Faces of The Nat: celebrating LGBTQIA+ staff this November

The Nat is proud to work alongside many amazing LGBTQIA+ scientists, volunteers, staff, and community members, and we’re celebrating their contributions to science. November 18 is LGBTQIA+ in STEM day, which uplifts the work of LGBTQIA+ people in science, technology, engineering, and math, and highlights some of the barriers they may face in these fields.

Spiderwebs: The Nat’s Newest Tool for Studying Wildlife in Our Canyons and Backyards

Did you know that as a living organism, you shed genetic material called DNA? Although you usually can’t see it stuck anywhere, you’ve probably left DNA on everything that you’ve touched! This is also true of every other living thing—from bats to birds to bumblebees, there’s lots of DNA floating around out there. But what if we told you local spiders are catching wildlife DNA in their webs? 

Learn How to Identify 10 of the Most Common Snakes in Our County

Now that summer has arrived in sunny San Diego, everyone wants to come out to enjoy the heat. You might encounter one on a hike or walk, in a local park or canyon, or even your own backyard, so make sure to brush up on your snake ID skills! This guide will help you quickly recognize some of San Diego’s most common snakes.