IPM Newsroom reported
The lesser prairie chicken was once a common sight in the southern Great Plains, but its numbers are dwindling. Even so, it lost federal protections earlier this year for a second time. Now states and landowners are overseeing conservation efforts
Read more at A native prairie bird lost federal protection. People are still trying to save it on private land – IPM Newsroom
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 27, 2025
A native prairie bird lost federal protection. People are still trying to save it on private land
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 26, 2025
Rockslide closes main route (140) to Yosemite in both directions. No timetable for reopening
MSN reported
The highway is closed in both directions, the CHP said.
Posted in Drives, Park | Tags: Yosemite Road Closures
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 26, 2025
Lethal dose of plastic for seabirds and marine animals ‘much smaller than expected’
Monga Bay reported
- A new study looking at the impacts of plastic ingestion by seabird, sea turtles and marine mammals found that relatively small amounts of consumed plastic can be deadly.
- The research analyzed the necropsy results for more than 10,000 animals and quantified the amount of plastic that could prove deadly as well as the types of plastic with the biggest impact, which included synthetic rubber, soft plastics (such as plastic bags and wrappers) and discarded plastic fishing gear.
- Overall, one in five of the deceased animals had consumed plastic (affecting 50% of all studied sea turtles, 35% of seabirds and 12% of marine mammals); nearly half of the species studied were considered threatened or near threatened on the IUCN Red List.
- The researchers didn’t consider other health impacts of plastic, such as chemical exposure and entanglement, which led the lead author to conclude the study likely underestimates the “existential threat that plastic pollution poses to ocean wildlife.”
Posted in Animals, Environment | Tags: Marine Mammals, Seabirds
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 25, 2025
New fairy lantern plant discovered at popular Malaysian park
EarthSky reported
A naturalist in Malaysia discovered a new fairy lantern plant. Scientists named it Thismia selangorensis.
The tiny, delicate species is extremely rare, with fewer than 20 known plants.
Scientists warn it is critically endangered and needs careful protection
Read on earthsky.org/earth/fairy-lantern-plant-discovered-malaysian-park/
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: New Species, Thismia selangorensis.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 25, 2025
Nearly 30,000 trafficked animals were rescued in a monthlong global operation led by Interpol
AP reported on December 11 from Cape Town, South Africa
Nearly 30,000 live animals were rescued in a monthlong global operation against wildlife trafficking that resulted in a record number of seizures, the international police body Interpol said on Thursday.
Operation Thunder 2025 from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 involved law enforcement agencies and wildlife and forestry authorities from 134 countries and resulted in more than 4,600 separate seizures that included tens of thousands of protected animals and plants and tens of thousands of cubic meters of illegally logged timber.
Read more Nearly 30,000 trafficked animals were rescued in a monthlong global operation led by Interpol
Posted in Animals | Tags: Trafficked Animals
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 25, 2025
Beaver-engineered habitats are outperforming ours
Anthropocene reported
Beaver-engineered wetlands attract twice as many hoverflies, nearly 50% more butterflies, and a richer variety of bats compared to human-made ponds.
Read on www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2025/11/beaver-engineered-habitats-are-outperforming-ours/
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 24, 2025
Channel Island Maritime Museum Upcoming Events
See the upcoming events at the Channel Island Maritime Museum at upcoming events and activities.
Posted in Talks | Tags: Channel Island Maritime Museum
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 24, 2025
Rare sea reptile seen off NC’s Outer Banks made 5,400-mile journey, tracker shows
MSN reported
Among the rarest of sights off North Carolina’s Outer Banks is a leatherback sea turtle, and a tracking device attached to one is giving researchers a stunning map of how far they swim to get here.
Posted in Animals, Uncategorized | Tags: Leather-back Sea Turtle
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 24, 2025
‘The narwhals stop calling’: how the noise from ships is silencing wildlife in the Arctic | Whales
The Guardian reported
Evidence that the whales and other marine animals are particularly vulnerable to sound is driving calls for quieter vessels.
Posted in Animals, Environment | Tags: Narwhals
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 23, 2025
Betty Reid Soskin, once the nation’s oldest park ranger, has died at age 104
Berkeleyside reported
She co-founded Reid’s Records in Berkeley, dated Jackie Robinson, delivered cash for the Black Panthers and published a memoir about her remarkable life.
Betty Reid Soskin, who retired as the nation’s oldest park ranger, died peacefully at her home in Richmond Sunday morning, her daughter announced on Facebook. She was 104.
