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Santa Cruz County Animals Digest



Long Marine Lab Sea Lion Has an Ear for Music

05/03/2025

It's unusual for animals to discern beats in music and bob along, but not for Ronan the Long Marine Lab sea lion.

Reintroduced Condor Update

04/30/2025

An update on the endangered condors released in California three years ago.

Algae Bloom Killing Animals in California Waters

04/24/2025

A huge algae bloom is responsible for the deaths of sea lions, pelicans and whales off the California coast.

Commercial Salmon Season Is Shut Down — Again. Will California’s Iconic Fish Ever Recover?

04/15/2025

While it’s an unprecedented third year in a row for no commercially caught salmon, brief windows will be allowed for sportsfishing in California.

Something Fishy About Recent Anchovy Die-Off

04/02/2025

The recent anchovy die-off has perplexed many in the Santa Cruz harbor community, as they usually occur during the summer.

Spring is for the Birds

03/15/2025

Read on for information about upcoming spring bird watching opportunities from Tracey Weiss, executive director of the O’Neill Sea Odyssey.

Bird Flu Infected Flock Confirmed in San Mateo

02/06/2025

A local backyard poultry flock has been confirmed by San Mateo County health officials to have been infected with H5N1 bird flu. Read on for more information.

Bird Flu Infects San Mateo County Cat

02/06/2025

Bird flu was detected in a stray cat in San Mateo County. Read on for more information.

CA Monarch Butterfly Count Yields Worrisome Finding

02/03/2025

For the past three years, more than 200,000 western monarch butterflies spent their winters along the California coast — huddling together in tall tree groves, finding respite from the wind from November to February.

Monarch Butterfly Numbers Plummet

02/03/2025

The statewide count of overwintering monarch butterflies shows a sharp drop in number. Read on to learn more.

California Monarchs See Steep Decline

01/30/2025

The number of monarch butterflies overwintering in California are at a near-record low, and the wiping out of the Topanga butterfly habitat by the LA fires has made matters worse. Read on to learn more.

Protect Your Cats from Bird Flu

12/26/2024

Following news of the death of pet cats from eating bird flu infected raw food or raw milk, CapRadio has information about how to protect your feline friends.

California Has a Nutria Response Team?

12/23/2024

The invasive South American housecat-sized semi-aquatic rodent is making the Bay Area a new home, and that's a problem. Read on to learn what wildlife officials are doing about it.

How America Lost Control of the Bird Flu, Setting the Stage for Another Pandemic

12/19/2024

Keith Poulsen's jaw dropped when farmers showed him images on their cellphones at the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin in October. A livestock veterinarian at the University of Wisconsin, Poulsen had seen sick cows before, with their noses dripping and udders slack.

California Declares Bird Flu Emergency

12/18/2024

As the first serious case of bird flu in a human is reported and more dairy herds across the state are infected, California Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency. Read on to learn what that entails.

Elephant Seals Returning to Año Nuevo State Park

12/14/2024

Learn about the coming annual return of thousands of elephant seals to Año Nuevo State Park, and the recent upgrades to park facilities.

Parts of Santa Cruz to be Protected Monarch Overwintering Sites

12/11/2024

Learn more about federal plans to extend protection to 289 acres across multiple sites in Santa Cruz for overwintering monarch butterflies.

California Dairies Ignore Bird Flu Threat

11/25/2024

Learn how health officials and California dairies are responding, or not, to the explosive spread of bird flu through dairy herds across the state.

Unstoppable Invasion: How Did Mussels Sneak Into California, Despite Decades of State Shipping Rules?

11/25/2024

Most ships discharging ballast water into California waters are inspected, but state officials have tested the water of only 16 ships. Experts say invaders like mussels are inevitable under current rules and enforcement.

A California Child Tested Positive for Bird Flu. Here’s Why This Case Is Different

11/19/2024

Bird flu has been spreading among dairy workers in California’s Central Valley, jumping from cows to people. A new suspected case in the Bay Area came from an unknown source.

Santa Clara County Ramps Up Response as Invasive Mosquito Detected in More Areas

11/01/2024

The invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitos have been detected in more areas of Santa Clara County, prompting officials to hold meetings to discuss their response to the threat posed by the species. 

A Century Later, Salmon Again Spawning in Klamath River After Dams Removed

10/31/2024

Sixty years ago, I was a reporter for the Klamath Falls (Oregon) Herald and News and with my family lived in a small house on the Link River, which flows out of Upper Klamath Lake, draining a large portion of the Cascade mountain range.

A Third Straight Year With No California Salmon Fishing?  Early Fish Counts Suggest It Could Happen

10/30/2024

Low counts of spawning salmon could mean another year without fishing. Experts say the outlook still has time to turn around.

Bird Flu Jumped From Cows to People. Now Advocates Want More Farmworkers Tested

10/29/2024

A strain of bird flu that imperiled California poultry and cattle has jumped to people. In humans, the symptoms are mild and the virus has not been transmitted among people.

Is a New Plan for Delivering Delta Water Worse Than Trump’s Rules? Environmentalists Say Yes.

10/24/2024

Growers support a federal and state proposal for operating California’s massive systems that send river water south. But it could harm more salmon and other endangered fish.

John Laird Appointed to Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission

10/15/2024

Learn more about Central Coast District 17 State Senator John Laird's appointment to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Invasive Tree Killing Beetle Found

10/09/2024

Officials announce an infestation of invasive shothole borer beetles has been confirmed along Zayante Creek south of Graham Hill Road in Felton.

H5N1 Bird Flu Infects California Dairy Cows

09/11/2024

H5N1 bird flu has been reported in three California dairy herds.

Anchovies Return to Santa Cruz Wharf & Harbor

08/24/2024

The anchovies are back, and with them thousands of hungry seabirds.

Santa Cruz Mountain Cockfighting Ring Uncovered

07/10/2024

Responding to a July 11 welfare check, Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Deputies discovered a cockfighting ring and over 200 mutilated roosters.

Great White Sharks Return to Santa Cruz

06/13/2024

Young Great White sharks are convening in the warm waters of Soquel Cove off Seacliff State Beach between Capitola and Rio Del Mar.

Otter 841 is Back

05/28/2024

Monterey Bay's favorite otter is back and ready to steal more surfboards.

Featured

RCDs look after the land, whether it’s used for grazing, growing, or getting out into nature.
California Dirt
RCDs were created to avoid a repeat of the Dust Bowl. Now they work with landowners to preserve the air, water and natural habitats that sustain us all.
From the coast to the mountains, Santa Cruz County’s landscape has given way to human development. But residents can make all parts of the region more hospitable to native species.
Backyard Ecology
No matter where you live, you can help native flora and fauna.