The Painted Cranes
I’m annoyed and frustrated. Some animals may be faster, others larger and more powerful, but human beings are by far the rudest animals in the forest. I set out … Continue Reading →
Category: Nature
Plants, Animals, Geology, Natural History
A Mountain Lion’s Guide to Living with Humans
I am fortunate to live in the San Francisco Bay Area. And most of my 8 million neighbors feel the same. One reason we are so enamored with the … Continue Reading →
Bobcat and Coyote Traveling Together (Video)
NatureOutside reader A., sent me a remarkable video the other day. A relative’s doorbell camera caught a bobcat (Lynx rufus) and a coyote (Canis latrans) traveling together at night. The … Continue Reading →
How Old Is That Tree? (It Won’t Tell You Itself)
When I hike through a forest, I often wonder about the age of the trees. Trees are so long-lived compared to us humans! Some of the hikes that I … Continue Reading →
Go To Your Sit Spot
I have always hated homework. The idea of sitting inside pouring over a textbook never interested me. But imagine a homework assignment where you’re asked to sit and observe … Continue Reading →
Tule Elk — Coming Back from the Brink
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. – Margaret Mead There is no … Continue Reading →
This Creature has Its Own Warning Label
I take a moment to lift my eyes from the ground. Mist drifts through the forest of Tanoak and California Bay. I’m surrounded by the drip, drip, of water … Continue Reading →
Walking the Trail with Words: A Conversation with a Nature Interpreter
If you enjoy communicating your love of nature to others, then you should consider becoming a nature interpreter. Nature interpreters are educators who communicate the meanings and significance of … Continue Reading →
I Pet a Rattlesnake – And Question My Life Choices
Fizz was not happy to be out of her bucket. And she made her displeasure known. The high frequency buzz of an angry rattlesnake is unmistakable once you have … Continue Reading →
The Robin’s Nest – How to Identify Bird Nests
When we hike in nature, we only see the things we consider important. When I was studying to be a naturalist, each week’s guest lecturer would take us out … Continue Reading →