The post said she was with her family when she passed away. “She led a fully packed life and was ready to leave,” they wrote. A more formal obituary has since been posted.
Reid Soskin spent 15 years in the national park service, where she told visitors the stories of unsung marginalized World War II workers at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond. Her service earned her a presidential coin from President Barack Obama.
Read more Betty Reid Soskin, once the nation’s oldest park ranger, has died at age 104
Posted in Park | Tags: Betty Reid Soskin, Oldest Park Ranger
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 23, 2025
Trump considers giving a 775-acre federal wildlife refuge to Elon Musk’s SpaceX
MSN reported
The Trump administration is considering handing over 775 acres of federally protected land to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
The space company, owned by the world’s richest man, would use the land to expand its rocket launching and production site in Cameron County, Texas
Posted in Environment | Tags: SpaceX, Wildlife Preserves
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 23, 2025
Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Upcoming Events
See all Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Upcoming Events at see all upcoming events
Posted in Park | Tags: Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Events
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 23, 2025
Studies: Extreme Weather Fueled by Climate Change Is Adding to Bird Declines
IFL Science reported reported
Scientists have typically pointed to habitat loss as the key factor behind the worldwide drop in bird populations worldwide, but climate change poses a second, closely linked threat.
Read more Studies: Extreme Weather Fueled by Climate Change Is Adding to Bird Declines • The Revelator
Posted in Animals, Birds | Tags: Climate change Impact on Birds, Habitat Loss. Birds
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 22, 2025
Marin County Parks Upcoming Events
See the calendar of upcoming free events for Marin County Parks Events Calendar – Marin County Parks
Posted in Park
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 22, 2025
Flowers after the Rain
A couple of flowers from front gardens while going for a walk after the rain in North Berkeley Flatlands.
Wild Iris/Dietes grandiflora
Rose after the rain
Posted in Garden, Photos (Sandy's), Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Dietes grandiflora, Rose, Wild Iris
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 22, 2025
Scientists say they have discovered 20 new species deep in the Pacific Ocean : NPR
NPR reported
Scientists believe they have discovered at least 20 new species in a deep part of the Pacific Ocean.
The discoveries were found after researchers from the California Academy of Sciences retrieved 13 reef monitoring devices that had been placed in deep coral reefs in Guam, which had been collecting data since 2018. The devices, known as autonomous reef monitoring structures or ARMS, were placed up to 330 feet below the surface, an area of the ocean that receives little light
Read on www.npr.org/2025/12/21/nx-s1-5650781/new-species-deep-pacific-ocean
Posted in Animals | Tags: New Species
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 22, 2025
America’s smallest ‘national park’ includes a 12-second hike
SF Gate reported
It’s a pretty rare experience to have an entire national park to yourself — and even rarer to know that you can see the entirety of the park’s diverse landscape from one vantage point.
But that was the case for me on a recent Tuesday at Bixby Knolls “National Park,” which at just 0.05 acre is the self-proclaimed tiniest national park in the United States. It’s also the only “national park” on a major boulevard kitty-corner from a Papa Johns and across the street from a doughnut shop. The retro breakfast spot even capitalizes on its proximity to the park by offering “official” Bixby Bear Claws and Bixby Rocks (doughnut holes).
To be clear, an act of Congress with a signature by a U.S. president (the pathway to official status) did not confer the “national park” title on the tiny plot of land in Long Beach, the second-largest city in Los Angeles County. Instead, the designation came directly from a man named Blair.
Read more America’s smallest ‘national park’ includes a 12-second hike
Posted in Park | Tags: Bixby Knolls “National Park
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 21, 2025
‘The biggest transformation in a century’: how California remade itself as a clean energy powerhouse | California | The Guardian
The Guardian reported
The Golden State’s clean energy use hit new highs in 2025. As the Trump administration abandons US climate initiatives, can California fill the void?
Read on www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/20/california-renewable-energy
Posted in Environment | Tags: California Green Energy
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 21, 2025
Always Smiling Amphibian Featured on Mexican Money Is So Cute it’s Being Hoarded and Never Spent
Good News Network reported
Mexico recently redesigned its 50 peso note with the image of a perpetually smiling amphibian found only in the country called the axolotl, and it’s become so well loved it’s being hoarded.
