The Golden Eagle

The Golden Eagle, or scientifically known as the Aquila chrysaetos, is one of the many, many native animals we have here in the San Diego area. The golden eagle is an iconic animal, and most everyone knows that these animals are very significant to our whole country. Golden Eagles are truly incredible animals. They usually have a wingspan that is more than seven feet, and also they can live to be about thirty to forty years old. The golden eagle also really likes the San Diego area, and stays here all year round. Golden eagles do not migrate because San Diego really has desirable weather for the golden eagle, and it does not move since it does not have to. Golden Eagles are very gutsy animals, they are known for their speed and agility. That speed and agility really helps them when trying to catch food. Rabbits, and squirrels are among the smaller types of prey, but also some golden eagles have been prone to attacking full-grown deer. Golden eagles maintain a usual area of about sixty square miles. When they find their area, they really stick to it, and don't move at all for several years, or they even stay for life.
Recently, there has been some issues with golden eagles dying for reasons that are not good at all. Some golden eagles have been hit by cars, or have flown into power lines. Also in some other cases, the land area that they oversee just becomes diminished over a period of time. This has been very unfortunate, but there are some things that we can do as residents of the San Diego area. There are many groups, or volunteer efforts that are dedicated to ensuring that all the golden eagles that we have left are taken care of. Also, just having the knowledge about the golden eagle, helps to keep it going. Just knowing a little piece will lead you to fully understanding one day everything there is to know about the Golden Eagle.

The Western Banded Gecko

The Western Banded Gecko is actually one of the less popular native San Diego animals. Also known as the Coleonyx variegatus, the western banded gecko actually is a relativity small gecko that lives amongst rocks and other geckos. This gecko is about six inches long, and has short little legs. This specific species is one of the only ones with eyes that actually are movable, and also with a pointed snout. Adult western banded geckos are mostly a light grey, or pale yellow color, with some reddish or brownish spots or lines on them. This specific gecko is native to San Diego, but there some other subspecies that are found in other countries and states as well. These geckos are mostly active during the spring, and between May and September, these geckos usually lay about two eggs. These geckos are very unique to have in our home areas. The San Diego native animals are all so different, and this one specifically is a pretty unique one. The western banded gecko is only found here in San Diego, so for us to have our own species really changes so much. Many people do not really realize how truly special San Diego is, and how diverse we really are.
With these Western Banded Geckos especially, we can step back and look at how we have such a wide range of different animals right in our backyards. There are so many animals ranging from tiny ones, to larger ones. These Western Banded Geckos are a great example of one of the many unique animals we have here in San Diego.

The San Diego Squirrel

The San Diego Squirrel goes by a few different names. One for instance is the Beechey Ground Squirrel, or also the Spermophilus beecheyi, as it's scientific name. This animal is undoubtedly a San Diego native, because anywhere you go in San Diego, you will probably see a squirrel. Most squirrels are usually about eighteen inches long, and have fairly large tails, and it is usually longer than half the head and body length. Also the tail is very bushy. The San Diego squirrel usually has a mixture of black, brown and grey coloration. It almost looks like a large coat that the squirrel wears. Many of these squirrels are not very friendly to humans, and they are very territorial. These squirrels especially love to be in areas where lots of people go. San Diego beaches are perfect places for these squirrels to hide out. When humans drop food, or leave food behind, these guys love to sneak up and steal anything that they can. These squirrels are pretty intelligent for the most part, and usually stick together. They form big colonies, and form together in numbers. There really are not main predators for the squirrels, other than humans themselves. Also in many cases, the extinction of squirrels is not going to happen anytime soon. In some parts of San Diego, there have been efforts to stop the reproduction of squirrels.
While many people might think that these animals are very annoying, we have to remember that they are part of San Diego. These squirrels play a big role in picking up some trash, and they actually are a pretty great reminder of where you are. In most all cases, squirrels are not vicious animals who attack, and so we all need to remember that anything we do that will directly effect them, directly effects our amazing city of San Diego.

The Long-eared Owl

The Long-eared owl, is yet another one of San Diego's many native animals. Also known as the Asio otus, the long-eared owl is one of the different species of owls known to be in the San Diego area. These owls are closely linked to the barn owls, and other owls that are also native to San Diego. This owl is usually anywhere from thirty-one to thirty-seven centimeters long, with a very large wingspan of about eighty-six to ninety-eight centimeters. This specific owl is pretty unique also because of it's ears. As the name says, the ears on this owl are long. During the wintertimes, this owl migrates to the south to escape colder weather. Like it's similar species, this owl also has yellow eyes, and mostly does most of it's hunting in the night. This owl has exceptional night vision, and uses it to it's advantage. Thankfully, this amazing creature is not under any danger, and is probably not going to go extinct anytime soon. Like in many cases, it is really important to just have the basic information about some of the various animals around the San Diego area. It is especially easy to connect to these animals because we all share the space that these animals use. It is a cool experience, seeing an owl, and this owl especially would be so cool to see. Since it has distinctly larger ears, if you spotted one, you would probably be able to say that it was a Long-eared Owl, instead of another type.
Just by reading about the different things that make this specific owl unique, is helping it out. Like mentioned in other posts, just having knowledge about the animal is pretty great. Should someone ask you something about different native, San Diego animals, you can look back and remember that the Long-eared owl is just one of the many native animals that you can think of.

