Folks aboard the Condor Express out of Santa Barbara got an extra scoop this week, with the vessel’s first humpback whale sighting of the season, writes Pete Thomas in his Outdoor Action and Adventure blog. Six or more of the cetaceans were spotted. Pete reports: “We’ve heard rumors of these beasts coming back into the […]
This is the season when the historic cliff swallows wing their way back toward the most famous mission in California, San Juan Capistrano.
Forget about that classic image of a loner lizard, only out for himself as he scurries into the darkness with his cold-blood pumping throughout his solitary scaly body. The online magazine OnEarth recently reports that “cold-blooded doesn’t mean antisocial at all” in a new article by writer Kim Tingley who recaps what scientists are discovering […]
Not the shrew of the Nile, the desert shrew is still full of mystery. Well, at least enough mystery to provide a challenge to those taking the trivia of the week challenge! Put on your thinking caps, get ready, and go!
One of Southern California’s rarest butterflies, the Hermes copper, was denied endangered status on April 14 and was placed on the growing list of “candidate” species. “Sprawl and huge wildfires threaten to wipe out this beautiful butterfly,” said Ileene Anderson, a biologist at the Center for Biological Diversity, an organization that has been seeking protection […]
T.C. Boyle | Viking Press. Rats, feral pigs and eagles play important roles in T.C. Boyle’s thirteenth novel that’s based on real events that took place on the Northern California Channel Islands where an ecosystem — twisted by humans and introduced invasive species – has been struggling to survive for hundreds of years.
Sure, we got a diverse wildlife palette here in present day Southern California, but at one point in time; say about 40,000 years ago, this region was a mecca of thriving beasties with curvy claws, hairy humpsand scary wicked dental appendages.
Did they take a wrong turn or are they off sightseeing? Whatever the reason, a large pod of sperm whales was recently spotted off the SoCal Coast past Santa Catalina Island – and lucky for scientists who were onboard a whale-watching boat and managed to snap some great pictures. According to the Orange County Register: […]
Spiders, lizards and ladybugs…now butterflies will be added to the list of critters that Angelenos can be on the lookout for as they help scientists from the Natural History Museum discover what exactly is lurking and living in the urban backyards of Los Angeles County. Set to launch this April, this new community science program – The Lost Butterfly Project – follows on the footsteps of three other on-going field research projects that aim to discover exactly where the wild things are in the Southland.
Roses are red,
wild carnations are pink.
What does orange
have to do with a skink?
Get your “skinking -hats” on and click through to test your knowledge on the mighty skink.
Check out how scientists do their stuff, capture marine specimens and learn about the watery world of sea creatures aboard the 93-foot fishing vessel, First String, on Sat., June 11, 2011.
Cabrillo Aquarium is …
While there are only a few rehabilitation centers in Southern California, there are plenty of rehabbers who specialize in specific animals. Here’s a list of organizations and resources you can contact if you find an injured, sick or abandoned wild animal.