Lindsay Wildlife Experience

🚨 Animal of the week alert! 🚨

If snoozing your alarm was an animal, it would be our Animal of the Week, the Yellow Bellied Marmot! These medium sized rodents are found in meadows, valleys and foothills from the Sierras in the west, to the Rockies in the east, as far north as Canada, down to Southern California. Chances are even if you’ve been to a place where they live, you still wouldn’t see them, because these sleepy rodents hibernate for 8 months of the year! They emerge from their burrows in May, and go back into hibernation in September, leaving only 4 months of activity.

When active, Yellow Bellied Marmots are commonly seen sunning themselves on warm rocks before beginning their daily foraging. Despite being skittish due to high rates of predation, these little herbivores have to pack on body fat rapidly to survive the winter hibernation. Feeding on grasses and flowers, they can discriminate between toxic and non-toxic parts of the plants. They are also known as “Whistle pigs” due to their appearance and distinct whistle call.

In these 4 months, they also have to reproduce, and despite a short 30 day gestation period, it still leaves very little time for young to grow and prepare for winter. After their first year, all the young male marmots and about half of the females will disperse from the colony their parents live in and go join or form new colonies.

Yellow Bellied Marmots are currently a species of least concern, but with the ever looming presence of climate change, experts are concerned that extended drought and heat causing marmots to move up in elevation, extreme weather patterns and late snowfall will inhibit their ability to reproduce and prepare for hibernation.

Our Exhibit Hall is closed today due to a power outage. We apologize for the inconvenience. Our Wildlife Hospital is still accepting patients. Our evening Wild@Night event is still planned to continue at this point.

Did you know LWE has internship opportunities? The Education department has one internship opening for Fall of 2024!

The Wildlife Education - School Programs Internship offers the opportunity to learn about California wildlife using Lindsay’s live and natural history collections to convey conservation messaging through educational programming and public engagement in our on-site field trips.

For more information about internship opportunities, visit our website at https://lindsaywildlife.org/internships/.

HUGE thank you to an amazing member of our Wildlifer community and future entrepreneur! This junior Wildlifer took time out of her summer to run a lemonade stand and donated part of her earnings to Lindsay Wildlife Experience! Every dollar donated helps support the work we do caring for our hospital patients! Lindsay Wildlife wouldn’t exist without the kindness and generosity of our Wildlifer community.

CURIOUS CONNECTION: Oh my, what big feet you have! This leggy hare (not to be confused with a rabbit) is a black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus). Black-tailed jackrabbits have unique adaptions to evade danger—like running up to 40 miles an hour and jumping up to 20 feet in one leap! With their incredible speed and jumping ability, they prefer to live in habitats with lots of space, like grasslands, desert scrublands, and farmland.

Who’s ever visited an old-growth redwood forest? While only five percent of these mossy, fog-drenched forests remain, they continue to provide a welcoming home for a unique, tree-nesting cousin of the puffins: the marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus). Once known as “fog larks” by loggers, these plump seabirds can be found nesting from Alaska’s Aleutian Islands to California’s Monterey Bay, sometimes venturing into Southern California during the winter. Both males and females sport mottled chocolate brown plumage during the summertime breeding season, before transitioning to more elegant dark gray and white plumage during the wintertime nonbreeding season. Listen for a screaming “keer”, along with the sound of whirring wings.

Not everyone wants to build their own house. The thick branches and bulging deformities of mature coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trap debris and support moss, ferns, and even huckleberries. Amid this greenery, a mother murrelet lays a single egg. For about a month, the mother and father incubate the egg, each working a twenty-four-hour shift! After the chick has hatched, both parents haul food from the ocean - one little fish or crustacean at a time. Marbled murrelets hunt a variety of coastal species, from small fish like anchovies and herring to crustaceans like krill, pursuing them by “flying” puffin-style through the shallow water.

Marbled murrelets shuttle deep-sea nutrients to inland forests, spreading their nitrogen-rich droppings and enriching ecosystems up to fifty miles from the coast. Sadly, this hardworking seabird is now considered endangered, threatened by logging and habitat fragmentation. With more fragmented habitats, murrelets are exposed to increased predation from raptors and egg-eating corvids like crows and jays. When visiting wildlife habitat, remember to dispose of food scraps in appropriate bins, since human food can attract hungry corvids to areas with animal eggs and babies.

Images

Image 1: Two marbled murrelets afloat, nonbreeding plumage - image by Kristin M. Tolle

Image 2: A marbled murrelet taking off from the water, breeding plumage

This Belted Kingfisher, the only one we've treated in our Wildlife Hospital this year, was found injured on a San Francisco street. These fascinating birds feed almost entirely on aquatic prey, plunging headfirst into the water.

