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
“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
“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
“What made the tracks?”
Pam, Santa Barbara - October 24, 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
“We have had a bat visiting from time to time over the last month in a small space in our ceiling. I've found the opening in the wall through which it is making its way into the house and would like to...”
David, Santa Barbara - August 24, 2022
“Found about a dozen eggs, (small about 1/2 inch or smaller) while cleaning out a clay pot that had a dead plant. Digging in the soil to remove roots, my hand tool came up with a few eggs, more scoops...”
Sandra, Santa Barbara - July 20, 2022
“I photographed this dead woodrat on San Marcos Foothills Preserve on May 2, 2022. I'm wondering if it is a Dusky-footed Woodrat.”
Barbara, Santa Barbara - June 15, 2022
“Hi,
This guy was at our patio during a drizzling earlier morning Riviera area.
Thank you,
Ann”
Ann, Riviera, Santa Barbara - May 27, 2022
“Good Afternoon,
I discovered these bones near the top of a seacliff off the Santa Barbara Coastline, near UCSB. They look like vertebrae to me, but I truly have no clue. ”
Shahmeer, Santa Barbara, CA - February 23, 2022
“We found this at campus point. Do you know what animal it came from? ”
Terri, Goleta - January 30, 2022
“Hi,
Thsi question is for both your Ornithology and Chumash Artifacts curators.
There is a well documented flock of local parrots that have roosted in Montecito for many decades. You may be familiar...”
Christopher, San Roque - October 28, 2021
“Is anyone concerned about invasive foxes? I have had animal cameras running continuously for about 5 years and watched a few generations of grey foxes grow up on our bit of wilderness on our property....”
Joel, Ojai - September 17, 2021
“I was wondering if any of your vertebrate zoologists could comment on this skunk. I caught it on my motion camera in my backyard. It appears to have a large growth on its head, visible in both views....”
Rebecca, Goleta - July 30, 2021
“On June 16, 2021 I walked onto our concrete patio at about 9 PM and saw a snake in residential Santa Barbara for the first time after living here for just over 50 years. The neighhood net is reporting...”
Brian, Santa Barbara - June 18, 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
“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
“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
“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