With summer in full swing, many of us enjoy hiking, picnicking, or simply playing in our many beautiful wilderness parks. There are a few poisonous plants on trails throughout Santa Clarita Valley and neighboring communities, and to keep you safe and free from misery, you should be aware of what they...

With the weather warming up and summer here, many varieties of snakes are doing the same. Many people hate snakes, but … a pet peeve of mine is seeing snakes run over in the road. I know some snakes are sunning themselves and get run over accidentally. But most people feel like, “the only good snake...

A month or so ago, my original intention was to write about a weasel I had seen in broad daylight, crossing the road while driving to Acton. During research on the subject, I discovered we had flying squirrels and truffles in the upper elevations of our own San Bernardino Mountains. There was a seemingly...

Driving through Escondido Canyon about a month ago, I noticed some rather beautiful shrubs beginning to bloom. Scores of Mexican elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) line the roadway, boasting clusters of beautiful, buttery yellow flowers that fill your senses with nature at its best. Mexican elder, now in...

Southern California has witnessed sporadic rain showers with sunny days to follow, then more drizzle, then more sun, and so on. This type of weather breeds an onslaught of many species of weeds. One of the most irritating weeds is the foxtail. The species of foxtail found in Southern California is the...

Being a docent-naturalist for the Placerita Canyon Nature Center, I’ve been trained to know about most of the animals that make their homes in our local chaparral, mountains, high deserts and rural communities. Some species are brazen and make themselves known in a community, like the coyote. Others...

I’ve always been curious about a cat’s ability to purr. In researching the subject, I found there are two theories. One is that a cat can manipulate and vibrate their larynx to make the sound. Another claims the vibration from purring is due to blood flow in the throat area. Although there is speculation...

The American crow and common raven are omnivorous members of the family Corvidae (genus Corvus). Besides ravens and crows, this family also includes rooks, jackdaws, jays, magpies, treepies, choughs and nutcrackers. There are 30 different species of crows and approximately nine species of ravens, along...

Five years ago there was a large fire in the hills above Acton, now known as the Station Fire. About a month later, I found an abundance of beetles that invaded my property (harmlessly), and I was curious as to what they were. After living in Agua Dulce for 20-odd years, these interesting creatures came...

You’re driving alone down Highway 14 in the dark toward the Antelope Valley. It’s October and the annual Santa Ana winds are beginning to rear their ugly head. Halloween is on the horizon. Spooky things are out there seemingly to get you. You’re concentrating heavily on your travels – and...