Recently Asked
“On the 15th of this month, I went to the hummingbird feeders and saw a dead hummer underneath the feeder. It looked muddy and while it didn't look like an Annas Hummingbird, it seemed similar in size....”
Janine, Ojai,CA - March 21, 2023
“I found , see pics, boon teeth look jawline to me but I have no clue what animal, if it's old, if it new etc. can you help me identify? My research has me guess seal”
Lorraine, Pa - March 18, 2023
“Dear experts,I photographed these amazingly colorful red and yellow things growing in the leaf litter near my home in Solvang. Never seen anything quite like this before. What are they?There was a dea...”
Pat, Solvang, CA - March 16, 2023
“I would like to know if this basket is Native American made, or is a tourist trade knock-off. If my pictures are not adequate, or you need more information, please let me know.”
Roger, Arroyo Grande - March 15, 2023
“During the recent wind storm, this nest fell out of a tree in our backyard. It fell out of either an Ash or a California Pepper Tree that grow side by side. The nest is quite large. Can we donate it t...”
Cayce, Goleta - March 1, 2023
“Hello!
What type of bee is this? And are those two yellow balls pollen? This was taken at SBMNH on Sunday.
Thanks!”
Kevin, UCSB - February 27, 2023
“I found this stone bowl shortly after the recent storms near Haskells Beach area. The bowl was among several large rocks that are not normally seen.
The bowl perfectly balanced upright has two gro...”
Emma, Montecito - February 1, 2023
“Hello!
Do you know what type of fungus this is? They have a very unique and pretty purple shade, and pop-up around this time of year (presumably due to the weather/rain?). I took this photo outside o...”
Kevin, UCSB - December 29, 2022
“These stinkhorn mushrooms are sprouting up recently after a rain all over our trails in suburban Dallas area. They are beautiful. Extremely fragile. And pollinated by ants, flies and even millipedes....”
Richard, Dallas area - December 14, 2022
“Hi- I live in Carp and always collect sea glass - the other day I came upon an object that has me curious if it is an old piece of pottery. It seems like old clay -- very smooth on one side with a sli...”
Amy, Carpinteria - December 5, 2022
“Hi there,
I recently found 2 shells near the capitola beach. I assumed that they were the same species, but I don't know which. I also don't know how old they are, if they are fossilized, and if they...”
Ani, Fremont, Ca - December 3, 2022
“Please see the attached photo. It's in our garden; probably not for long. Do you know what it is? Thanks! ”
Gari, Montecito - November 17, 2022
“I found an object on Ledbetter Beach that has me stumped. Because it was on the beach I first assumed that is was of marine origin, but it looks more like a mammal horn. I hope that the attached photo...”
David, Santa Barbara - November 16, 2022
“Hello there,
This afternoon, I noticed this large spider outside on the bench on my porch.
I live in Lompoc, and I have seen quite a few different species of spiders in my garden, but I have never...”
Sara, Northern Lompoc - November 11, 2022
“What made the tracks?”
Pam, Santa Barbara - October 24, 2022
“Thank you very much again for the recent help with the fungus ID. I now have another request, an entomological one this time. These little ones have been hanging out in the bathroom lately. I though...”
Daryl, Santa Barbara - October 5, 2022
“Hi, I'm a long time fan of Margaret Ely Webb, illustrator and resident of Santa Barbara. Apparently a collection of her watercolour work of wildflowers was gifted to the SBMNH and was just wondering i...”
Jessica, Sydney, Australia - October 2, 2022
“Hello, I wonder if someone at SBMNH can help me identify this mushroom. It's growing on the base of a palm tree here in Santa Barbara. An online forum suggested a species of Laetiporus. Chicken of t...”
Daryl, Santa Barbara - September 28, 2022
“What type of moth do you think this might be? It was the length of maybe a pinky finger.”
Kevin, Santa Barbara County - September 22, 2022
“When I was given this some thirty years ago, I was told that it was the vertebra of a wooly mammoth, and that it was found in Alaska..
in my little research, I am not so certain.. the vertebra seems...”
Mette, Santa Barbara - September 13, 2022