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!

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

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...

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...

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

If you visit the Arroyo Burro Open Space around dusk, you may catch a glimpse of a great-horned owl or two. There are currently a pair...

If you'd like to welcome animals to your yard, whether those animals are birds, pollinating insects, or mammals like skunks, it is...

The fall and winter are great times for observing wildlife. Different species of birds show up in backyards, rain may fill creeks with...

The fall and winter are great times for observing wildlife. Different species of birds show up in backyards, rain may fill creeks with...

Virginia opossums are common backyard visitors in Santa Barbara, climbing on fences and meandering across lawns. They are omnivores,...

Even though Santa Barbara does not get the same kind of autumn as other parts of the country have, the season is still great for...

Even though Santa Barbara does not get the same kind of autumn as other parts of the country have, the season is still great for...

Many backyard mammals, from rodents to raccoons, follow specific pathways through neighborhoods. By knowing where these pathways are,...