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.

The California Red-legged Frog

The California Red-legged Frog is one more of San Diego's native organisms. The California Red-legged Frog or also known in scientific terms as Rana draytonii, is a frog found primarily along the coast in some isolated areas. These frogs are a pretty unique color. They almost look to be like a plum color, but also have accents of black, grey, reddish, and olive colors that when mixed together might actually be the color of the Rana draytonii. While this frog you might think, is just like any other frog, it actually plays a really important role along the coastline. This frog is actually an important food source. The San Fransisco Garter Snake feeds upon these red-legged frogs, and it is it's primary food source. The California Red-legged Frog is such an important part of the food web, that should it become extinct, there would be a decrease in the other subspecies of the frog, and also the San Fransisco Garter snake would suffer as well, because that organism is actually endangered. There would be a huge issue. A lot of times, this is the similar case to many other animals. This kind of situation happens all the time, and causes certain species to die out, and others to thrive. The California Red-legged Frog is a great example of an important player in this huge game of life.
As mentioned above, the California Red-legged Frog plays a huge role in the food web, and also mentioned above, this is a similar situation for many other organisms. In most cases, people don't really realize how much of an effect every single organism that exists, really has. There are many people who have no idea what a food web is, or anything like that, but this blog about the California Red-legged Frog makes this message more clear.

The California Leaf-nosed Bat

The California Leaf-nosed Bat, or scientifically known as the Macrotus californicus, is yet another one of San Diego's more, interesting native animals. When most people think of bats, they usually think of scary movies, and people being attacked by bats, but that thought process is totally false. The bat has a wingspan of 30 centimeters and is one of the animals that many people look down upon. Bats hang upside down when they are resting, and they wrap their wings around them. These bats are all a brownish color, and they all use sonar to find whats around them. Many people think that bats are all bad, but in reality, they are really beneficial to rain forests, and other desert areas. These California Leaf-Nosed Bats especially have the worst reputation, because they are not very good looking. So many times, people will only judge a book by it's cover, but they don't really understand that there is more to looks on the outside. It really is an awful thing that people are killing bats, and shooing them out of areas where they could be beneficial in the long run. There should be more realization that these California Leaf-nosed bats are really not awful creatures. There have been many cases of hurting bats because of humans ignorance, and their lack of knowledge. There should be more things done to help protect the California Leaf-nosed bats.
Like mentioned above, there are many cases where human ignorance comes into play, and the California Leaf-nosed bats suffer. There are many opportunities to see bats in ways where they are protected, but it is such a downer when people don't know better and treat bats like they are the enemy. Hollywood has portrayed such a bad image about these amazing creatures, and it has really rubbed off on people the wrong way. Because of human lack of knowledge, there have been bats that have been killed for wrong reasons. Just because something doesn't look too pleasing on the outside, doesn't mean that on the inside there isn't a good soul. Ignorant people should be more informed about these types of animals.

The Burrowing Owl

The Burrowing Owl is very common in the San Diego area, and they are known for making burrows in some areas like grasslands, deserts, and rangelands. These owls are actually pretty different from the other types of owls because of the various things that it does. The burrowing owl actually is still active during the day, whereas many other types of owls sleep all day and hunt and become active during the night. On the other hand though, these owls still do a lot of their hunting from dusk until dawn. They do this while it is dark because, as owls, they have amazing night vision, and they use it to their ability. The burrowing owl has yellow eyes, and these owls also have a lot of head movements. The burrowing owl uses it's head to reflect what it's feeling, and also uses different sounds to reflect if it is feeling endangered, or if it is trying to attract a mate. The male owl is the one who makes sounds to attract the female owl, and will make the usual "Who Who" noise. The owl is really not one of the species that is being effected by the problem of endangerment, but there is still the issue of trees that are like homes to the owls being cut down. It really is an issue that we cannot put into our own hands, but it is still something to keep out our minds. Should there ever be a problem with the population of the Burrowing Owl, you'll know about that owl because of this blog.

Realizing that you have the power to change small thing like this really will change the way that you see life and the way the different organisms live around you. There should not be an issue anytime soon with these types of owls, but there is still going to be that risk that one day, the burrowing owl could become extinct. Like many of the other animals whom are not directly effected by endangerment, it is still affective to know the least there is to know about the Burrowing Owl.

