Raccoon Problems

Raccoons and humans don't always get along. There's a reason for that, and a solution. Truth is, we're more similar than you might think.

Where the Earth Opened Up

Where the Water Reflects the Sky | Part One The depth of our history— humanity’s, life’s, earths, and that of the universe itself— is unfathomable. Yet that is where our series begins—deep time. Before you and I. Before everyone you’ve ever known, loved, or learned about. Before the pyramids, before the mammoths, before the extinction … Continue reading Where the Earth Opened Up

What Animal has the Highest Blood Pressure?

Typically when we think of high blood pressure, we think of the negatives like high stress and a variety of high-risk health conditions. Yet for some in the animal kingdom, high blood pressure is a mere fact of life. So, what animal has the highest blood pressure?

Wild Speeds | Earth’s Top 20 Fastest Animals

The average human can run 7 mph. How do we measure up against our cousins across the animal kingdom? Let's explore the Earth's top 20 fastest animals.

How to be a Naturalist

What exactly is a naturalist? Who is a naturalist? What do they look like? You might have a certain type of person in mind. Maybe an old British guy in a stuffy room full of bugs in glass cases and preserved birds in drawers. Maybe your old British guy is on safari in Africa, donning … Continue reading How to be a Naturalist

Bull Kelp

A couple of weeks back, I saw my first ever Bull Kelp at Huntington Beach! Technically, Bull Kelp is a broad name for a genus, Nereocystis, meaning mermaid's-bladder in Greek. The thing about the genus is, it's monotypic meaning it contains just one species: Nereocystis luetkeana. Depending on where you're from, you might call it … Continue reading Bull Kelp

On Birding and Time

This, like many things lately, is a different type of content from The Wild Life. Who knew you could learn so much about authentic expression and finding yourself from producing a podcast? In this episode, I go out for a birding excursion with a major time constraint and ponder on my relationship with time itself. … Continue reading On Birding and Time

Review | Sharks, Lies, and Videotape

“Sharks, Lies, and Videotape: A content analysis of 32 years of Shark Week documentaries” is a stunningly comprehensive report on the ways in which Shark Week, arguably the largest source of shark information consumed by the masses, mixes real science with spectacle and salacious stories.

The Wild Life’s 2021 Blog Top 10’s

2021 was, indeed, a year. Now, it's finally almost over with a new one about to begin. I decided to sit down and take a look at some of The Wild Life's stats for the year as a way to reflect on what worked, what didn't, and what to keep going into the future. Here … Continue reading The Wild Life’s 2021 Blog Top 10’s

Reflection: Dead Forests & Living Memories

In her article for The New York Times, “Dead Forests and Living Memories”, Helen paints a picture of a lost landscape, the struggles of restoration and conservation efforts, and the continued threat of globalization on native ecosystems.

Hairy & Downy Woodpeckers: Spot the Difference

These two little woodpecker species are notorious for their visual similarity, but there are some key differences that can tip you off!

The Tawny Emperor Butterfly

The Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton) Butterfly may be beautiful, but their food sure isn’t. Finding an adult on a flower isn’t likely. Instead, you’ll find them on dead animals, poop, mud, and sap, slurping up broths of minerally goodness.

froghopper insect on a leaf

The Froghopper | DFS #11

This here is a froghopper. They can jump distances over 100 times their body length, accelerate at 4000 m/s^2 (nearly 9,000 mph), and experience 400 Gs while doing it. For context, a typical human could withstand no more than 9 Gs of force, and the average bullet travels at nearly 2000 mph. Where are the … Continue reading The Froghopper | DFS #11

Dispatches From Somewhere #10: The Golden Silk

Trichonephela clavipes, or The Golden Silk Orb-weaver, may be huge but they look a lot tougher than they act. They’re not aggressive and only bite if handled roughly, and they're super clumsy outside of their web!If you listen to the podcast, you might remember us discussing these with @shakiguani on Tainted Love Part 2! A single thread … Continue reading Dispatches From Somewhere #10: The Golden Silk