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Recently Asked
“I found this insect in our kitchen and it's body is around 1 cm long (maybe a bit more). Could you identify it and provide any information about e.g. if it is usually isolated or where it nests? Thank...”
Shreyas, Goleta - March 17, 2021
“I found a piece of, what appears to be, petrified wood on a Santa Barbara beach agaist the cliffs. Is this a piece that the museum would be interested in given I obtain proper permissions to retrieve?...”
Ted, Santa Barbara - March 13, 2021
“I found this very strange large insect last night on my outdoor mat. It has the body of a bee black and yellow stripes. But it looks like the head of a grasshopper. I can send you a photo of it? My fi...”
Lynn, Santa Barbara - March 4, 2021
“I am working in Santa Barbara and hike after work. Are there any public mortar sites or food processing sites? I have seen some in San roque, San Antonio creek parks. Are there more we can view? Aroun...”
Joshua, Santa Barbara - March 2, 2021
“Hello! I live in south-eastern North Carolina and I was in my front garden getting leaves out of the mulch when I noticed these weird white balls. Any clue what they might be? Maybe an early bloom of...”
Pattie, North Carolina - February 25, 2021
“While beach combing one day, we found a large rock that looked rusted, and when we picked it up it was very heavy. A few chucks of the outer layer fell off and revealed a metallic interior. We brought...”
B Vigil, Carpinteria, CA - February 21, 2021
“This little guy was in our house last night, I was able to safely get it outside and it immediately slithered into a gopher hole. This morning I was able to get a couple of pictures as it came out. Th...”
Ryan, Noleta - February 21, 2021
“My name is Rosey, I am the Park Naturalist at Cachuma Lake. One of the visitors sent me these pictures of a beetle she found, somewhere off Paradise Road in the rocks. It was dead. Is it a Rhinoceros...”
Rosey, Santa Ynez Valley - February 20, 2021
“I recall years ago hearing that there were people living in this area prior to the Chumash. The name I recall for these earlier people was "Oak Grove" people. However, a search of the web using that p...”
Wes Chapin, Somis, CA - February 16, 2021
“If I were to go out at night with a flashlight, how likely would it be for me to find some owls? Also, where would I have the highest chance of seeing owls? I'm 13 years old and I went out to Douglas...”
Oliver, Santa Barbara - February 6, 2021
“In a recent Instagram post, there was a picture of a Fairy Tub that was submitted. Do they glow in the dark? Do they glow under UV light? Do you know where I can find mushrooms/fungi that glow in the...”
Tyrena, SBMNH - February 2, 2021
“Dear museum scientists,
while camping on Paradise Rd near the Santa Ynez River in August, I found what appears to be a tool of some sort in the dry river bed. I am hoping to hear if it deserves fur...”
Bret Klopfenstein, Ventura, CA - January 16, 2021
“What kind of nest is this? Large, deep, rounded with a depth of about 2 feet. Made with branches, not sticks. Very close to the ground, with a "front door"
Thank you!”
Carol, Valley Center California - January 10, 2021
“Are you interested in gathering this for the butterfly exhibit?”
Bruce, Santa Barbara - January 5, 2021
“I found this huge hornet looking thing outside our home in Santa Ynez. It's about an inch and a half, almost 2 inches. It's still alive and under glass right now. Can you tell me what it is and what t...”
Diana, Santa Ynez - November 21, 2020
“I found this while digging in a creek bed on our property ( Cold Spring area) My question is, "what is it?"
Thank you for your time.”
David, Cold Spring area, Montecito - November 12, 2020
“I am hoping you can help me with a TON of very strange insects that have shown up in our 50 gallon horse trough. In cleaning the bottom I scooped up about 50 of them along with the sludge. We have had...”
Cynthia, Santa Barbara County - November 9, 2020
“Hi. I was wondering what kind of praying mantis this is and do you know if it’s a male or female? If it’s a female is she pregnant?
Thanks”
Candice, Yorba Linda Ca - October 29, 2020
“Hello,To whom shall I direct my inquiry on the identification of the snake in my attached photo?The photo was taken by my cousin John on the shore of Lake Isabella in Kern Co. CA.Thank you for any hel...”
Gail - October 6, 2020
“Can you identify the spider that makes these beautiful bubble/balloon webs? I have never seen such interesting webs in Santa Barbara/Goleta area, only back at a family cabin in the Los Padres NF.
I a...”
Gail, Santa Barbara, CA - September 29, 2020