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Recently Asked
“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
“We found a dead cougar on a turnout on highway 101 at Gaviota on Sunday, 9-20-2020. I phoned the wildlife people at California's Fish and Wildlife Department, and they had it picked up. Fish and Wildl...”
Leo, Santa Barbara - September 22, 2020
“I know that garnets come in several different colors but I'm not too sure about all of the different shapes these stones are found in. You can pick most of these up with a typical magnet. ”
Ken, Ventura - September 21, 2020
“Please identify the attached pictures as I am uncertain of their names.
Thanks,
Lewis Rubin”
Lewis Rubin, Santa Barbara - September 19, 2020
“Hello,
A few months ago I came upon this very odd looking coastal rock formation that I initially mistook to be a rotted piece of old driftwood. But examining it closer, saw it is pure stone. Could i...”
Todd Cook, Wilmore, KY - September 16, 2020
“Were building on the Mesa and dug up a sea shell fossil. I'm wondering if you can tell me more aboiut it. I have attached an image but am happy to bring it over if you would like.
Kind regards,
Lyn...”
Lynn, the Mesa in Santa Barbara - August 31, 2020
“Hello SB Natural History Museum,
I think it's wonderful that you provide this ask-a-curator service, thank you. My question:
My daughter and I found a rock that looks a lot like the tip of a Chumas...”
Brent, Santa Barbara - August 29, 2020
“Hi,
I recently found this rock, which looks like a Chumash pestle or grinding stone, near a construction site at Hendry's beach. Do you think it is real? Is it something I should turn in to the museu...”
Melinda, Santa Barbara - August 28, 2020
“Hello, I was wondering what the numbers taped to the floor by the observatory were used for. I assumed they were for stargazing. Thank you.”
Victor Ramos - August 13, 2020
“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
“Is it known what the Chumash called the different species of whales active in the Santa Barbara Channel?
I am particularily interested in what they called the blue whales.”
Douglas Hall, 709 Toro Canyon Rd., SB 93108 - August 6, 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