Diet: Deer, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and sometimes plants Habitat: Widespread throughout North America Status: Least Concern
Features in Folklore Many Native American tribes, especially those in the West, have featured coyote figures in their stories and mythologies. Coyotes are cast as tricksters, warriors or thieves, but many tales take note of their intelligence and adaptability.
Friend or Foe? Coyotes often inhabit the wildland urban interface. Over 500,000 coyotes have been killed in California since 1891, mostly under the guise of protecting livestock. However, coyotes may do more good than harm to people by eating other animals that are considered pests.
What are some small mammals that might be the prey of coyotes and harmful to people, farms, and ranchland?
Diet: Nuts and seeds Habitat: Woodlands, coniferous forests, suburban greenspaces Status: Least Concern
Western gray squirrels live in Santa Cruz all year long. They use their long tails for balance as they run and leap among branches. Squirrels store acorns and nuts in shallow holes or caches in the ground but do not always re-find their stores, which can sprout into new trees. They mostly eat seeds and are known to steal from people’s bird feeders, making them a common neighbor for humans. They nest up in trees in “dreys”, which are made out of twigs and lined with moss or fur. Their alarm call sounds like a bird chirp and it is used to warn others of a predator or danger in the area.
Fun Facts:
Squirrels can live up to 8 years old.
Their teeth never stop growing – they can grow up to 6 inches per year. Their teeth are never that long though because they are constantly wearing them down when they eat hard seeds.
Squirrels are rodents and belong to the Family Sciuridae.
Scientific: Enhydra lutris nereis Spanish: Nutria marina del sur Mutsun: Suuyu
Diet: Urchins, shellfish, crabs and other invertebrates Habitat: Kelp forests, estuaries Status: Endangered
Back From Extinction But Still Endangered Sea otters are mustelids, the same family as weasels, badgers and wolverines. Unlike other marine mammals, otters have thick fur rather than blubber, making them a target for the fur trade historically. They were nearly hunted to extinction in the 19th and early 20th century, but under protection the population has grown to over 3,000. Sea otters can routinely be seen in the Monterey Bay, where they play an important role in the kelp forest ecosystem as a keystone species.
What would happen if there were no otters to eat urchins (which eat kelp)?
Scientific: Lepus californicus Spanish: Liebre de cola negra Awaswas: Cheyyesh
Diet: Grasses, herbs and shrubs Habitat: Grasslands, chaparral CaliforniaStatus: Least Concern
Catch Me If You Can Black-tailed jackrabbits are one of the fastest animals in North America. They run in bursts of up to 30-35 mph and make quick maneuvers to escape predators. They can become agricultural pests if their natural enemies (coyotes, bobcats and eagles) are removed.
Diet: Deer, small mammals Habitat: Forests, mountainous deserts, urban wildland interfaces CaliforniaStatus: Specially Protected Species
Space to Thrive Male mountain lions require large areas of connected habitat to find food and survive. Their territories are around 100 square miles, and become threatened as human developments expand.
How Did the Museum get its specimen? Our male lion was shot under a California Department of Fish and Game depredation permit in the foothills near Carmel, California in December 1981. These permits are only issued if an animal is repeatedly killing livestock. This lion proved to be old and had an injured foot, probably taking livestock because it was unable to hunt wild prey successfully.
Also known as California Holly, this plant produces bright red berries in fall and winter, which can be cooked and eaten. Hollywood derived its name from the plants growing on the hills above the town.
Scientific: Callipepla californica Spanish: Codorniz de California Mutsun: Heksen
Diet: Seeds, leaves and small insects Habitat: Coastal sagebrush, chaparral, foothills, woodland CaliforniaStatus: Least Concern
California’s State Bird California quail are hardy and adaptable birds found throughout the state. They scratch at the ground foraging for seeds, keeping close to cover in case predators approach. Quail are hunted by Native people for food and for their feathers which can be used to decorate baskets.
Scientific: Lampropletis californiae Spanish: Serpiente rey de California
Diet: Small mammals, other snakes Habitat: Forests, woodlands, chaparral, coastal sage scrub Status: Least Concern
A Royal Snake Kingsnakes of many colors and patterns can be found throughout the country. The Museum’s resident live snake has a brown and white pattern, typical of kingsnakes from coastal California, and is called “Chocolate Phase”.
Can you guess how the kingsnake got its name? Snakes in the genus Lampropletis are called the “kings of snakes” because they eat other snakes. Kingsnakes will eat any kind of snake, including rattlesnakes, whose venom they are resistant to.
Diet: Fish, amphibians, reptiles and small mammals Habitat: Near fresh and saltwater Status: Least Concern
Great blue herons have a six foot wingspan and a long beak, neck, and legs to aid in hunting. Locally they can be spotted year round near water where they hunt on the banks or roost in trees, like the eucalyptus overlooking the San Lorenzo River mouth.
Diet: Wetlands, shoreline Habitat: Fish, amphibians, invertebrates, small mammals Status: Least Concern
These long-legged wading birds can be seen in local wetlands, and are distinguished by their yellow beaks and black feet. Great egrets almost went extinct in the 19th century due to the demand for their feathers, but conservation efforts have helped their populations recover.
