Nature

Tom takes photos of pollution and debris surrounding the Bacara Resort near Haskell's Beach.

An edhat reader shares photos of a Black Bear hanging out in Solvang.

An edhat reader shares a photo of the Goleta Slough and Atascadero Creek.

Max shares a photo of a gyre off the Santa Barbara shore and acknowledges the retirement of a longtime pilot. 

The Jelly Palm’s distinctive crown, a big ball of recurving blue-green fronds, makes it an easily identified tree in the landscape.    

Edhat readers share photos of a shark that washed up on Hendry's Beach.

Max shares photos from a recent flight over the Santa Barbara coastline.

The Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network rescued an injured Pied-billed Grebe and released it back into the wild last week.

An edhat reader reports seeing a mountain lion on Sweetwater Trail near Lake Cachuma on Thursday.

An edhat reader shares a photo of an ominous red sun rising over Santa Barbara.

SB Wildlife Care Network's patient of the week is a Mallard who narrowly escaped a menacing cat.

Edhat readers share photos of nature views from local areas.

The Water Gum is as close as you can get to a “perfect tree” for ornamental purposes in Santa Barbara.

Ronald shares nautical photos of August's full moon.

A UC Santa Barbara professor has launched a new website to enjoy public lands throughout Santa Barbara and beyond.

An edhat reader shares a photo of an intricate spider web.

In No Mask Required Part 2, we head to the backcountry for one last fling before the creeks dried up for summer.

A group of goats has returned to Valle Verde Retirement Community to help clear overgrown brush.

[Update]: An edhat reader shares a photo of a sidewalk hibiscus bloom.

Sharks were captured on drone video off Santa Claus Beach on Friday morning.

The barn owl rescued from the center divider of Highway 101 is now healing at the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network.

With its stout bottle-shaped trunk, combined with distinctive flowers, seed pods, leaves, and bark, the “Pink Flame Tree” certainly qualifies as one of the most bizarre-looking trees growing in Santa Barbara.

An edhat reader shares a drone video of Great White Sharks feeding off the California coast.

In full bloom, the “Snowy Fleece Tree” is truly remarkable.  When it is dressed up in all its cream-colored fluffy flowers, this common name is a perfect wintery description of its appearance in spring.

An edhat reader shares a photo of a Blue Tailed Skink on a local hiking trail. 

The Trump Administration approved a new oil well and pipeline in the Carrizo Plain National Monument last week.

Considering its home territory, it is hard to believe that the Southern Live Oak would survive in Santa Barbara. Surprisingly, it not only survives but seems to thrive, even through our severe droughts.  

An edhat reader reports a 35-foot gray whale has washed up on the beach near Santa Claus Lane.

Edhat readers share calming nature photos of Santa Barbara County during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Beekeeper’s Guild of Santa Barbara invites local residents to nominate their neighbor’s gardens (or their own!) to win one of ten coveted “Plant Bee Friendly” awards.