The Whitewater area near the preserve has some very shady houses, including some drug houses, and it's likely that some of these folks had pit bulls they let run wild and who have taken up residence in the Whitewater preserve--where, unfortunately, the cows will provide them with plenty of food and accustom them to the idea of attacking large prey--like, say, humans. Closing a trail due to wild dogs seems almost humorous, but it's worth remembering (I certainly do) that feral dogs actually killed a jogger who was running on a desert road near here in Thousand Palms. It was needless to say a horrible death. It would be far preferable to be killed by a mountain lion. I myself have seen feral dog packs roaming in these urban-wilderness areas. They are dangerous because they are hungry and unpredictable.
So, if you were planning on hiking in this area, make new plans until they find these dogs. And always keep in mind that if you are hiking at all near civilization, running into feral dogs is an unpleasant possibility. Plan accordingly.
