
Recently Asked
Learn what the community is asking about this season, with answers by Museum experts.
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- Recently Asked
“I found this insect in our kitchen and it's body is around 1 cm long (maybe a bit more). Could you identify it and provide any information about e.g. if it is usually isolated or where it nests?...”
Shreyas, Goleta - March 17, 2021
“I found a piece of, what appears to be, petrified wood on a Santa Barbara beach agaist the cliffs. Is this a piece that the museum would be interested in given I obtain proper permissions to ret...”
Ted, Santa Barbara - March 13, 2021
“I found this very strange large insect last night on my outdoor mat. It has the body of a bee black and yellow stripes. But it looks like the head of a grasshopper. I can send you a photo of it?...”
Lynn, Santa Barbara - March 4, 2021
“I am working in Santa Barbara and hike after work. Are there any public mortar sites or food processing sites? I have seen some in San roque, San Antonio creek parks. Are there more we can view?...”
Joshua, Santa Barbara - March 2, 2021
“Hello! I live in south-eastern North Carolina and I was in my front garden getting leaves out of the mulch when I noticed these weird white balls. Any clue what they might be? Maybe an early blo...”
Pattie, North Carolina - February 25, 2021
“While beach combing one day, we found a large rock that looked rusted, and when we picked it up it was very heavy. A few chucks of the outer layer fell off and revealed a metallic interior. We b...”
B Vigil, Carpinteria, CA - February 21, 2021
“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
“My name is Rosey, I am the Park Naturalist at Cachuma Lake. One of the visitors sent me these pictures of a beetle she found, somewhere off Paradise Road in the rocks. It was dead. Is it a Rhino...”
Rosey, Santa Ynez Valley - February 20, 2021
“I recall years ago hearing that there were people living in this area prior to the Chumash. The name I recall for these earlier people was "Oak Grove" people. However, a search of the web using...”
Wes Chapin, Somis, CA - February 16, 2021
“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