The Witch Creek fire of 2007 damaged much of the prickly pear cactus habitat in the San Pasqual Valley necessary for coastal cactus wrens to survive. To restore the prickly pear and other native plant species, San Diego Zoo Global partnered with the City of San Diego, San Dieguito River Park, San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, California Department of Fish and Game, and California Department of Parks and Recreation to aid in the scorched landscape's recovery and help the cactus wren stick around. Over 100 acres of habitat have been restored. At the 800-acre Biodiversity Reserve at the Safari Park, cactuswren populations have increased from 10 to 40 pairs in just three years. Challenges remain, but for the coastal cactus wren, things are looking up.
