#XercesSociety early season western #monarch count at overwintering sites ended and it looks like this year’s population is very low. Spotted clusters at #NaturalBridges in Santa Cruz and but there should be 1000s more.

Looks like one of the #monarch caterpillars on my native #milkweed is getting ready to molt. He’s about 2 feet from the narrowleaf. Maybe 3rd instar? Not sure! Does anyone know how far they go to pupate? I’ve seen several likely 5th instars but not a single chrysalis.

Need a break from all the election news stress? I give you #monarch caterpillars on native California #milkweed

The robins are back! They usually pass through SF's East Bay in late fall and spring to feast on the (nonnative) cotoneaster, which I'm keeping until the native toyon starts producing for the birds.

Spawning #coho #salmon in Lagunitas Creek, a beautiful sight. 🌍

#ClimateChange is causing iconic marine species to starve to death. After a series of marine heatwaves, the population of snow crab in the Bering Sea declined by *10 billion*. Researchers think the temps caused unprecedented caloric needs that couldn't be met. 🌎 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

#RIP @joshkruger.bsky.social

Terrible loss for his family and for society’s overlooked, undervalued and mistreated.

Check it out: mushrooms and strawberries in degradable cardboard NOT #plastic as @wholefoods.bsky.social and other “natural” grocery stores sell them. There is no reason to package fruit and vegetables in plastic. #DoTheRightThing

Remarkable investigation of the murder of brilliant #Alcatraz leader #RichardOakes, who helped jumpstart discussions about #Indigenous rights and historic wrongs by @jfagone.bsky.social www.sfchronicle.com/projects/202...

How do you protect media's role in democracy when plutocrats buy up all the outlets? This longstanding problem hits the comics page.

Here's his remembrance. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth and young adults. Suicide is preventable. 90% of those who died by suicide had a diagnosable mental illness. They wanted to end their pain. But most communities are not equipped to provide needed mental health services.

Large carnivores like cougars boost biodiversity and ecosystem health in ways ecologists are still working out. This fantastic graphic from Inside Climate News' @paulhornographic.bsky.social lays out many of their critical ecological roles all in one place.

insideclimatenews.org/wp-content/u...

Writing about how hard it is for people to take simple actions to coexist with large carnivores like mountain lions can be pretty grim. So can reading about it. So here is a picture of a beautiful cub in her den by ICN's amazing photographer (and senior editor), Michael Kodas.