Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 9, 2025

More Eastern Sierra roads reopen! 

from Mono Lake Tourism

More roads reopen!
SR 158 N (North June Lake Loop) and SR120 E (Mono Mills Road) along with SR 89 (Monitor Pass) are all OPEN as of 4/7/25!
All other winter closures in Mono County remain in place at this time, including:
• SR 108 (Sonora Pass)
• SR 120 W at the Lee Vining Gate (to Yosemite National Park)
• SR 270 (Bodie Road)
• SR 203 at Mammoth Mountain Lodge (construction continues this summer)
For the most up-to-date road conditions, please visit https://roads.dot.ca.gov/ or call 800-427-7623.

Unoffficial Networks reported

Three individuals have been sentenced after each committed separate public land violations @ Yellowstone National Park.

Read more at  3 Individuals Sentenced To Jail Time And Fines For Land Violations @ Yellowstone National Park – Unofficial Networks

Monga Bay  reported

  • U.K. lawmakers have spent the last four years delaying the implementation of “forest risk” regulations on imported commodities like beef, soy, palm oil, cocoa, coffee and rubber.
  • A law passed in 2021 needs secondary legislation to implement the regulations, which would establish what supply chain information needs to be collected by businesses and how it should be reported to the government.
  • As the country waits for the law’s implementation, U.K. imports have resulted in more than 39,300 hectares (97,100 acres) of deforestation, according to a report from NGO Global Witness.

Read mroe at  UK delays to environment law have led to massive deforestation, report says

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 9, 2025

Montana’s bold gamble to stop the Yellowstone highway bloodbath

SF Gate reported

At first sight, Highway 89 in Montana doesn’t look dangerous. It’s bucolic: horses and cattle graze near the road, the Yellowstone River winds in and out of sight, and the Absaroka Mountains rise sharply to the east. But with alarming frequency, this two-lane highway en route to Yellowstone National Park becomes a bloody mess when wildlife cross the road. 0:

Wildlife-vehicle collisions on this stretch of highway between Livingston and Yellowstone’s north entrance in Gardiner, one of the park’s five entrances and the only one that stays open year-round, have cost drivers $32 million in damages over the past 10 years, according to a coalition called Yellowstone Safe Passages. Yellowstone Safe Passages is made up of residents of the Upper Yellowstone watershed, as well as state and federal agencies, elected officials, conservation groups, landowners and more.

Read more  Montana’s bold gamble to stop the Yellowstone highway bloodbath

The Guardian reported

The contagious, fatal illness in deer, elk and moose must be taken seriously, say experts as it takes hold in the US and reaches other countries. While it has not infected humans yet, the risk is growing

Read more  ‘Don’t call it zombie deer disease’: scientists warn of ‘global crisis’ as infections spread across the US | Global development | The Guardian

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 8, 2025

Can NASA Help Predict Wildflower Super Blooms?

KQED reported

What if scientists could accurately predict when and where a wildflower super bloom will occur?

NASA researchers are working to do just that — with the help of a fancy device they call an imaging spectrometer. The advanced camera maps and tracks blooms across landscapes in California.

These scientists analyzed native California wildflowers for a recent study and found that both space-based and airborne sensors can monitor the seasonal cycles of blooming plants by detecting one of their signature traits: colors.

Read more Can NASA Help Predict Wildflower Super Blooms? | KQED

CNN reported

A species of wolf that died out some 12,500 years ago lives again as the “world’s first successfully de-extincted animal,” according to Dallas-based biotech company Colossal Biosciences.

Colossal scientists have created three dire wolf pups by using ancient DNA, cloning and gene-editing technology to alter the genes of a gray wolf, the prehistoric dire wolf’s closest living relative, the company announced Monday. The result is essentially a hybrid species similar in appearance to its extinct forerunner.

The dire wolf, Aenocyon dirus, which was the inspiration for the fearsome canine featured in the HBO TV series “Game of Thrones,” was a top predator that once roamed North America. (HBO shares parent company Warner Bros. Discovery with CNN.) Dire wolves were larger in size than gray wolves and “had a slightly wider head, light thick fur and stronger jaw,” the company said.

Read more  Dire wolf de-extinction: Colossal Biosciences says it has resurrected an extinct animal for the first time | CNN

Berkeleyside reports

The state money will go toward fixing the failing tide tubes that are primary culprits for the lagoon’s health risks to humans and marine life.

Read more: Berkeley gets $4M to help clean Aquatic Park, prevent I-80 collapse

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 8, 2025

Photos from the Regional Park Botanic Garden April 7, 2025

Photos taken in the Regional Park Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA on April 7, 2025.

