Naturalist’s Notebook: Go See the Beavers in Martinez
The town of Martinez has learned to love its beavers, who've become famous and opened a whole community to the idea that downtown is even better with a bit of...
Wildlife
Sturgeon, a Fish Out of Time
If the chef at your local cafe listed fresh triceratops or plesiosaur on the menu, it would surely get your attention as being out of place--and time. But sturgeon, whose...
What are glowworms?
We don’t have fireflies in the Bay Area, but we do have glowworms. What are they and why the heck do they light up?
A Squabble of Gulls
Gulls don’t inspire the awe that a golden eagle or red-tailed hawk does. Or the affection we feel for hummingbirds. But the Bay Area’s dozen gull species are true survivors: Adaptable, voracious predators,...
Berkeley Puma Caught at the Intersection of Habitat and Humanity
When a mountain lion showed up at 3 a.m. on Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, things weren't going to end well for that lion. Statewide, though, many times more lions die...
Alameda Creek Dam Policies Could Decide Frogs’ Future
Sarah Kupferberg, a research scientist at UC Berkeley, is fascinated by foothill yellow-legged frogs, once common but now scarce in Alameda Creek. The SF Public Utilities Commission is rebuilding the...
Graham Chisholm, One for the Birds
Graham Chisholm is a powerhouse for conservation in California. He's director of Audubon California, used to run the Nature Conservancy's California programs, has co-authored a couple of birding guides, and...
Don’t Miss the Summertime Blues!
This summer has been a great year for whale watching in Monterey Bay. The giant blues showed up early and have stuck around, making for daily sightings of these amazing...
Large-Mouthed Shark Gets Attention in Monterey
Some unwitting humans are bobbing in the water off the coast of California. A gigantic shark, 30 feet long, rises from the depths of the dark ocean. The shark slowly...
The Ants Go Marching One by One
How the heck do all those ants find you every time you sit down at a park for a nice picnic? The short answer is: sheer numbers and good communication....