The Black Widow

The Black Widow, or also known as the Latrodectus hesperus is, believe it or not, is native to the San Diego area. There are actually about six different species of the black widow, but the one that is specifically native to the San Diego area, is known as the Western Widow. Black widows are highly venomous and they will hurt you should you bother them. I think that everyone pretty much knows that black widows are poisonous, but it is a good thing to keep in mind. These black widows really can mess up your bloodstream, should you get bitten by one of these spiders, so make sure that if you see one, you stay far away. The female black widow actually is a lot larger than the male, and it a darker more satin black color, with a red part on their stomach. The male is a lighter color and sometimes has stripes. Also, the black widow is capable of making very strong webs. The webs that the black widows make are so strong that it can capture it's food, and the caught bug, or fly, whatever it might be, can not get away at all. The black widow is not a spider that you can mess around with. Knowing that it is a native organism to the San Diego area might frighten some people, but keep in mind that if you don't bother them, then won't bother you.
Many people see black widows, and find ways to kill them. In some cases, this is okay, but in others, it might not be the best way to go about eliminating the threat. If there is a black widow anywhere in your house, it is vital that you remove it at all costs, but should there be a black widow out in the middle of nowhere, it is best to just let it do it's own thing. While black widows are a threat, especially to the human being, it is sometimes hard to not be scared, but we have to just remember, and keep in mind, that if we don't bother them, they won't bother us.

The Two-Striped Garter Snake

The Two-Striped Garter Snake is a snake that is definitely native to the San Diego area. The Two-Striped Garter Snake or also known as the Thamnophis hammondii is a specific species of snake that has been around here in the San Diego area for some time now. This type of snake actually branched off a similar type of snake very recently, and it actually became it's own species because of the amount of snakes that were produced in the amount of time that was given to the Two-Striped Garter Snake. This snake actually has a very distinctive coloring and also way of movement. The main body of the snake is a brownish or grayish color. It also has a two lines going along the side of a more yellow or orange color. This yellow or orange color actually continues to the bottom, but since the snake moves along with it's stomach, it gives the illusion that the snake has two different lines of the same color. The tongue of this snake is a red color, and when it shows to it's predators, they know that this Two-Striped Garter Snake is not messing around. When this snake is handled, it actually lets out a distinct smell, which is very foul smelling. This snake is not poisonous, and will not attack you, should you see one in the San Diego area, but it is best to only look and not touch.
So many people believe that no matter what, all snakes are poisonous. That is the furthest from the truth. This snake especially, it might look like it is poisonous, but it is not. In many cases, you can look at the snake and its properties, and you can tell if the snake is poisonous or not. More people should not look at a snake and see that they are in danger. It is a bummer when people do just assume that all snakes are bad, but here is a great case where this snake is not poisonous, and not a huge threat.

The Southwestern Pond Turtle

The Southwestern Pond Turtle goes by a few other names as well. Some others include just Western Pond Turtle, Pacific Pond Turtle, or Actinemys marmorata, and it is basically a very San Diego turtle, since it is native to the area. This turtle is about 20 centimeters long, and the outer shell is called the dorsal. The different colors on different parts of the turtle decipher if it is a male or a female. The males have a light yellowish, or pale neck, while the females don't. These turtles will be pretty much in any body of water. Ranging from permanent and intermittent waters, including marshes, streams, rivers, ponds and lakes. These turtles are actually very intelligent as well! They will swim in very deep waters, and go under rocks. They might dig and get as far under the rock as they can, to eliminate the worry of predators getting to them. The Southwestern Pond Turtle usually only eats insects, fishes, tadpoles, and some smaller frogs. The turtles reproduce, and the female usually lays anywhere from five to thirteen eggs at one time. This happens twice a year. The female makes sure that wherever she lays her eggs is totally protected. In many cases, you would not be able to tell that she laid her eggs there, unless it was found by a predator.
These amazingly smart, and unique looking organisms really are a cool animal to have in our native land. San Diego is home to so many various animals, and it is really an amazing thing to see the different types of animals we have here, and also to see how the different organisms around them effect everything else. While these turtles don't have the worry of becoming extinct anytime soon, having the knowledge about these cool creatures really changes the way you think about the different aquatic lifeforms that we all usually think of.