The Regional Parks Botanic Garden is a botanic garden of California native plants. The Garden is open Monday through Sunday from 8:30 AM to 5 PM.  It is located within Tilden Park in the hills above Berkeley, California.  It is a 10-acre garden for many of the state’s rare and endangered plants and a place for visitors to wander among trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses from plant communities throughout the state. To learn more about the garden visit the website at www.nativeplants.org .

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NBC News reported

With help from a radio station, the blobfish enjoyed a late surge in voter support against the orange roughy, its fellow deep-sea dweller.

The blobfish, a deep-sea creature, has been described as the world’s ugliest animal because of its gelatinous, tadpole-like body. But voters in a New Zealand contest were having none of it, naming the blobfish — known affectionately as “Mr. Blobby” — New Zealand’s fish of the year this week in a competition held by an environmental nonprofit group.

Read more and see photos at  The world’s ugliest animal is celebrated as New Zealand’s fish of the year

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 7, 2025

State of the Birds 2025

NANCI reported

This 2025 edition of the State of the Birds report is a status assessment of the health of the nation’s bird populations, delivered to the American people by scientists from U.S. bird conservation groups.

See report at   State of the Birds 2025

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 7, 2025

 Los Padres ForestWatch Upcoming Events

See Upcoming Los Padres ForestWatch Upcoming Events at Home | Los Padres ForestWatch

The New York Times reported

Genetic evidence suggests that the reptiles somehow managed millions of years ago to make an ocean crossing from North America to Fiji.

Read story at These Iguanas Got Carried Away and Ended Up 5,000 Miles From Home

SF Gate reported

Despite staffing cuts, a funding freeze and low morale plaguing national parks across the county, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued an order Thursday hindering the ability of individual parks to limit or reduce their hours — and park advocates are not happy.

Read more  Trump admin says national parks can’t close trails amid staffing woes

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 6, 2025

Monitor Pass Reopens Tomorrow

Great news! Monitor Pass (SR 89) is scheduled to REOPEN on Monday, April 7th at 12:00pm!
Check conditions before you go:

Phy.org

In the desert areas of Namibia, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, research work has revealed unusual structures that are probably due to the activity of an unknown microbiological life form. Unusually small burrows, i.e., tiny tubes that run through the rock in a parallel arrangement from top to bottom, were discovered in marble and limestone of these desert regions. The paper is published in the Geomicrobiology Journal.

Read more  Unusual desert rocks suggest unknown microorganism that uses marble and limestone as a habitat

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 5, 2025

An Endangered Galápagos Tortoise Is a First-Time Mother at 100

The New York Times reported

Mommy, a Western Santa Cruz tortoise, recently welcomed four hatchlings at the Philadelphia Zoo, where she has lived since 1932.

Read on www.nytimes.com/2025/04/05/science/galapagos-tortoise-hatchlings-philadelphia-zoo.html

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 5, 2025

Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association Upcoming Events

See upcoming events calendar of hikes and programs at https://www.abdnha.org/calendar1.htm.

The Revelator reported

Are environmental and climate change problems overwhelming you? As psychologists my colleagues and I increasingly see the psychological and physiological effects of climate stress on our clients. These effects — including “fear of the unknown,” instability, catastrophizing, financial insecurity, and biophysiological alterations due to unseasonal weather events — create an ominous feeling of chaos, adversely affecting people’s emotional and mental equilibrium and making it hard to focus on clear actions, solutions, and effective pathways to fighting back climate confusion. This can leave us feeling deeply uneasy about the future.

How can we cope with these feelings of overwhelming apprehension or hopelessness? As individuals we can’t take on the world — that’s an impossible task. So do we just turn away and give up?

Of course not. Instead let’s look at more productive approaches to applying the brakes when anxiety, nihilism, and emotional shutdown leave us stuck in place.

Source: The Psychological Effects of Climate Change: The Scientific Explanations — and Solutions That Can Empower Your Mind • The Revelator

SF Gate reported

Pranks from national park staffers and enthusiasts offer comedic relief during tough times.

Read on www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/national-park-april-fools-jokes-bring-levity-20253499.php

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 4, 2025

Great Bird Cams

from National Audubon

Catch a Glimpse of Spectacular Bird Moments

Thanks to our partnership with Explore.org, nature-lovers all over the world can now catch a glimpse of extraordinary birds in the wild no matter where you are.

During the spring and summer, when the cams are in season, you can see intimate family moments—like Atlantic Puffins getting cozy inside their rocky burrow. And if you time it right, you can even behold breathtaking views like Sandhill Cranes leaving the riverside for their morning lift-off by the thousands.

