Stories

Welcome to Stories, a place to explore—and be inspired by—the wonder of our natural and cultural worlds.

Nature in L.A.

Backyard Bobcats of L.A.

“Miguel, I found a dead bobcat!” It was 8:30 in the morning when I received a call from my friend Jessie Jennewein.

Nature in L.A.

Lizard Love Bites

Have you recently seen lizards in L.A. that appear to be biting each other, or maybe they are trying to eat each other?

Toyon on Los Vaqueros Watershed Miwok Trail

Nature in L.A.

California Holly: How Hollywood Didn't Get its Name

In Nancy Dale’s 1986 epic tome of Southern California native plants, Flowering Plants, she has this to say about Toyon — aka California Holly, Christmas Berry, or, if you’re a botanist, Heteromeles arbutifolia:

Nature in L.A.

Niña de la Tierra: Children of the Earth

No it's not the title of a horror film, Children of the Earth bug is actually one of the many common names for Stenopelmatus fuscus.

Research and Collections

A Microscopic Look at Snail Jaws

Have you ever wondered what the inside of a snail's mouth looks like?

'Tis the Season for Baby Lizards

Over the past few weeks, baby lizards have been hatching out of their eggs throughout Southern California.

Hawk Attacks Snake and Epically Fails!

Guest blog by our very own Dr. Greg Pauly

image Rattlesnake sliding across desert road in california

Misplaced Fears: Rattlesnakes Are Not as Dangerous as Ladders, Trees, Dogs, or Large TVs

In Southern California, rattlesnakes can be seen year round, but Spring and Summer have the most rattlesnake activity.

Q: What are Those Miniature Spiky Puffballs? A: Brown Widow Egg Sacs

Earlier this week, staff found some small circular egg cases on a gate in the North Campus. Upon closer inspection we realized they were brown widow, Latrodectus geometricus, egg sacs.

Nature in L.A.

When Fig Beetles Attack!

It’s a beautiful summer day in L.A. and I am strolling across a wide open lawn. The sky is bright blue and decorated with scattered clouds.

Stories

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