Budding Botanists

Winter is here! Although the days become cooler and shorter, winter is a great time to find animal homes among our native plant habitats. Falling leaves reveal nests that are normally hidden behind a cover of green. The coming of rain means lots of happy plants and animals, especially for our amphibian neighbors. In Santa Barbara, you can find a variety of amphibians, including newts, frogs and salamanders.

Here are a few examples of plant homes to look for this winter with your family:

Look up high for bird nests. Do you think they were made last spring or are they older? Notice the variety of birds who make Santa Barbara their winter home.

Look at the base of trees and shrubs, like California Bay, for Woodrat homes. Woodrats oftentimes live in colonies, so if you find one, there’s a good chance there are more around!

Flip over logs after rain to see if you can find salamanders. Black-bellied Slender Salamanders are often mistaken for worms, since they like to lie down curled up. Look for their tiny legs and small face to tell the difference.

Don’t forget to be a thoughtful neighbor! If you flip over a log, please return it to its original position. Too much disturbance to a nest and the animals may not return, so make sure you give them plenty of space.