Recently Asked
Learn what the community is asking about this season, with answers by Museum experts.
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- Recently Asked
“Hello! I am a student at UCSB, and on a recent walk on the lagoon island I found this mushroom. I uploaded it to iNaturalist, and got several Blewit (more specifically Lepista tarda) id...”
Sam, Isla Vista/University of California- Santa Barbara - January 28, 2026
“Hello,I think this might be a Coast Live Oak, so is this an oak wasp gall?Thanks!”
Kevin, Santa Barbara - January 23, 2026
“Hi! I read the article about finding a Joro spider locally. Wondering if this is also a Joro spider? I took this photo in Toba, Japan in early December 2025. Thanks!”
Nick, Santa Barbara - January 16, 2026
“Around 2008 your museum was going to display the mammoth skeleton found in Moorpark. Is it there now, if not where did it end up?
Tnx,”
Nicholas, Moorpark, CA - November 15, 2025
“I found what I believe to be a vertebrae on the beach after a storm, and I'm curious which type of creature it may belong to. It is 1-1/4" long and 1" in diameter. A small hole runs through the...”
Lori, Ocean City, NJ - November 9, 2025
“Hello, I am wondering if beavers are native to Santa Barbara, specifically along the Santa Ynez River. I have heard from different biologists both that beaver are and are not native to the area....”
Lindsy, Santa Barbara - November 6, 2025
“Hello!
Can you tell what type of spider this is? It's wrapping up a honey bee.
Thanks!”
Kevin, Santa Barbara - November 3, 2025
“Hello!
Can you tell what this is?
Thanks!”
Kevin, Santa Barbara - August 13, 2025
“Hello!
Can you tell what type of beetle this is? Very tiny.”
Kevin, Santa Barbara - August 4, 2025