The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher

The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, or also known as Empidonax traillii, is one of the pretty common bird that you might see flying around different parts of the San Diego area. These birds are very pretty, and are pretty distinct from other birds in the San Diego area. The adult birds have brownish, or olive color upperparts, darker wings and tail, and also a whitish underpart. These birds are pretty different from other birds because unlike a lot of birds, the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher actually migrates south to places like Mexico. These birds will stay in the San Diego area for most of the year, but travel to the south to escape the winters in San Diego. These birds are especially smart because they actually know that the south, down toward Mexico would be a better place to be.
These birds might not be the most beautiful, the most stunning birds we have in the San Diego area, but they still play an important role. These birds really make up where we live in California. Birds like the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher make our city in California pretty unique. We have a big mixture of the different types of birds we have, but this one contributes to that fact even more. The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher is really an important part of the culture of organisms in the San Diego area.

The Desert Night Lizard

Here is the Desert Night Lizard. This lizard, known scientifically as the Xantusia vigilis, is the lizard that you and I have probably seen many times before. These lizards are very native to the San Diego area. Many times, I will lift up a piece of fallen wood, or something like that, and there it will be. This lizard really is the average lizard and is really common around this area. This type of lizard particularly actually does not lay eggs, but gives birth to a live offspring. These lizards produce anywhere from one to three offspring in the months of August to December. While these lizards usually are the ones that we all don't really like, we have to recognize that these lizards are living organisms too, and they are native to San Diego. In most cases, people try and kill these lizards, and that should change. Many people don't see that they are really making a change in the amount of lizards that are in the are. In most cases, they actually will benefit you. These lizards actually eat termites, spiders and other small insects. These lizards are truly harmless to the humans that it is around, but many of us think that they might kill us all. That is completely false. It is known that these lizards do not mind humans, and they are more scared of you.
We all need to think more about what we do with lizards. We should leave them alone, and they will leave us alone. In most cases though, we don't purposely go out and look for these lizards, but we sometimes stumble across them. It is important to remember that they are harmless, and we should do nothing to hurt them. They might be lizards that we think are gross, but they are still native animals to San Diego.

The Hummingbird

The Hummingbird. Yet another one of San Diego's more popular animals. Most everyone has seen a hummingbird, and most everyone knows what they are. These birds are actually very close to being the smallest birds in the world. These birds actually hover in the air by flapping their tiny wings. They can beat their wings from 12 to 90 times per second! They are also the only bird who is able to fly backwards. Hummingbirds, like bees, enjoy nectar from flowers. They are very smart birds, and can actually tell which flowers have less than 10% sugar, and skip over that flower. Hummingbirds actually live from three to five years. Unlike other birds, the male hummingbird does not really have anything to do with the nesting of the offspring. Thankfully, this type of bird specifically is not directly effected with the plague that many others have, endangerment. The hummingbird actually is very common, and so the extinction of it is really not seen anytime soon. Many people love watching hummingbirds, and people really can tell when a hummingbird is near. I think everyone has seen a hummingbird once or twice before, and probably more than that. The hummingbird is really such a familiar sight, and many people enjoy seeing them. There might always be a problem with the amount of flowers there are available to hummingbirds, and that could be an issue.
While a shortage of flowers might not seem very important right now, we all can do something to help out these birds. If you want to do your part, you can! Hummingbirds mostly drink nectar, which is mostly sugar, so to help the hummingbird get its main source of food, you can help by making a hummingbird feeder and putting it in your backyard. It is a small something that will benefit both you and the hummingbird. You will be able to enjoy them more, and that is something we could all use!

The Quino Checkerspot Butterfly

This amazing butterfly, called the Quino Checkerspot and known scientifically as the Euphydryas editha quino is yet another native San Diego animal. Most people think of a butterfly, and this one comes right to mind. The Quino Checkerspot is a subspecies of the common Edith's Checkerspot. The Quino butterfly usually is about medium sized, with a three centimeter wingspan. It is very colorful and is usually like a checkerboard of brown, red and yellow spots. This butterfly differs from others because whatever reddish colors it has on it, are usually darker than the other types and species of the butterfly. This butterfly in particular has really been effected by the industrialization around it. This butterfly is actually pretty used to the urban developments, but that is just because it actually had to adapt to it. There was no question at all about saving this little butterfly, there was really only a concern to just worry about building whatever needed building. This really has drastically effected the population of not only this species of butterfly, but also the other species that are closely linked to this one. Many people believe that there is nothing that can be done to try and save the smaller animals like this one. That is the furthest thing from the truth. Many people don't realize that most everything that they do effects not only this butterfly but many other organisms around them.
The fact that in the past 100 years, the population of this butterfly had drastically dropped, really is a bummer. Many people don't even see butterflies around anymore, because of the different buildings and other things that have been changing what we all see, or don't see. I truly believe that if more people knew about the different problems that small organisms like this one face, there would not be as big of an issue. There really is not much that we can all do to try and help this butterfly, but just acknowledging that these butterflies exist is truly a start. One day, if this does become an issue of this butterfly becoming extinct, you will now know about it, and you will have known. That is truly the first step in doing your part for the Quino Checkerspot butterfly.

