American Kestrel

July 7, 2024

Hanging by a Wing

Pacific Wildlife Care Animal Release American Kestrel, animal rescue

Such an innocuous thing – a piece of string, likely from a kite. Innocuous, maybe, to the human eye, but one that could have – probably would have – led to death for American Kestrel 24-1169 if it weren’t for a circuitous, obstacle-strewn relay of concerned folks – more evidence that it really does “take […]

❤️🕷️ Have no fear! This time of year you may see wandering tarantulas out and about. They are usually males in search of a female. Please leave them be as they mean you no harm. They rarely bite but do have itchy hairs they will use if provoked. Let them go about their business and you can walk away knowing you got to see a really cool animal! 🙂

📸 Kelly V.

#tarantula #spiders #pacificwildlifecare #arachnid #wildlife #pleasebekind ... See MoreSee Less

21 hours ago

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Our favorite BioBlitz image of the week can be found here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/238274437 by @naturesdawn of the non-venomous California King Snake! Photographed on our North Coast in Cayucos, take a close look at the image, as two snake species were captured in the photo! The California King Snake has a black body with cream-colored bands going around the body, while the Garter Snake has a black body with yellowish stripes going down the length of the snake. The King Snake species are named as such because of their tendency to consume other snakes as part of their diet, including venomous species and those of their own kind. Anywhere from three to five feet in length, the California species are powerful constrictors that also consume lizards, frogs, birds, eggs, and most importantly, rodents. This variable appetite makes them especially important to keep an ecological balance in their habitats. The California King Snake has many interesting adaptations including climbing trees and being good swimmers, but perhaps most interesting is their ability to mimic a rattlesnake. If threatened, they may give off a musky smell, while hissing, and vibrating their tails in leaf litter in order to sound like a rattlesnake rattle. Another fun fact is that they are immune to rattlesnake venom, which becomes neutralized by proteins in the King Snakes blood! This is a highly diverse species that can be found in various habitats, including forest, grassland, deserts, and suburban areas. Thank you, @naturesdawn!!! And thank you to everyone who has participated in our BioBlitz on iNaturalist so far! We love seeing all of the SLOcal wildlife, keep it coming 🐍🌱

Our favorite BioBlitz image of the week can be found here: www.inaturalist.org/observations/238274437 by @naturesdawn of the non-venomous California King Snake!

Photographed on our North Coast in Cayucos, take a close look at the image, as two snake species were captured in the photo! The California King Snake has a black body with cream-colored bands going around the body, while the Garter Snake has a black body with yellowish stripes going down the length of the snake.

The King Snake species are named as such because of their tendency to consume other snakes as part of their diet, including venomous species and those of their own kind. Anywhere from three to five feet in length, the California species are powerful constrictors that also consume lizards, frogs, birds, eggs, and most importantly, rodents. This variable appetite makes them especially important to keep an ecological balance in their habitats.

The California King Snake has many interesting adaptations including climbing trees and being good swimmers, but perhaps most interesting is their ability to mimic a rattlesnake. If threatened, they may give off a musky smell, while hissing, and vibrating their tails in leaf litter in order to sound like a rattlesnake rattle. Another fun fact is that they are immune to rattlesnake venom, which becomes neutralized by proteins in the King Snake's blood! This is a highly diverse species that can be found in various habitats, including forest, grassland, deserts, and suburban areas.

Thank you, @naturesdawn!!! And thank you to everyone who has participated in our BioBlitz on iNaturalist so far! We love seeing all of the SLOcal wildlife, keep it coming 🐍🌱 ... See MoreSee Less

3 days ago

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