California Condors are using Tejon Ranch lands increasingly.  In a study by the USGS, from 2004 - 2009, California Condors have begun recolonizing their former range.  A large part of the area studied included Tejon Ranch divided into three "management units" labeled Tejon Mountain Village Specific Plan (TMV), California Condor Study Area (CSA) and Tejon Ranch excluding the other two areas (TEJON).  Other areas outside the ranch included Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge (BC), Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge (HOP in Ventura County) and Wildlands Conservancy–Wind Wolves Preserve (WW).  The image below shows the research map overlaid on a Google Map of the area with a close approximation.  You can see that the Wind Wolves Preserve touches on Pine Mountain Club.

The USGS report states (PDF) "Recolonization of the CSA, TEJON, and TMV management units reestablished traditional condor movement and foraging patterns in southern California and provides the travel corridor (approximately 20 km wide) for recolonization of the northeastern part of the species’ historical range." 

There are many that believe this is precisely why Tejon Mountain Village should not move forward but this assumes that condors and humans cannot cohabit which they do in areas like Santa Clarita and Pine Mountain Club.  Unlike PMC, which predates the condor program, TMV will be built with condors in mind.

Zoeller says the condor population is still higher in areas outside Tejon and the greatest concentration on the ranch lies in areas dedicated to conservation.  The USGS report says "The most striking result from our analysis was the recolonization of the CSA, TEJON, and TMV management units during 2008."  Zoeller attributes this to a busy wild pig hunting season that year, which he says left more carcasses for scavenging.

Matthew Johnson, one of three authors for the report, had nothing to say about the development of TMV; saying it was outside the purview of the research.

"We welcome the USGS study," said Robert Stine, of Tejon Ranch.  "The study shows the importance of conserving those areas of Tejon Ranch most used by the condor for foraging – and that's exactly what we're doing."