The hills in Altadena, California, still have the marks of fire retardant on them after the Eaton Fire swept through.
Altadena, California – Just four months after the devastating Eaton Fire tore through the Angeles National Forest and decimated parts of Altadena, nature already shows signs of a remarkable comeback.
Behind the scorched remains of once-thriving neighborhoods, the foothills are now alive with birdsong and painted with bright green growth. Trail cameras have captured deer tracks, bobcat scat, and even a mountain lion — a powerful sign that wildlife is returning to the fire-scarred landscape.
“Seeing that mountain lion on the camera again was emotional,” said Dr. Kristen Ochoa, a UCLA professor and local resident leading a grassroots biodiversity tracking effort. “My first inclination was to share it with people who lost everything in the fire. It’s a sign of hope that nature is returning. Nature is resilient.”
Ochoa founded the Chaney Trail Corridor Project last year to document the biodiversity in the foothills just above Altadena. Working with volunteers, she installed trail cameras and shared findings on iNaturalist, a global citizen science platform. That effort took on new urgency after the Eaton Fire, which destroyed homes and consumed the entire first set of cameras — some transmitting final images of encroaching flames before going dark.
Within weeks of the fire, Ochoa returned with new cameras and began cataloging the area’s slow but steady recovery. “One of the first things I noticed was the birdsong,” she recalled. “It was immediate, like nature was staking its claim again.”
The fires burned unevenly, leaving small patches of untouched forest—including a streamside oasis—where wildlife could take refuge. While there were some reports of injured animals, including a bear and deer, Ochoa said no deceased wildlife had been found.
Heavy rains following the fire accelerated the region’s regrowth. On a recent morning hike, Ochoa pointed to charred San Gabriel oaks that were now sprouting green at their base — a phenomenon known as “crown sprouting,” made possible by their ancient root systems.
“Some of these trees have been here hundreds of years,” she said. “They’ve seen fire before. And they’re still here.”
The revival isn’t without its complications. Invasive mustard plants are growing aggressively across the hillsides, threatening to crowd out native species like California sagebrush and wild cucumber — vital food sources for local wildlife.
Still, Ochoa and her team are hopeful. They’re partnering with UCLA scientists to track how birds and bats are faring post-fire. Every new animal sighting reminds us that, while homes may have been lost, the land itself is alive and fighting to come back.
