You don’t have to go far. But it helps to spend all your spare time in the woods. That’s what Vishal Subramanyan, 20, does.
Wildlife
The Sea Otter That Stole a Surfboard in Santa Cruz Remains Free … For Now
November 3, 2022 •
She was born in captivity, it turns out. And she’ll only get to stay free and wild if she behaves—so humans should definitely not feed her, take selfies with her, or try to be her friend.
Bats Tell Us How Healthy the East Bay’s Habitat Is
November 2, 2022 •
A Bat Brigade of volunteers has been helping collect data at the “bat castle,” watching when bats leave their roosts to forage.
How Healthy Is the East Bay’s Habitat?
November 2, 2022 •
NatureCheck assesses East Bay habitat by looking at indicator species like ground squirrels, rainbow trout, hoary bats and golden eagles. You can help!
Room to Roam: Habitat Connectivity
October 31, 2022 •
To improve habitat connectivity, Midpen is working with partners to supplement a dark, narrow culvert under Highway 17 near Lexington Reservoir with another underpass designed specifically for wildlife.
Spooky, Scary Scorpions? Actually, Not So Much. (You Aren’t Worth the Venom.)
October 27, 2022 •
A little too hairy and a little too pinchy to classify as charismatic, scorpions strike fear in the hearts of many—through no fault of their own. A scorpion expert sets the record straight on these gentle loners.
Argiope Spiders Decorate Their Webs—And We Don’t Know Why: Naturalist’s Notebook
October 26, 2022 •
Maybe it helps them hunt. Maybe not. From the sketchbook of John Muir Laws.
Skippers: Between Butterfly and Moth
October 19, 2022 •
When butterfly mania took hold of me, decades back, I thought I’d never crack the skippers’ code: the creatures are impish, and maddening to learn.
To Count Seabirds From Above, Fly Slowly And Pack a Big Lens
October 13, 2022 •
Aerial wildlife surveys, conducted by the USGS to inform the coming offshore wind energy boom, are strikingly beautiful, for government data. They were also hard-won.
The Living Drill Bits That Grind Holes in Beach Rocks
October 10, 2022 •
The piddock clam makes its mark on the world at the rate of one millimeter per month.