Wildlife
Being a Salamander
In a tiny hollow beneath a log, reflected in my headlamp’s glow, were two gold-flecked black eyes and a dull pinkish snout.
California’s Blackbird
The tricolored blackbird traverses the Golden State with cat calls and friends.
The Zombees Are Here (And That’s Probably OK)
A parasitic fly was found in San Francisco taking over a honeybee.
Why Is That Woodpecker White?
For years, the author has gathered photographs of local leucistic birds: white (or whitish) woodpeckers, hummingbirds, sparrows, turkeys, bald eagles, and more.
With Dams Removed, Spawning Salmon Are Heading Up Alameda Creek
These chinooks are likely hatchery strays. But they are still an ecosystem boon—and flaming-bright symbols of restoration at work.
The Best Worst Commute in the Bay Area
I thought State Route 37 was awful, until I looked up.
What to Do When Your Highway Is Slipping Into the Sea
Picture a giant Rubik’s cube that costs $6–11 billion to solve. That’s State Route 37.
Yellowjackets—Bane of the Picnic, Builder of Hidden Kingdoms
These bold insects live in complex underground matriarchies that are seriously metal.