The mountain lion (Puma concolor) is an apex carnivore that demands our respect, and an “ecosystem engineer” that deserves our empathy. With their crushing bite, the mountain lion is able to subdue prey that is three times as massive as they are, even an adult elk. While we might try to minimize climate-disrupting food waste, big cats have evolved to kill more than they can eat. Research has shown that carrion left at mountain lion kill sites creates biodiversity hotspots, nourishing not only scavengers but entire food webs, including birds. Like gardeners, mountain lions replenish soil with plant-boosting nitrogen and carbon.

Mountain lions are clearly good for the ecosystem, but are they good for us? Scientists estimate that restoring mountain lion populations in 19 Eastern U.S. states could save 155 human lives over the course of 30 years! Overabundant white-tailed deer are a major cause of life- threatening vehicle accidents and property damage, and mountain lions can assist human hunters with responsible deer management. How would *you* feel about reintroducing our Bay Area mule deer’s native predators? Imagine the East Bay hills with not only mountain lions, but wolves, jaguars, and fawn-eating grizzly bears too.

Enjoy a sigh of relief: mountain lions occupy vast territories – averaging around one hundred square miles, or roughly five times the size of the City of Walnut Creek! Having a fatal encounter with a mountain lion, thus, is like poking yourself with the “needle in the haystack”. Since 1868, there have been 29 fatal mountain lion attacks in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Just to be on the safe side, remember to stay alert in mountain lion country. Try to hike during daylight hours and in groups, and perhaps consider announcing your presence with a fun hiking song.

Image 1: A mountain lion in Glacier National Park, Montana

Image 2: A camera trap photo of two mountain lions, Joshua Tree National Park, California

Image 3: A mountain lion feeding at a carcass – image by Matthias Kabel

Image 4: A mountain lion walking through a cloud forest in Jalisco, Mexico – image by Juan Pablo Esparza

Many people are surprised to find that the mighty screech owl has less than a two foot wingspan and weighs only about a third of a pound. Even more shocking still, they don’t screech at all! Instead, they let out a soft whinny or trill that is either to alert predators to stay away or to communicate with their mates.

Pictured here is our resident Western Screech Owl, Cypress, enjoying some outside time on a Lindsay in the Community program. Cypress is one of our more vocal birds and can often be heard trilling to her handlers and asking to be fed. Come visit Cypress in our exhibit hall and she might greet you with the famous screech owl call!

Happy National Zookeeper Appreciation Week! We’re celebrating by shining a spotlight on our incredible Animal Encounters team here at Lindsay Wildlife Experience. These dedicated professionals are the heart and soul behind the care of our beloved Animal Ambassadors. Rain or shine, they tirelessly ensure the wellbeing of over 45+ animals, making so much that we do here at Lindsay possible.

Our keepers’ day-to-day involves a wide range of responsibilities, from preparing specialized diets, maintaining enclosures, conducting training sessions, to creating enrichment activities that keep our animals happy and healthy. Their passion, talent, and commitment are truly inspiring, and we are so fortunate to have such a fantastic team.

Join us in giving a HUGE THANK YOU to our amazing staff! 👏🏻 Your hard work and dedication mean the world to us and our Animal Ambassadors and we couldn’t do it without you. 🫶🏻

Q: Who is your favorite Animal Ambassador?

📸 Lauren, Curator of Animal Encounters -“I’ll never pick just one 😉 it changes every year!
📸 Sam, Lead Animal Keeper III - Zenaida, Mourning dove
📸 Erin, Animal Encounters Volunteer Coordinator
📸 Nicole, Animal Keeper II
📸 Ariana, Animal Keeper II - Apollo, California kingsnake
📸Sammy, Animal Keeper I - Bubo, Great-horned owl
📸Robbie, Apprentice Animal Keeper - Rocky, Pacific gopher snake

Close your eyes. Imagine strolling through the shade-dappled pine-and-cypress old-growth forests near Monterey, the capital of the Mexican state of Alta California. The year is 1826. All of a sudden, you hear a rumbling moan. It sounds like somebody sawing wood. You turn... but all you see is forest.

Very few people are lucky enough to see (or even hear) a wild jaguar (Panthera onca). This elusive apex carnivore, the Americas’ biggest cat, resembles the leopard of Asia and Africa. Look closely: the two cats have different coat patterns. While both cats have rosettes, the distinctive jaguar rosette contains a spot in the center. Leopards kill their prey with a bite to the neck, while jaguars kill with a brain-piercing bite to the skull. Leopards have a leaner physique, which helps them maneuver through the trees. While the stockier jaguars can climb, they are more at ease in and around water, stalking turtles, alligator-like caimans, and fish in marshes and flooded forests.

