The Newt NormalPhoto Essay 01.13.2023Droughts, wildfires, floods, and other extreme weather events are putting an unprecedented strain on California newts. With help, scientists think these remarkable animals will be able to persevere.
Making Nature Less PredictableArticle 12.02.2022In their fight against the homogenization of nature, scientists and farmers are walking well-worn paths and using innovative approaches to help bring native pollinators back to California.
Learning from the AncientsOpinionReview 11.22.2022In his latest book, Elderflora, Jared Farmer chronicles a history of exploration and study, destruction and preservation that will keep humans and age-old trees intertwined for the long haul.
Past the SaltArticle 07.14.2022In San Francisco’s salty South Bay, an ambitious wetlands restoration project is seeking to balance a return to the ecological past with the realities of a changing future.
What it Means to be WildOpinionReview 07.08.2021Against the backdrop of a world so thoroughly altered by humankind, Emma Marris’s latest book, Wild Souls, challenges our assumptions about nature and how we protect it.
Home on the RangeArticle 03.23.2021Once thought to be extinct, tule elk have returned to roam across California’s Point Reyes National Seashore, but the park—which also supports beef and dairy cattle—is getting crowded.
Raised in Rice FieldsArticle 06.26.2019California’s Chinook salmon have been losing habitat to agriculture for decades. Now, they’re getting a much-needed boost from strategically flooded fields.
Scuba FliesPhoto Essay 03.27.2018In California’s Mono Lake—whose alkaline waters are deadly to most insects—these diving flies don’t just survive; they thrive.
The Anomalies: The Acorn WoodpeckerVideo 10.10.2017These highly social birds defy the typical two-parent family structure, proving that cooperation can make good evolutionary sense.
Forgotten but not Gone: The Pacific FisherVideo 05.23.2017Facing new threats—including toxins from illegal marijuana grows—the fate of this little-known mammal hangs in the balance.
Backcountry Drug WarArticle 03.28.2017In the Golden State, dangerous drug cartels are growing pot on public lands—putting wildlife, water supplies, and outdoor enthusiasts at grave risk.
Last Tree StandingImmersive 11.22.2016Since 2011, drought and pestilence have killed more than 100 million trees in California. What does that mean for the fate of the world’s largest tree, the giant sequoia?
The Color of DroughtVideo 11.22.2016A record-setting dry spell is transforming California’s forests—and in this case, colorful foliage is not a good thing.
Wetlands on DemandArticle 04.26.2016Rice fields for migratory birds—a look at California’s latest pop-up trend.
