One of the best times of year in California - the Chinook salmon have returned!

Happy Halloween 🧟🐟🧟🐟 I can't think of a more Halloween themed critter in California than the 'zombie' Chinook salmon.

Extremely proud to be one of the awarded reporters this year!

It's OFFICIAL. Hakai Magazine will continue; not in name, but in spirit. In January 2025, senior staff from Hakai will be joining bioGraphic magazine biographic.com That means more awesome narrative features and science-based news. But, of course, WE NEED YOUR HELP

You may have heard the exciting news... We are pleased to announce a partnership with the team from Hakai Magazine, an award-winning publication based in Victoria, British Columbia, that covers coastal and ocean stories from around the world.

I don't know who needs to hear this but Monterey ensatina salamanders (Ensatina eschscholtzii eschscholtzii) are like really really good looking.

Hay tanta diversidad y belleza en nuestros Andes! Reportaje en Smithsonian Magazine: smithsonianmag.com/science-nature…

I'm not sure I've ever been so uncomfortable in pursuit of an image. Which wasn't a low bar to beat - but freezing in a river for hours is in its own league. Here it is! California coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) with our other primary CA salmon- the Chinook (O. tshawytscha)!

Coho salmon massing in a deep pool in NorCal, waiting for a big rain before the big push further upriver. This past week they got that rain and all these fish probably moved upstream to spawn.

The last amphibian of 2024 is one of the prettiest salamanders I've ever seen. An incredible Sierra Nevada Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii platensis) - this one may have some E.e.xanthoptica influence too as you can see slight light speckling in one eye. 🦎🌍

My 1st amphibian species of 2025 is the same species as the last amphibian of 2024. But different subspecies! Vastly different animals. Painted Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii picta) & Sierra Nevada Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii platensis).

Spectacular, but troubling. On the road's far side, the snow is piled up nearly to the fencline, which makes it possible for 'em to jump; otherwise fence would likely be a barrier. As it is, I'm betting some were trapped or injured. Wildlife-friendly fencing a desperate need.

Wildlife Photographers!🚨 Stop giving photos away for free! If you are lucky enough to be in a situation where money isn't an issue, don't deny others that right! We just lost a decent sum of money off a project we were involved in for months because at the last second - (1/2)

Such effervescent writing makes a almost-horror-movie-difficult topic go down easy. And Sonya, being Sonya, insisted on putting her face in the lake—she took the spooky photos. Bay Nature magazine Sonya Bennett-Brandt baynature.org/article/what-l…

#NewSpeciesAlert - 𝐺𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑚, a new species of cyprinid fish (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from the Brahmaputra River drainage, Northeastern India. #Biodiversity #Labeoninae 🔓 recordsofzsi.com/index.php/zsoi…

The California endemic Scott Bar Salamander (Plethodon asupak) that lives in a narrow zone along the namesake river and tributaries in forested talus.

I was surprised & thrilled to find Coho Salmon in the Santa Cruz mountains at the southern edge of this species range. Few streams here still support them & of the ones that do - most see returns of <100 fish. Froze my face, fingers,& toes nearly off but worth it!

Excited to share this article I wrote for Smithsonian on the effects of the LA wildfires on wildlife: smithsonianmag.com/science-nature… Covering everything from snails to mountain lions and long and short-term effects of the fires. Read all about it!