Trinidad -
The storm waves were so beautiful this past weekend.
The storm which hit the Pacific Coast brought waves ranging between 20-35 feet🌊🌧️ 😱
-ft my friends and dogs

#CritterOfTheDay-
Arboreal Salamander
"Aneides lugubris"
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These tree dwellers are great climbers, but did you know they're good at falling too? 🍃
Arboreal Salamanders use their limbs and large pads to control their fall and can glide down to the floor?🌲

Mammal Monday!
Today's mammal of the Day-
#RiverOtters
"Lutra canadensis"
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These little water noodles have the thickest fur of any animal, with 600,000 to 1,000,000 hair follicles per square inch. Imagine all the shampoo they need! 🫧🚿🧴
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#mammalmonday #humboldt #arcatamarsh

Do birds have butts?
I just googled it...
Yes, birds have butts, it's science. 🧪🧑‍🔬🧬
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Anyways. . . here is a falcon with flatulence. 💨
#birdbutt #birds #falcon

Critter of the day!
#GreatBlueHeron
"Ardea herodias"
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Did you know these birds can fly at speeds from 20mph to 35mph!
With a wingspan of around 6 feet, these graceful giants are hard to miss!
#humboldt #photography

Do you have all your ducks in a row? Arcata Marsh has it handled 🫶 🦆
Did you know The #ArcataMarsh and Wildlife Sanctuary has, at times, the highest bird populated coastal site between Bodega Harbor and Washington.
The Arcata Marsh hosts over 300 bird species!
#Humboldt

Critter of the Day-
Western Gul
"Larus occidentalis"
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You've definitely seen this common bird.
But did you know these sea birds are theives? 🦝
These bandits are very intelligent, and have been known to harass other sea birds like pelicans!
Even forcing them to regurgitate their catch. 🐟 🤮

Critter of the Day-
Northern Harrier 👀
"Circus hudsonius"
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Also known as "Marsh Hawks" these birds are not like other raptors!
These owl-faced baddies primarily use sound to hunt! Unlike other raptors which use sight, Harriers have stiff radio-disk-like feathers on their face to funnel sound! 👂

Critter of the Day:
Ten-lined June Beetle 🪲
"Polyphylla decemlineata"
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Did you know this little lady can sing?! 🎼🎵
Well... more like a screeching bat 🦇
Typed out it would sound like "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"
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Honestly though, I think it sounds like a tiny screaming frog. 🐸 IYKYK👀

Creep of the Day:
Candlesnuff fungus
"Xylaria hypoxylon"
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No... this is not the hands of lost souls reaching out of the ground, It's a mushroom!
This weird wood muncher helps break down fallen trees, and recycles its nutrients back into the soil.
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Fact: These little shrooms are bioluminescent! 💡

California Banana slug -
'Ariolimax californicus'
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Banana slugs are native to the west coast. Their territory covers from Alaska all the way to southern California, and even as far south as Mexico.
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While they do sound delicious, their slime is very sticky, and causes numbness. 😵‍💫