To ranch or not to ranch: Home on the urban range?

California ranchers in urban Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, and in rura l Tehama County, were surveyed to examine effects of increasing development , land use change, and attrition of the ranching community on their commitm ent to ranching, and to assess land conservation program acceptability. Que stions were about practices, reasons for ranching, and what influences ranc hing's future. Ranchers share much in common. Most enjoy ranching, "feeling close to the earth," living in a "good place for family life," and the cam araderie in the ranching community. They regularly carry out range improvem ents. Most believe that society is becoming "hostile to ranching." A dislik e Tor outsider intervention and land use control prevails. Urban ranchers c ared significantly less about the fate of their ranch if sold, and feared l ocal land use planning much more. Rural ranchers overwhelmingly wanted thei r ranch to remain a productive ranch even if sold. No new ranchers appeared in the urban sample for the last 10 years. As urbanization proceeds, we su ggest that a point is reached where ranchers recognize the social, ecologic al, and economic landscape as urban and see it as no longer suitable for ra nching, Expecting to sell for development, and/or expecting zoning to chang e to allow it, becomes the rational view. Land conservation efforts, includ ing relatively acceptable though as yet not widespread conservation easemen t programs, should begin before that happens.