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.
Wildlife
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.
As Whale Populations Grow, Dungeness Crabbers Foresee Their Own Demise
March 22, 2023 •
For decades, whale migration and crabbing operated as a tag team. But now, the whales are coming sooner—widening the window for exposure to fishing gear.
When Will the Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument Open?
March 22, 2023 •
The Cotoni-Coast Dairies became a unit of the California Coastal National Monument in 2017. Following a two-year planning process, the Cotoni-Coast Dairies monument was slated to open in the fall of 2022. But that deadline has come and gone while the BLM navigates objections to the agency’s plan for public access.
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.
Bay Area Nature Spring Almanac: Ringtails and Bushtits
March 22, 2023 •
This spring features ephemeral amphibians, sticky flowers, architectural bushtits, elusive not-cats, ocean drifters, and various antler enthusiasts.
The Bird Nest Detectives
March 22, 2023 •
Century-old bird nests help scientists time-travel to San Francisco Bay’s lost plant communities.
How a ‘Sturgeon Surgeon’ Tracks the Bay’s Giant, Stealthy Living Fossils
March 22, 2023 •
Researchers are investigating the secrets of our two resident sturgeon species, which have razor-sharp armor and shlorp up clams with their vacuum-shaped mouths.
A Nasty Salmon-Killing Tire Chemical Is in Bay Waterways. Can It Be Cleaned Up?
March 2, 2023 •
6PPD-quinone comes from a long-used chemical that will be hard to replace in tires. But green infrastructure like “living levees” may help trap it.