Rachel Gulbraa

Rachel Gulbraa is a Bay Nature editorial intern.

A whale of a view

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It’s been a great season to view California gray whales off the Northern California coast this year. There have been a number of unusual sightings in the San Francisco Bay. But for the best chances to view these 35-ton, graceful giants on their annual migration is at Point Reyes National Seashore. Grab your binoculars, check the weather, and hit the cape.

Bay Area Ridge Trail faces uncertain future

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The vision to create a 550-mile trail around the San Francisco Bay is threatened by state park closures scheduled for this summer, trail advocates say.The Bay Area Ridge Trail may not be the target of California state budget cuts, but because it runs through four state parks that are on the chopping block, advocates are worried about its future. As the July 1 deadline approaches on state park closures, the trail advocates say it’s still unclear how trail access, maintenance, and public safety will be handled, as well as what happens to long term prospects for connecting new trails to the loop.

EMS for injured wildlife

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Stunned bobcats, entangled geese, sea-foamed birds – sound like the makings of a horror film? These are just a few of the creatures given a new chance at life by WildRescue, a Bay Area organization that delivers wildlife in distress to animal health clinics.

Elephant seals occupy area beaches

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Thousands of elephant seals have colonized beaches to partake in annual, combative mating rituals. The mass of beached blubber is not just a tourist spectacle. It also draws the attention of non-human species that come to dine off the rare bump in food supply. About 10 percent of the pups born are casualties of the fighting males.