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Vertebrates

Browse our Q&A about birds, eggs, nests, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals of the Central Coast and Channel Islands.

“I photographed this dead woodrat on San Marcos Foothills Preserve on May 2, 2022. I'm wondering if it is a Dusky-footed Woodrat.”
Barbara, Santa Barbara - June 15, 2022

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“Hi, This guy was at our patio during a drizzling earlier morning Riviera area. Thank you, Ann”
Ann, Riviera, Santa Barbara - May 27, 2022

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“Good Afternoon, I discovered these bones near the top of a seacliff off the Santa Barbara Coastline, near UCSB. They look like vertebrae to me, but I truly have no clue. ”
Shahmeer, Santa Barbara, CA - February 23, 2022

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“We found this at campus point. Do you know what animal it came from? ”
Terri, Goleta - January 30, 2022

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“Hi, Thsi question is for both your Ornithology and Chumash Artifacts curators. There is a well documented flock of local parrots that have roosted in Montecito for many decades. Yo...”
Christopher, San Roque - October 28, 2021

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“Is anyone concerned about invasive foxes? I have had animal cameras running continuously for about 5 years and watched a few generations of grey foxes grow up on our bit of wilderness on our pro...”
Joel, Ojai - September 17, 2021

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“I was wondering if any of your vertebrate zoologists could comment on this skunk. I caught it on my motion camera in my backyard. It appears to have a large growth on its head, visible in both v...”
Rebecca, Goleta - July 30, 2021

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“On June 16, 2021 I walked onto our concrete patio at about 9 PM and saw a snake in residential Santa Barbara for the first time after living here for just over 50 years. The neighhood net is rep...”
Brian, Santa Barbara - June 18, 2021

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“This little guy was in our house last night, I was able to safely get it outside and it immediately slithered into a gopher hole. This morning I was able to get a couple of pictures as it came o...”
Ryan, Noleta - February 21, 2021

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“If I were to go out at night with a flashlight, how likely would it be for me to find some owls? Also, where would I have the highest chance of seeing owls? I'm 13 years old and I went out...”
Oliver, Santa Barbara - February 6, 2021

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