The Grunion’s One-Night Stand in the Sand
Solstice is nigh, the tide is high, the full moon illuminates the midnight beach, and before us, thousands of glimmering fish wiggle out of the surf to spawn in the...
Wildlife
Ask the Naturalist: Why Do Dragonflies Swarm?
What causes dragonflies to take flight in swarms of thousands or millions?
2007-2008 Salmon Decline
During the 2004-2005 winter salmon spawning season in Redwood Creek, which passes through Muir Woods National Monument before reaching the ocean at Muir Beach, scientists and volunteers with the Coho...
Invasion of the New Zealand Mud Snail
The scientists and volunteers with the Coho and Steelhead Monitoring Program don’t yet have to deal with New Zealand mud snails. Barely larger than a grain of rice, this snail...
In the Wake of the Oil Spill
Not long after the cargo ship Cosco Busan ran into the Bay Bridge last November, it was clear that the resulting spill was only the beginning of a much longer...
Naturalist’s Notebook: A Six-Step Fluke of Nature
Intrepid naturalist Jack Laws finds a fluke of nature in six not-so-easy steps.
Lord of the Burrows
Ask most people to name the most important species of our grassland habitats, and they'll probably pick coyotes, golden eagles, or even rattlesnakes. But experts say that the strongest contender...
Naturalist’s Notebook: The Herd Shot Round the Bay
In a few spots in the Bay Area, you can get a glimpse of our state's signature grazer: the tule elk.
Patience Rewarded
You might be taken by surprise at this marshland wildlife area, with its plethora of wandering elk, playful otters, acrobatic owls, and diverse waterfowl. Just be sure it's not hunting...
The Frog Days of Winter
On rainy days, wildlife watching outdoors is probably not at the top of your list, but there is one group of animals that reigns supreme during this season: amphibians. Salamanders,...