From parenthood to migration, Explore.org wildlife cameras let us observe all the majestic and adorable displays of birdlife from the comfort of home.

Explore the cams
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 4, 2025

Upcoming Events at the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum

See upcoming events at the Santa Barbara Natural HIstory Museum at https://mailchi.mp/sbnature2.org/general-events-13930336?e=693571bfe8

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 4, 2025

Apply for Youth Conservation Corps

Are you 15 through 18 years old? Apply now to be a member of the ☀️ summer Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)! Each park has a different deadline and session dates. Check with the park of interest for details on their specific program.
As a YCC member, take an active role in protecting the natural, cultural, and historical resources of our 🌳 national parks. You could work on a variety of projects depending on the park’s needs, including building trails, maintaining fences, cleaning up campgrounds, improving wildlife habitat, stream restoration, historic building preservation, interpretation, cultural resources, and more! Your work may not be just outside, though we know getting outside in our parks has many health benefits. So are you ready to learn and have fun while getting paid to work in our parks this summer?
Learn more about the program and the participating parks ➡️ https://www.nps.gov/subjects/youthprograms/ycc.htm
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 4, 2025

Sonoma Land Trust Events

Check out the latest events and news for Sonoma Land Trust at OUTINGS & EVENTS

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 4, 2025

‘3,000 year-old’ trees in Tanzania are new species

Monga Bay reported

  • A group of botanists has discovered a new species of rainforest tree in Tanzania’s Udzungwa Mountains. 
  • A total of around 100 mature trees were found growing in two village land forest reserves surrounded by abandoned croplands, and initial assessments suggest some of them could be up to 3,000 years old. 
  • The team behind the discovery says the trees are vulnerable to extinction because of their low numbers and tiny distribution. 
  • But the area in which they were found is the site of a forest restoration project, giving hope for their long-term survival.

Read more at  ‘3,000 year-old’ trees in Tanzania are new species

Photos taken in the Regional Park Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA on March 25 and 31, 2025.

The East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden is a botanic garden of California native plants. The Garden is open Monday through Sunday from 8:30 AM to 5 PM.  It is located within Tilden Park in the hills above Berkeley, California.  It is a 10-acre garden for many of the state’s rare and endangered plants and a place for visitors to wander among trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses from plant communities throughout the state. To learn more about the garden visit the website at www.nativeplants.org .

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from Sonoma Land Trust

Want to learn more about wildflowers? Need a local guide to boost your wildflower ID skills? There are so many resources available. When outside and hiking, please remember that you are a part of nature and that your actions make a huge difference. Please stay on the main trails, pack out any trash, and respect these special and colorful places where wildflowers thrive. 

Here’s that list of guides and articles from various organizations based in Sonoma County, the San Francisco Bay Area, and California. We hope they add a sense of adventure to your wanderings this spring. 

Sonoma County Guides and Resources 

  • Wildflowers of Sonoma County by Sonoma County Regional Parks; 

Read More…

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 3, 2025

Become a Garden Greeter at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden

Thinking about volunteering, but aren’t sure what you can do?
👉 What about welcoming visitors to the Botanic Garden?
✅ Complete a short training to learn about the history of the garden and more
✅ Two hour shifts on the weekend & holidays offer flexibility and easy scheduling to work with your availability
✅ Share your passion for California native plants with visitors in an ever-changing, beautiful setting
🌟The Regional Parks Botanic Garden is a unique showcase of California’s diverse plant communities, and Garden Greeters play an important role in enhancing visitors’ experiences and understanding of native plant conservation!
📆 Next training is April 26 & May 3 from 9-11am
📧 bgarden@ebparks.org OR greeter_coordinator@nativeplants.org
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 3, 2025

Slovakia backs plan to shoot 350 bears after man killed in attack

The BBC reported

The Slovak cabinet has approved a plan to shoot around a quarter of the country’s brown bears, after a man was mauled to death while walking in a forest in Central Slovakia.

Read more  Slovakia backs plan to shoot 350 bears after man killed in attack

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 3, 2025

Evolution of plant network: 600 million years of stress

ScienceDaily  reported

Without plants on land, humans could not live on Earth. From mosses to ferns to grasses to trees, plants are our food, fodder and timber. All this diversity emerged from an algal ancestor that conquered land long ago. The success of land plants is surprising because it is a challenging habitat. On land, rapid shifts in environmental conditions lead to stress, and plants have developed an elaborate molecular machinery for sensing and responding. Now, a research team has compared algae and plants that span 600 million years of independent evolution and pinpointed a shared stress response network using advanced bioinformatic methods.

Read full story at Evolution of plant network: 600 million years of stress | ScienceDaily

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