Wildlife Walk will run on Sunday, Nov. 30, at 6:30-8 a.m. Mountain View Cemetery, 2400 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Altadena. For more information, call (626) 792-7151 or visit https://pasadenahumane.org/phs-event/cemetery-wildlife-walk-7/. Ticket prices: $7.18.
