Once slated for homes, now open to hikers
Tag: poison oak
Winter Issue 2025
Naturalist’s Notebook: The Nuances of Yellow-Rumped Warblers
Yellow-rumped warblers are around in winter. But which variant are you seeing?
Bay Nature
Bay Nature’s Most Popular Stories in 2024
By sheer numbers, we could probably justify making Bay Nature a wholly coyote-themed publication.
Latest Stories
Bay Nature’s Hall of Botanical Horrors
For those who dare—meet the Bay Area’s spookiest plants (and two freaky fungi).
Diablo Recovery
Where Poison Oak Thrives, Mount Diablo Concludes A Red October
The ever unpopular poison oak is the most colorful plant on Mount Diablo this month, especially in certain places swept clean by the 2013 Morgan Fire.
Summer Issue 2013
Leaves of Three: The Rash Success of Poison Oak
Poison oak is one native plant people love to hate. But it does have a good side, feeding birds and other wildlife. For people, the best thing is to learn to recognize it, and step aside.
Botany
Poison oak has a good side, too
It may be hard to believe, but poison oak is not the bogeyman of the forest. As a California native plant, many an animal has sought nourishment or shelter in its “leaves of three,” immune to the toxic oil that plagues humans. This versatile plant, a member of the cashew family, may never get over its inherent antagonistic relationship with hikers and gardeners, it may be nevertheless worth a nod of respect.
Fall Issue 2008
Naturalist’s Notebook: There’s More to Poison Oak
Get a few rash ideas about poison oak!
