Recently Asked
“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
“Please identify the attached pictures as I am uncertain of their names.
Thanks,
Lewis Rubin”
Lewis Rubin, Santa Barbara - September 19, 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
“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
“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
“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
“I recently bought this bone.
I bought another as well at the same time. I was told it was mammoth, but i knew better, i think its some type of bison sacrum, but i was hoping you could tell me what ty...”
Savanna, Quincy, IL - January 26, 2020
“I encountered this snake in my backyard on the Mesa. Could any of the naturalists at the SBMNH identify it, and more importantly, tell me whether or not it is venomous? We have wild rabbits in our bac...”
Anthony, Santa Barbara - June 3, 2019
“I have a nest that blew out of a tree in the recent storms. I’m pretty sure it is a squirrel’s nest Online I read that it is possible to get certain diseases from squirrels. Does this apply to the...”
Susan Hopkins, Goleta - February 4, 2019
“Our kitchen window in the Shadow Hills development at the top end of Via Chaparral looks across about 325 yards to the opposite side of San Antonio Canyon in the vicinity of the dam. On a number of o...”
Doug Caldow, Santa Barbara - January 31, 2019
“I found this dark heavy bone while walking on the beach after the storm on Friday night. What is it? Could it be part of a sea lion? Why is it black and super heavy? ”
Benjamin Van Heusden, Santa Barbara - January 14, 2019
“I came across a bone while I was walking on the beach. Do you know what animal it came from and what part it is? Thanks!”
Dawn, Goleta (bone found at Haskells, going west) - December 7, 2018
“We have a wildlife camera in our yard on the Riviera and captured these two critters the night of 7/21. (See the face of #2 at the lower left edge of the photo.) Not enough tail for bobcat, not enough...”
Leslie, Santa Barbara's Riviera - July 22, 2018
“Hello,
My work colleague found what appears to be a very tiny nest. I have attached 2 photos. Can you tell us what sort of creature built such a nest? And is the museum interested in taking the nest...”
Suzanne, Santa Barbara - May 23, 2018
“I have some bats living in the wall of my garage. I am replacing the siding on the garage and need to relocate them. What is the best thing to do? ”
Bruce, Mission Canyon - April 18, 2018
“Hello Curators,
I have rats at my house. :( I don’t want to use poison because I know that can make predators sick when they eat poisoned animals. What can I do?
Thanks for your help.”
Nicole, Santa Barbara - April 16, 2018
“Help!
I found a little snake in my house! It was olive green with a red band around the neck and a bright red underside. Never seen one before around here. Is this some kind of exotic invader? I feel...”
Ted, Goleta - April 16, 2018
“Dear Curator,
I saw a snake in my yard. It didn’t rattle, but I think it was a rattlesnake. The head looked pretty triangular. What should I do if it comes back?”
Diego, Santa Barbara - April 16, 2018