Posted in Animals | Tags: axolot, Salamander
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 20, 2025
‘I can’t think of a place more pristine’: 133,000 hectares of Chilean Patagonia preserved after local fundraising | Chile | The Guardian
The Guardian reported
Exclusive: Ancient forests and turquoise rivers of the Cochamó Valley protected from logging, damming and development
Posted in Environment | Tags: Patagonia
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 20, 2025
Snails on a plane: Australia flies rescue mission to Norfolk Island for a tiny, critically endangered species | Environment | The Guardian
The Guardian reported
The Campbell’s keeled glass-snail is officially extinct, but researchers have ‘high hopes’ that translocation will allow the population to thrive
Read on www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/21/campbell-keeled-glass-snail-translocation-norfolk-island
Posted in Animals | Tags: Campbell’s keeled glass-snail
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 20, 2025
Rocks Thrown at Elephant Seals
From Pt. Reyes National Seashore
On December 6, 2025, at approximately 3:40 p.m., video footage from the Chimney Rock livestream at Point Reyes National Seashore shows two individuals throwing rocks toward an elephant seal resting on the beach. The female subject is an adult with black hair, wearing a white baseball cap, a red and dark-colored jacket with blue and gold accents, and blue jeans. She is observed throwing multiple rocks, several of which appear to strike the seal. The male subject is an adult wearing a dark jacket with neon yellow accents, including a neon yellow–lined hood, and carrying a large black DSLR-style camera. He is also seen throwing rocks in the direction of the seal. The footage shows deliberate throwing actions by both individuals, with multiple rocks striking the elephant seal. These animals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and other NPS wildlife regulations.
If you have any information on this incident that can assist investigators, please contact the National Park Service tip line at 888-653-0009.
Posted in Animals, Park | Tags: Bad Park Visitor Behavior, Elephant Seals, Pt. Reyes
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 20, 2025
How cuckoo birds manage to mimic the eggs of many species
Earth.com reported
Cuckoo eggs are crafted to look nearly identical to those of their hosts. From background color to the placement of tiny speckles, the mimicry is so exact that it often fools even the most attentive parents.
Read more at How cuckoo birds manage to mimic the eggs of many species – Earth.com
Posted in Birds | Tags: Cuckoo eggs
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 19, 2025
Sweden has lost the Snowy Owl
BirdLife reports
The Snowy Owl has been declared Regionally Extinct in Sweden. For the first time in 20 years, the country has officially lost a bird species.
Read more Sweden has lost the Snowy Owl
Posted in Birds | Tags: Extinctions, Snowy Owl, Sweden
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 19, 2025
Fallen Leaves (photos)
Posted in Fall Foliage, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Fall Color, Fall Foliage
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 19, 2025
National Park Threat Removed
From National Park Conservation Association
Earlier this week, Senator Mike Lee introduced an amendment that would have removed protections against selling America’s national parks. Of course, you absolutely REFUSED. And it’s working. 💪
Thanks to rapid fire pressure from advocates like you, Sen. Lee reversed his attempt to remove these national park protections from the Interior Appropriations bill. But the deal isn’t done. The Senate went on recess before voting on the bill. We need to stay vigilant. 👀 Read More…
Posted in Park | Tags: National Park Protections
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 19, 2025
When planting trees to slow climate change, don’t plant the same tree all the time
Anthropocene reported
When planting trees to slow climate change, don’t plant the same tree all the time
An experiment spanning 16 years found that places reforested with five kinds of trees stored 36% more carbon than monocultures.\
Read more When planting trees to slow climate change, don’t plant the same tree all the time
Posted in Environment, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Tree Planting and Climate Change
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 18, 2025
Senator Mike Lee Axes Protection for National Parks
SF Gate reported
Read more at ‘ Nobody wants this’: Senator axes language protecting national parksUtah Sen. Mike Lee has proposed changes to the Senate appropriations bill that could open the door for the sale of national parks, according to national park advocacy groups.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: National Park Protections
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 18, 2025
Game-farm mallard genetics are a bigger problem than waterfowlers think — only 2% of greenheads in the Atlantic Flyway are fully wild
MSN reported
New data adds to ongoing research that paints a clearer picture of the prevalence of game-farm genetics in wild mallard populations.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 18, 2025
Los Padres ForestWatch Upcoming Events
See Upcoming Los Padres ForestWatch Upcoming Events at Home | Los Padres ForestWatch
Posted in Birds, Talks | Tags: Los Padres ForestWatch Upcoming Events
Natural History Wanderings 