This May 2025, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Ellwood Mesa Sperling Preserve being saved by the community and becoming public, protected open space. If you didn't get a chance to pick up a scavenger hunt at the event, you can print your own copy here in English or Spanish!

Learn how to assess a gopher problem, gopher-proof sensitive areas, and control the stragglers in a humane and effective way.

Avian flu, also known as H5N1, is a type of influenza virus that's currently widespread in wild birds. Here's how to help avoid the spread.

Here is a scavenger hunt of interesting things to find while walking outdoors in the Santa Barbara Eastside neighborhood.

Happy Halloween! The orb weavers are building their webs, the bats are flying around at dusk, and the owls are hooting as the sun goes...

As we approach the end of summer, there's still plenty of time for camping, picnicking, and enjoying the outdoors in Santa Barbara. The...

It's officially spring, and with the greenery and wildflowers out from the recent rainfall and the return of sunny weather, it certainly...

It may still actually be winter, but spring has sprung this January! After the recent rains, there is water in our creeks and lots of...

This is the first installment of what will hopefully become a monthly or at least seasonal short newsletter attached to the Skunk Corner...

With people spending more time at home during COVID-19, 2020 has become a record year for backyard chicken raising. If you are planning...

Spiders, bats, and owls have long been common symbols of Halloween, but that doesn't mean you should only look for them in festive front...

Live traps, also known as catch-and-release or Havahart traps, may seem like a good fix to a human-wildlife conflict at first glance. ...

Look closely at the habitat in your backyard or a nearby open space and you will likely find plants, animals, and other features that...

Baby animals, vibrant wildflower blooms, and flowing creeks are all in season right now, and it's a great time to get outside and enjoy...

During the recent rain, you may have noticed rushing water in some of Santa Barbara’s creeks.  Creeks are important features in any...

Even though we don't get snow in Santa Barbara, the winter months still bring unique opportunities for wildlife observation. Below are...

Lately, drivers along Las Positas may have noticed what looks like a construction project across the road from Elings Park.  What they...

If you look in the sky above your yard around dusk, you may catch a glimpse of a bat on its nightly insect hunt. The combined area of...

It is often difficult to harvest fruit from a tree at the right time without letting animals get to it first. Birds, raccoons, opossums,...

Santa Barbara County includes multiple types of habitat, including riparian areas, chaparral, oak woodland, and others. Preserving these...