It's the last day of July, the temps are creeping up to 100 every day, and you would think the birds would stop fledging babies. Instead, we have a begging baby mockingbird out in front keeping its exhausted parents busy. And orioles, along with many competitors, are feeding Nevin's barberry …
Favorite Nature Photos of 2021
With Covid discouraging many gatherings, nature drew us, both at preserves and in our yard, which has been landscaped for maximum habitat value. Here are my 2021 favorites! …
Stories (and a few Lessons) from our Habitat Yard
As our California native plants grow and expand their footprint in our front and backyard, we’ve noticed increasing numbers of critters. They range from teensy millimeters-long bees to coyotes and foxes. Why are native plants in a habitat garden so important? Here’s a good Audbon article - …
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Co-existing with Rattlesnakes Talk/Resources
It's rattlesnake time. And the time for sightings of many other snakes. "Co-existing with Rattlesnakes" (and other snakes) was a talk that herpetologist Dr. Bill Hayes gave in March. I've written much on this topic so please see resources and links to the articles below. Unfortunately …
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All About Rattlesnakes: A Presentation by Dr. William Hayes
Before coronavirus struck, Dr. William Hayes was to talk this month in Temecula CA on "All about Rattlesnakes and Local Snakes." Well, that can't happen. Luckily, the Loma Linda biology professor, researcher and important spokesperson for snakes and other wild things gave a similar talk in …
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Protecting my Dog against Rattlesnake Bites
It's rattlesnake time! Recently Cowboy Jack, a dog of my petsitter, Kristy Bagwell, ended up in a serious tussle with a Southern Pacific rattlesnake. The snake got bit too and died, while poor Jake, a Jack Russel/beagle mix, was rushed to an animal hospital to receive two vials of antivenom (along …
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