The Stephens' Kangaroo Rat

The Stephens' Kangaroo Rat is yet another one of San Diego's Native animals. Known scientifically as the Dipodomys, this cute little rat is usually anywhere from ten to twenty centimeters, and their tail is usually equally long, or slightly larger. These rats are not like other rats, because they have very long hind legs. These legs make their name. These rats are known as Kangaroo Rats because they hop in a way that is very similar to the kangaroo, but no, they are not in any way related. These little guys live deep in burrows that they make. Primarily, they shelter them from heat and also from other predators. The Kangaroo Rat eats mostly seeds, leaves, stems, buds, some fruits and other insects too. They are very good at storing food as well. In their burrows, they usually dedicate one whole sections off to where they store the food that they gather. These little guys usually can be pretty colorful, ranging all from pretty much a pale white, to a sandy brown, to a brighter yellowish color. They really are cute little animals too. These rats are very lucky, and they do not have the worry of becoming one day extinct. They reproduce many many times, and there is not an issue with their population.
Although many people think that all rats are gross, these ones might just change you mind. These rats are pretty special, considering that they do not walk around like most other rats. If you have a fixed mindset about these little critters all being the same and gross, you might have to rethink that. Granted, seeing a little hopping rat might be pretty scary at first, but they are actually pretty friendly little rats. They do not interact much with humans, but it is a known fact that they really are just harmless little rats.

The San Diego Horned Lizard

The San Diego Horned Lizard, or mostly known as just the Horned Lizard, is a very native animal to the San Diego area. There are some of these lizards all over southern California, and they even are in some parts of northern Mexico. The scientific name for the Horned Lizard is actually Phrynosoma. This lizard is called the horned lizard because of it's blunt nose. The horns on its back are actually not horns at all, they are actually just bumps in its back, that give the illusion to predators that it is worse than it really is. Their skin actually can become camouflage, and can help protect them from any other predators as well. This is a very unique lizard, and it actually is a pretty special animal to have here in the San Diego area. Unlike many of the other San Diego native animals, this specific lizard is not endangered. Here in San Diego though, there was a decline in the actual amount of these lizards because of different pesticides that were used to eliminate ants. It was unfortunate, but it did not cause this animal to become endangered.
This specific lizard is pretty unique to have. There are not many places in the world that have special animals like this. San Diego has many animals like this, but this one in particular is pretty cool. There are so many people who believe that since this animal is not endangered, that there is nothing more we can do, but in reality, there is so much that we could all do. I realize that while ants are pretty annoying, and using a product like raid really does help reduce the amount of ants we have to deal with, it really does effect that San Diego Horned Lizard. We all need to think harder about the amount of pesticides we use, and also think about using organic pesticides to increase the amount of these San Diego Horned Lizards in our home areas.

The Arroyo Southwestern Toad

The Arroyo Southwestern Toad, or scientifically known as the Bufo Californicus, is a small toad that is native to San Diego. This toad, like many other toads, has warts on its outer body. Its size ranges from two to three inches, and mostly greenish, grayish, or salmon colored. This toad is mostly only active from March through September, and is not active any of the other months. This toad is mostly active during these months because it is not cold, and there is not much rainy weather to worry about. This makes San Diego the perfect location for this toad. Like many of the other animals that are native to the San Diego area, this animal is actually on the list of endangered species. While this toad is not directly effected mostly by the residents of San Diego, it is still an issue that should be looked at more in depth. This toad breeds mostly in sandy, and gravely streams. They like the sand, or gravel because the toads like to burrow. One of the main reasons that this animal is going extinct, is because of human activity in the different streams. If there is trash or waste in the streams, it directly effects the way that this toad will live.
We each have our own duty as humans to protect this animal. Picking up a piece of trash in the street, is something that is really not difficult at all, but the effect is truly amazing. Just doing something small like that, will make such a difference to not only this toad, but to many other animals too. It starts off with small things like this. It starts with just one person, and then it grows. It becomes something that more than just one person participates in, and it becomes a great thing that will directly save this animal from extinction. We all need to recognize our duties as people of the San Diego area, and we can all make a difference.