Jaguars are a native California mammal, although they are currently extinct in the state. A jaguar was spotted near Palm Springs around 1860. Earlier, around 1854, Contra Costa County’s famed mountain man John “Grizzly” Adams pursued a family of jaguars in the Tehachapi Mountains, near present-day Bakersfield. In 1826, English explorer Frederick Beechey noted that “tigers” inhabited the area between Monterey and San Francisco. Could jaguars have clawed and scent marked the great-great-great-grandparents of the oak trees that shade Lindsay Wildlife Experience?

Image 1: A jaguar in a river – image by Mark Bolnik

Image 2: A camera trap photo of a jaguar at night – image by Guillermo J. Fadul R.

Image 3: A jaguar moving through brush near a river bank – image by Mark Bolnik

Image 4: A jaguar yawning – image by Bruce Kirchoff

Image 5: The Tehachapi Mountains between the San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert, where some of California’s last jaguars denned during the 1850s

California Nightsnakes are rarely seen due to their nocturnal habits. Though not endangered, they’re incredibly elusive. These snakes are small and slender and have a unique dark marking on or below their heads.

This little snake was rescued from a sticky trap by a dedicated local rancher who then brought it to our Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital. After a few weeks of meticulous care and cleaning, the snake was ready to be returned to the wild!

A big thanks to the rescuer and Save Mount Diablo for their efforts and collaboration on this release!

Which came first, the kite or the kite? Kites are birds of prey that are known for their specific flight style. These birds will face headfirst into the wind and hover in the sky with barely a flap of the wing. This method of flight has become so distinctive that it was named “kiting” after the bird. Toy kites, on the other hand, were named much later. The tether that keeps toy kites from flying away helps them emulate the hovering flight style of their avian namesakes.
At Lindsay Wildlife Experience, we have a White-tailed Kite named Dragon (pictured here). She was brought into our wildlife hospital in 2017 after sustaining neurological damage from flying into a window. This is sadly a common cause of admission to our hospital as many birds are unable to see the glass on windows. Consider using UV decals on your windows, which are very visible for birds and not nearly as visible to us!

This week we are highlighting the Golden Eagle! Golden Eagles are named for the golden feathers on their neck. Paired with their striking green eyes and massive size, it’s no wonder that the Golden Eagle is the most common national animal in the world. This eagle species is the official symbol of Albania, Germany, Austria, Mexico, and Kazakhstan.

Historically, opinions on Golden Eagles have been very divided. Many people fear that such a large bird of prey must be hunting livestock. However, despite their ability to easily take down large prey items such as deer, goats, and sheep, Golden Eagles feed primarily on small mammals such as jackrabbits, ground squirrels, and prairie dogs.

At Lindsay, we have one Golden Eagle named Topaz (pictured here getting a glamour shot and enjoying outside time). Topaz was found near Topaz Lake with an untreatable wing injury that prevents sustained flight. She can occasionally be seen in AAA or on educational programs.

Happy 50th Birthday Lord Richard!

Lord Richard hatched in 1974 at the Randall Museum and was transferred to Lindsay Wildlife Experience a few months later. As the oldest known Turkey vulture, he serves as a crucial ambassador for his species, offering guests a unique opportunity to get up close to these fascinating creatures. Turkey vultures play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by consuming carrion and preventing the spread of disease.

Get ready for a wild night out! Tickets are on sale now for Wild@Night: Under the Stars, our 21+ event at Lindsay Wildlife on Friday, August 16, from 6-9 pm. Enjoy live music, food and drinks, axe throwing, games and some super cool wildlife (including a capybara!) Visit https://lindsaywildlife.org/events/wildnight-under-the-stars-2024/ for tickets or to find out more!

Wild@Night: Under the Stars! 2024 - Lindsay Wildlife Experience Wild@Night: Under the Stars! Friday, August 16 from 6 to 9 p.m. Get ready for a wild night out! Tickets are on sale now for Wild@Night: Under the Stars, our 21+ […]

Who likes to splash in puddles? Be careful where you step: even the most fleeting seasonal pools can be homes for entire communities of California wildlife.

