Why State Wildlife Officials Took a Mountain Lion Cub From the Wild … Then Put It Back
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.
Science and Nature
The Giant Cypress Agaricus: A Chonk of a Mushroom with a Strong Sense of Place
This formidable fungus has been traveling up and down the California coast as a Monterey-cypress groupie. But how does it follow its favorite tree?
A Sparkling Terror in the Dark, and Other Tales of Readers’ Wildlife Encounters
Readers submitted their mini-stories of nature encounters, including a thrill in the dark, a bobcat vs. squirrel drama, and a surprisingly aggressive flower.
How the South Bay Salt Ponds Got So Rainbowy
The South Bay Salt Restoration Project is reconnecting salt ponds to SF Bay, converting them into tidal marsh for endangered species.
Bay Area Nature Spring Almanac: Ringtails and Bushtits
This spring features ephemeral amphibians, sticky flowers, architectural bushtits, elusive not-cats, ocean drifters, and various antler enthusiasts.
The Bird Nest Detectives
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
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.
On the Family Dramas (and Weird Feet) of the American Coot
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...
An Artist Goes Bird-Swatching
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
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.
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