Do Dolphins and Porpoises Live in San Francisco Bay?
They haven't always been here, but they are now.
Ask the Naturalist
How Do Birds Know How to Build Nests?
There are 10,000-plus species of birds in the world, about 1,100 species in the United States, and 350 or so in the greater Bay Area, so there is great variability...
Why Do Mushrooms Return to the Same Place?
Do mushrooms require a certain kind of substrate?
Naturally, 2019 Closes with Thousands of 10-Inch Pulsing “Penis Fish” Stranded on a California Beach
I saw thousands of these on Drakes Beach on Dec. 6, after the recent storm. What happened? -David Ford You could be forgiven for being offended by the above photo:...
What Happened to Commercial Crab Season?
Why couldn’t I buy live crabs this Thanksgiving? Whether or not you choose to use your carnassial teeth for their intended purpose, eating Dungeness crabs (Metacarcinus magister) is something of...
Which Bay Area Salamander Are You?
What salamanders live in the Bay Area? Ahh yes, salamanders. The under-appreciated amphibians, second to their more well-known and vocal (if slightly obnoxious) cousin the frog. For these slimy critters,...
Gray Insect Clouds Descend on Berkeley
No need for alarm -- it's just a sign of fall.
What’s That Fish Jumping at the Shallow Bay’s Edge?
Yesterday afternoon I went for a jog along the Bay Trail and saw a bunch of little fish flipping around near the surface right at the edge of the beach. ...
I Found a Spider in a Labyrinth Inside a Web — What Is It?
I saw a bunch of spiders hanging from structures in the middle of their webs. What are they and why do they do that? Looks like you’ve stumbled across one...
What are These Small, White, Circular Needle-Like Things?
I found this on my front door — it looks like needles in a circular motion with white tips. What is it? The small “needles” that start to decorate doors,...
