Recently Asked
“Good afternoon. Would you be so kind to please help me identify the bone of the images attached to this question. My brother found it on a beach in the western part of my country, El Salvador, Central...”
Ana Luisa Roque Valdovinos, San Salvador, El Salvador, Central America - August 8, 2020
“I found this skeleton in our backyard woods. We frequently see skunks, racoons and opossums on our trail cam, but this looks smaller than a racoon or opossum and larger than a skunk. The skull and j...”
Jeff Lawton, Santa Barbara, Mesa area - August 8, 2020
“Hola, ¿dónde puedo encontrar los archivos arqueológicos, geológicos y antropológicos del estudio de este yacimiento? ¿Los archivos están a disposición de todos y todas?”
Paula Núñez, Chile - August 6, 2020
“Hi! Would anyone there know what makes the tracks in this (attached) photo? They are all over Hollywood Beach in Oxnard, usually around vegetation but not always. They appear to be something that liv...”
Gene, Oxnard, CA - August 6, 2020
“Hi, upon doing some research, we discovered tachnid flies are killing our backyard Monarch Butterflies. We took a few Monarch caterpillars inside, in huge glass jars to watch them create chrysalises a...”
Erin Kelley, Santa Barbara - August 5, 2020
“Earlier this spring a Cliff Swallow built a nest under our eaves. Knowing that they are protected, I let them be and tried to just clean up the mess regularly.
I have two questions if someone at the...”
Patrick, Santa Barbara - July 20, 2020
“We have been noticing a Hummingbird at our feeder that has markings that are different from the usual Hummingbirds ( Mostly Anna's and a Rufus). We think it is a Ruby Throated Hummingbird. Howeve...”
John Boyd, Santa Barbara - July 10, 2020
“I recently found this pictograph and was curious about the snake or s like symbol or the right hand side lining up the with yellow paint on the left? I'm thinking this is a calendar or sun schedule..?”
Cooper H, Goleta - June 21, 2020
“Hi there,
I'm wondering if someone may be able to help me with an insect ID. Three days ago we noticed these guys all over our second story balcony, our front porch, sidewalk, and cars parked on the...”
Kelly Adams, Oxnard - June 1, 2020
“I live in Mumbai, India. I found this insect sitting on my house window. Is it a Mantis? If yes, then which species? There's currently lockdown in the country due to coronavirus. Are Mantes normally f...”
Preet Zatakia, Mumbai, India - May 30, 2020
“My son is REALLY into dinosaurs and found the below at the beach and would LOVE help with an ID. Any advice?”
Jack Ucciferri, Carpinteria - May 27, 2020
“I came across it in my bathroom. When I placed a glass over it—in order to capture it and relocate it outside—it spun around faster than anything I've ever seen in my life.”
Erik Torkells, Montecito - May 9, 2020
“My son is completing his science project on our local tidepools. We've identified all specimens during our field study, except for the attached. Can you help? ”
Andrea, Coal Oil Point - May 9, 2020
“I saw these blonde and pink anemone friends at Goleta Beach, in addition to the regular blue ones, and I was wondering what causes their various colors? And can anemones be phosphorescent?”
Julian, Goleta - April 29, 2020
“I found this insect in our bathroom yesterday it was less than a quarter of an inch. Can you tell me what it is. Thank you”
Terry Holgate, Goleta - April 22, 2020
“Hi Curator,
With binoculars I saw only the back of this lone bright bird sitting on the top branch of a euc in Mission Canyon near the cul de sac of Windsor Way. Orange head, black neck, yellow body...”
Dwight Gregory, Mission Canyon - April 18, 2020
“This small tree just suddenly popped up in our backyard. Can you help us identify what it is?”
Lauren, Santa Barbara, near the SB Natural History Museum - April 11, 2020
“Hello,
we have a small mammal digging tunnels and popping up in our back yard. We want to know more about it but don’t know it’s name. Can you help? ”
Julie, Montecito - April 8, 2020
“These bugs infested my pomegranate tree last year, leaving little drill holes (for eggs?).
What are they and why have I seen them only once in 20 years?”
Jana, Goleta - April 8, 2020
“Hello. Today I saw this on a rock at Ellwood Beach. Perhaps it is a common creature, but I have never seen one before. There were only two on the same rock. Sorry I didn't think to put a coin beside...”
Lisa, Santa Barbara, CA - February 25, 2020