The next time you head to the Tuolumne County library in Sonora, be sure to visit the Children's section, where CSERC member Tracy Knopf has been working for the last 6 months painting a spectacular mural depicting our region's natural landscape

The mural project, sponsored by the Sonora Sunrise Rotary, began with a design competition.   The objective was to use the space for a mural that would serve as an educational resource for Tuolumne County's kids.   Tracy's concept was to present an accurate depiction of our region's wildlife and habitat from the foothills to the alpine areas of the high mountains.  

From all the life-like species in the mural, children will be able to learn about the natural environment using an interactive instructional guide and legend to identify plants and animals in the mural.   When viewed from left to right, the eye is first drawn to a coyote in the foothill grasslands amongst oaks and poppies. Traveling up in elevation and through the daylight hours, the mural includes species such as a mountain lion mother and cub perched on a rock and the western screech owl, nesting in a hollow snag.