When it comes to motherhood, it doesn’t get much more extreme than tarantula hawk wasp moms, known to duel tarantulas—and win.
Tarantula Hawk Wasp Mamas Deliver the Smackdown of the Summer
July 6, 2023 •
Exploration
Camping and Backpacking | Climbing | Gardening | Kids and Nature | Paddling | Point Reyes Walkabout | Trails
Bald Eagles Have Adopted a Baby Hawk in the Bay Area
June 15, 2023 •
Photographer Doug Gillard witnessed the female eagle bringing in the first fuzzy, gray baby bird, but he assumed it was dinner for the eaglet.
Bay Nature’s Summer Guide Is Here!
May 23, 2023 •
Inspiration for all your hiking, paddling, camping and other outdoor activities in the Bay this summer.
Here Comes the 2023 City Nature Challenge, A Global Competition You Can Join This Weekend
April 25, 2023 •
What’s your plan for this year’s City Nature Challenge, April 28-May 1? Here’s what it’s all about, plus a map of Bay Area bioblitzes you can join.
The Lyrids Are Our First Chance to See Some Shooting Stars This Year
April 13, 2023 •
The story of how Earth came to be graced with this meteor shower starts at the birth of the universe, with a dirty snowball.
Why State Wildlife Officials Took a Mountain Lion Cub From the Wild … Then Put It Back
March 29, 2023 •
It’s the first time a cub has ever been successfully reunited with its mom. But some local residents say it shouldn’t have been taken in the first place.
On the Family Dramas (and Weird Feet) of the American Coot
March 22, 2023 •
One of the commonest birds on the shoreline has a soap opera for a home life. Coots fight for territory, which is about food—pond muck, insects, and the stakes are high.
An Artist Goes Bird-Swatching
March 22, 2023 •
Artist Christopher Reiger’s “field guides” are on view at the Laguna Environmental Center in Santa Rosa until April 28.Â
A Sparkling Terror in the Dark, and Other Tales of Readers’ Wildlife Encounters
March 22, 2023 •
Readers submitted their mini-stories of nature encounters, including a thrill in the dark, a bobcat vs. squirrel drama, and a surprisingly aggressive flower.
All Those Whose Eyes Do Shine at Night: Naturalist’s Notebook, by John Muir Laws
March 22, 2023 •
Why do some animals’ eyes shine at night? John Muir Laws explains.