The Sierra Nevada red fox has been listed as endangered since 2021, and as of 2023, it may disappear from the Yosemite area without conservation efforts. These foxes are well-adapted to cold, high-elevation environments thanks to their thick coats. Like other red foxes, they have a white-tipped tail. For red foxes, mating occurs in winter,…
Field Frame: Sandpiper stripes
The unique combination of color bands on this Spotted Sandpiper’s leg indicate his identity and allow researchers to track his whereabouts and behavior by observing him in the natural environment. This male (called “RS-OM” for red, silver, orange, mauve) was captured in 2022 as part of a research study investigating Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) parental and mating…
Creature Feature: Northern Rubber Boa
What comes to mind when you hear the word, “boa?” Perhaps you are envisioning a three-meter-long snake in the Amazon Rainforest – a formidable predator that eats sweet little monkeys and hapless possums. You wouldn’t be alone on this train of thought. Indeed, even Charles Darwin’s co-discoverer of natural selection, Alfred Russel Wallace, had an…
Sunday Sketch: Beneficial Bats
Mexican free-tailed bats are impressive aerial hunters—capable of flying up to 60 miles per hour on average! They feed on moths and other flying insects, playing a key role in natural pest control. Art by Allen Butler-Struben, Instagram & Twitter @BLIRTT. Fact by Nicole Rodrigues, Twitter @n3rodrigues [Edited by Nicole Rodrigues] Reference: Bat Conservation International….
Field Frame Friday: What to do when you find a baby bird
Earlier this week, I stumbled upon a small surprise in the middle of a busy downtown walkway: a baby bird, alone looking up at me, smaller than the palm of my hand. I wasn’t sure what to do at first, so I did what any cautious animal lover might do, stood nearby to protect it…
Field Frame Friday: Lizard push-ups
If you’ve lived in California for a long enough time and paid close enough attention to our local western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) scuttling about nearly everywhere, you have probably seen one doing his lizard push-ups, as pictured above. This behavior tends to be most common in the breeding season (spring and summer) because it…
Science and Culture: Father Figures with Fur and Feathers
Fatherhood in the animal kingdom often escapes the spotlight. Biology textbooks and evolutionary theories emphasize maternal care as the default, while male animals were frequently cast as disengaged, uninvolved, or expendable. However, a closer look at the science tells a much richer story where animal dads are anything but background characters. From penguins that brave…
Field Frame Friday: Guarding the goslings
If you’ve ever had a run-in with goose parents, you know that these birds make for fierce defenders of their babies, which we call goslings. Females typically lay 2-9 eggs, and to boost survival rates, both parents defend the nest during incubation. They become even more aggressive later in the spring as hatching time approaches….
Field Notes: Stepping Over a Cliff’s Edge
When I park the ATV at the top of a hill and the drone of the engine cuts out, a hush settles over the foothills. Removing my thick helmet, I can finally hear the fluting of distant meadowlarks. To my west rises a long, wide ridge of granite cliffs. I’ve been scanning this ridge on…
Sunday Sketch: What Makes Cats and Bears Formidable Hunters?
Domestic cats and bears both belong to the order Carnivora. Bears have an incredible sense of smell — for instance, black bears may be able to detect scents from 1 to 2 miles away. This powerful ability helps them locate food across great distances. Cats, can rotate their ears 180 degrees to better detect prey….
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