The Least Bell's Vireo

The Least Bell's Vireo is a songbird that is native to the San Diego area. This bird's scientific name is the Vireo bellii. This bird is about four to five inches long, and is a mostly grayish bird. This bird has a white patch on its under body, and it makes it stand out. This bird might be native to the San Diego area, but it has not been treated like a very good one. In most cases, this bird's population has been largely effected. It has been effected mostly because of the different industrial buildings that have been built in its native areas. There have been various land development projects that have truly been what has been causing this animal to become endangered. There has been a increase in grasslands. What a grassland is, is basically a land where it is all taken over by various grasses. If there are many trees, they would be cut down, and that is mostly what is causing this poor songbird to become endangered.
This songbird is really a delight to have in the San Diego area. Walking around, and hearing a songbird singing is truly an amazing thing. Many times, I have been walking around and I have heard construction, or honking drivers, but when I truly sit back, and listen, and I hear a songbird, it makes life better. The extinction of this specific songbird would really be such an unfortunate thing. If more people were educated about this bird, and knew what it looked like, there could be more enjoyment of this bird. The Least Bell's Vireo is a unique songbird that really does not deserve to become extinct. If we do not make a change, this songbird will become extinct. Doing something simple, like having a bird feeder in your front yard, is something that not only will help out this singing friend, but will also add to your love of the different animals around you. This bird really is an important part of our lives, because like I said before, when you step back and truly listen to nature and what is has to say, or in this case sing, it is truly a life changing experience.

The Island Fox

The Island Fox, or scientifically known as the Urocyon littoralis, is a smaller fox that is native to the San Diego area. There are six subspecies of this one, but this Island Fox is the most well known fox to the San Diego area. Since this specific species lives in the San Diego area, it is not very well adapted to some of the different parasites or diseases. These foxes do not have the immunity to theses kinds of issues like some of the other types of animals. It is knowns that many of the usual cases of sickness that a dog would get. This fox is a smaller fox, smaller than most other types of foxes, and because of this, they are more vulnerable to dying, and becoming sick. This foxes mostly live in some of the rural ares of San Diego, and they roam in open fields. Some of these foxes do tend to attack other animals that come in it's area, like other house dogs, or smaller animals as well.
Along with some of the other animals, this Fox was protected because it was known as an Endangered Species. There have been some people who are dedicated to making sure that they protect this fox, and they have started by ensuring that these foxed reproduce. Some of the foxes that are around the San Diego area, wear a tracking collar. This collar helps to make known where these foxes are. If they are in danger, there are people who will go help them. These foxes are truly beautiful animals. They are amazing, and there should not be this issue of them becoming one day extinct. There are some areas where the mating of these animals is taking place. It is important that we all recognize that there would be a big issue, should this species become extinct. This animal feeds on other animals, and if this particular fox become extinct, than the whole food web would become disrupted. It is important to realize that this is a beautiful animal, that we all can help to save from becoming extinct.

The California Gnatcatcher

The California Gnatcatcher, or in more scientific terms, known as the Polioptila californica, is a very cute and small bird that is native to the San Diego area. This species has not been native for very long though, because it recently became its own species that split from the Black-tailed Gnatcatcher from the desert areas.
This bird is very tiny, since it is only about four inches. The California Gnatcatcher is a insectivore, meaning that it only consumes small bugs and insects. This bird is very distinctive because of its small size, and also its unique colors. The top of the head, known as the crown, is black along with the long and skinny beak. On the underside of the bird, it's mostly white, or grayish. The female California Gnatcatchers are very similar to the males, but have a blue-gray crown and beak, instead of a black one.
This bird mostly stays near the coasts, as it is known to be a native to San Diego, and also to some parts of Baja Mexico. Unlike most birds, the California Gnatcatcher does not migrate. This bird mostly stays in one place, all year long.

While this bird is definitely a resident of San Diego, there have been some close calls with this small little bird. It was listed as Threatened in 1993 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. This specific species was especially effected by the building of cities and the knocking down of trees that act as housing for these small birds. In the San Diego area, there has been so much growth in the different cities, and as a result, this little bird has suffered. While it is very clear that many people did not build buildings to completely wipe out the California Gnatcatcher population, there still should have been more precautions taken to ensure that these animals would be more protected. There have been some state parks and national forests that have reserved parts of it to help with the population of the California Gnatcatcher, but there should be more people like you and I that are educated on these small problems. We as residents of the San Diego area need to realize that the extinction of another species would not be beneficial in any way. We can all do our part by putting in that extra effort of trying to support our local state parks, and forests. Since we are in the San Diego area, we can all directly effect how the California Gnatcatcher lives, or even in some cases, how it doesn't live. If you are a resident of the San Diego area, just know that even having the knowledge about this problem is better than not knowing about it at all.