Scattered throughout California’s Central Valley and southern parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, the endangered vernal pool tadpole shrimp (Lepidurus packardi) embodies “life in the fast lane”. Within three weeks of the start of the winter rains, the shrimp hatch out of eggs embedded within the rehydrated mud. Within two months of hatching, the shrimp are able to reproduce – even if they are unable to find a mate! Adult shrimp shed thousands of viable eggs that sink to the bottom of the pool.

The adult tadpole shrimp live through the spring, although they are gone before the seasonal pool dries up. The dormant eggs, lodged in the dry soil, survive the end of their parents’ world. The winter rains finally return and the age of the tadpole shrimp begins anew.

Like other species with extremely isolated and disconnected populations, vernal pool tadpole shrimp are especially threatened by habitat loss and climate change. Seasonal pools provide cooling relief for wallowing mammals, including the East Bay’s native tule elk. Egg-laden mud cakes on the bodies of these roaming deer, spreading tadpole shrimp genes to new seasonal pools. What a way to travel!

Image 1: A vernal pool tadpole shrimp – image by Ken-ichi Ueda

Image 2: A vernal pool tadpole shrimp – image by Cricket Raspet

Image 3: Several vernal pool tadpole shrimp – image by Mary K. Hanson

Image 4: An example of a Sacramento Valley vernal (seasonal) pool

Image 5: A group of bull tule elk, San Joaquin Valley

Happy Independence Day 🇺🇸⭐️🎆! Today we are celebrating by highlighting the national symbol of the United States; the Bald eagle. Bald eagles were chosen as our nation’s symbol due to their historical symbolization of strength that dates back even to Roman times! While these guys are well known to be an iconic representation of our nation, how much do you really know about them? Check out some fun facts below.

⭐️ Bald eagles tend to build their nest in forested areas adjacent to large bodies of water. They build one of the largest bird nests, generally measuring 5-6 feet in diameter and 2-4 feet tall . You may be able to see them locally at places like Muir Beach, Point Reyes, or Lake Temescal!

⭐️ They mate for life and have complex courtship rituals. These include aerial displays where a male and female will fly high into the sky, lock-talons, and spiral towards the ground, breaking apart just before impact.

⭐️ The sound you typically hear a Bald eagle make on TV is not their real vocalization. Hollywood began using the call of a Red-tailed hawk to replace the real sound of a Bald eagle call as they thought it sounded more fitting for such a powerful looking creature.

Pictured in slides 4 & 5 is Lindsay Wildlife’s very own Bald eagle, Atsá! Atsá came to us in 2016 from the World Bird Sanctuary when she was 13 years old. She has lived most of her life as an animal ambassador after being found at the bottom of a ravine with an injured right wing that rendered her unable to be released back into the wild. Atsá now happily lives in a special enclosure built to consider her needs, including a functional pond that she is able to cool off in on these hot summer days! Atsá’s favorite treats include salmon and rabbit. If you want to hear the real call of a Bald eagle, make sure to stop by and visit Atsá next time you’re at Lindsay!

🌙🦇 These baby Yuma myotis bats were brought into our Wildlife Hospital after falling from their roost. Tiny but mighty, Yuma myotis bats are only 1.5-1.9 inches long and weigh less than half an ounce. Not only are they nature's pest control heroes, helping to keep insect populations at bay, they are also crucial pollinators.

This young coyote pup was brought into our Wildlife Hospital after being discovered stumbling out of some shrubs and then falling into a muddy creek bed. While there are no visible signs of injuries, the little one is quite weak and wobbly. The good news is, the pup is now recovering at one of our homecare facilities!

Who lives near Tracy or Modesto? Say “hello” to your neighbor, the endangered riparian woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes riparia), which still scurries at Caswell Memorial State Park and at the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge. This cinnamon-furred San Joaquin County native is at home amongst the willows, cottonwoods, and oaks of the Valley’s vanishing flood-soaked riparian woodlands. As California diverts more water for agriculture and neighborhoods, less is available for unique semi-aquatic freshwater habitats like the San Joaquin riparian woodland.

We might be anxious about rats invading *our* homes, but the riparian woodrats build their own homes. Like other subspecies of woodrats, riparian woodrats fortify their nests with sticks and other debris. These lodges can last for decades, and provide shelter for other kinds of woodland animals. Riparian woodrats are more inclined to build nests in tree cavities since they inhabit regions with occasional flooding.

Rats, like Lindsay Wildlife’s Bleu and Swiss, are socially complex, industrious creatures. Like the woodrat lodges, our homes can become homes for other animals. Plug holes, store food in hard containers with tight-fitting lids, and say “no” to glue traps.

Image 1: A riparian woodrat

Image 2: A lodge, built by another subspecies of dusky-footed woodrat

Image 3: A View from Sacramento, a Luminist oil painting depicting the once more widespread Central Valley riparian woodland, Albert Bierstadt, c. 1875

Found all alone, this baby California quail was brought into our Wildlife Hospital and is now being rehabilitated at one of our home care facilities. Did you know that California quails are the state bird of California?

Join the “swarm” and waggle your way over to Lindsay!

Have you ever been at a party that’s just too crowded, and split off with a group of friends to find another place to hang out? If so, you can understand how swarming honey bees feel!

Honey bees live in groups called colonies that can contain up to 60,000 individual bees, although the overwhelming majority of bees – the female worker bees – are unable to reproduce. Many scientists like to think of these whole bee colonies as superorganisms, “giving birth” to new colonies through the process of swarming.

Honey bees tend to swarm in the spring and early summer, when there are plenty of blooming, nectar-rich plants to support a brand-new colony. Before leading a swarm to a new home, the queen bee will lay 10 to 20 daughter queen eggs. Only one of these daughter queens will survive and continue her life in the old hive, laying up to 1,500 eggs each day.

The swarming bees will cluster on a tree or a shrub or even on the side of a building, sending out scouts to look for a new permanent home. If you see a swarm, please appreciate this beautiful event from a distance. Mount Diablo Beekeepers Association, our Bee Bop 2024 partner, provides safe swarm collection and relocation services:
https://www.diablobees.org/.

Image 1: A swarm of bees congregating together

Image 2: A US Navy airman removes a swarm of Japanese honey bees from a P-3C Orion aircraft in Okinawa, Japan

Image 3: Bees swarming near a bike pedal (!)

Join us on Saturday, June 22, from 10am-2pm for Bee Bop! A family-friendly celebration featuring crafts, face painting, animal ambassadors, honey tasting, vendors, some of our favorite pollinators and so much more! Participation is included with museum admission, no reservations needed so stop on by!

This week we highlight the once widespread California Grizzly Bear. In pop culture, the grizzly bear has accumulated quite the reputation. Down to their Latin name: Ursus arctos horribilis, “the horrible bear”. Despite this exaggerated description, grizzlies are primarily herbivorous. These large land predators primarily feed on nuts, berries, roots, and fish. Only 10% of their diet is made up of other land animals.

The last California Grizzly was seen exactly 100 years ago in Yosemite National Park. Once numbering in the ten thousands, this bear was prominently displayed on the state flag for many years before its extinction. Most of what we know of the California Grizzly comes from historical accounts and fossil evidence.

A few days ago, a Common Poorwill was brought to our Wildlife Hospital after being found by the roadside. Sadly, this little bird suffered a serious injury—a broken wing, which is critical for its migration. Although these birds migrate, they are also the first known hibernating bird. In cool weather, it can go into a deep sleep for days or even weeks, with a lowered body temperature, heartbeat, and breathing rate. These amazing birds rest on the ground during the day and catch insects at night by flying out from low perches.

CURIOUS COLLECTION: This might look familiar, but what do you know about Ammonites? This extinct group of Cephalopods lived between 400 - 66 million years ago. Ammonite fossils are found worldwide, ranging from the size of a ladybug to a brown bear standing. Today cephalopods include Nautilus, cuttlefish, squid, and octopi. Like modern cephalopods, Ammonites display sexual dimorphism, a difference between sexes. This makes telling species apart tricky, but scientists estimate there are over 10,000 species of Ammonites.

While gazing at Lindsay’s resident aquatic garter snake, Ribbon, try to imagine her giant cousins no more than fifty miles away in marshy northeastern Contra Costa County.

The giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas), a threatened species, can grow over five feet long and sports a yellow or orange stripe along its back, as well as a lighter-colored stripe along each side of its body. Additionally, look for a checkered pattern of black spots between the back stripe and the side stripes.

Compared to the aquatic garter snake (Thamnophis atratus), the giant garter snake pursues larger prey, including invasive species like bullfrogs and carp. Giant garter snakes will ambush their prey underwater and then drag it out of the water before swallowing it!

To help them with their hunting – and to help keep them from being hunted themselves – they require year-round access to deep pools of water and plenty of dense vegetation. While only 5% of their original Sacramento and San Joaquin Delta habitat remains, the giant garter snake is adaptable: these days, they are often found in and around farm canals and rice fields.

Image 1: A close-up image of a giant garter snake

Image 2: A map showing the locations of citizen scientist observations of giant garter snakes, from iNaturalist

Image 3: A view of a giant garter snake’s distinctive coloration