Pacific Wildlife Care's Backyard Bio Blitz's Journal

Our favorite 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 strips 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!!!

Our favorite image of the week can be found here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/236949257 by @steve_boyd of Canada Geese resting in the Pismo Creek.
A highly adaptive species, the Canadian Goose can be found from coasts and shorelines, open grasslands, lakes, and saltwater wetlands, to right along humans in urban and suburban habitats. They are found near water or within traveling distance to water. Nesting sites are chosen by the females and are typically elevated onto dry ground, water nearby and good visibility. The female makes a shallow bowl of sticks, grass, weeds and lines it with down. The Canadian Goose parents are well known for being fiercely protective and very open and willing to adopt goslings of similar size into their fold. Traditionally, this species followed a strict migratory path, but now many geese reside as permanent residents, like some here on the Central Coast.
Thank you @steve_boyd for a beautiful shot of Canadian Geese with Pismo Beach in the background!

Our favorite image of the week can be found here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/231552327 by @kristennelson of the stunning Gray Buckeye Butterfly.
Photographed and found in the Eastern part of SLO county, the Gray Buckeye's natural range covers most of North America and some of Central America. This beautifully spotted butterfly has markings on both sets of wings as a warning to predators to stay away. The eye shaped markings are called ocelli, confusing predators and making them easily distinguishable for humans.
In 2018 this butterfly was designated its own species, having been thought of as a subspecies to all the Buckeye's. Sometimes known as the Common Buckeye, it has an important role in cultures around the world as a symbol of good luck, renewal, and transformation.
Thanks @kristennelson !!

Pacific Wildlife Care is excited to partner with iNaturalist to bio blitz San Luis Obispo County. If you are reading this, then you found us, whew! What started as an idea very early on with our new Executive Director, Kristin Howland, is now a fun and wild project in your hands. We like the saying "find the good" and that's what we are asking of you. You already help us fix the bad by doing your own part in the process to rescue, rehabilitate and release wildlife that were in need. But, we want to find the good out there and we know it's there. We want to see the wildlife that you live with in your very own backyard, or even get out in our planet's backyard and find wildlife....snap a photo or video from a safe and respectable distance and load that in as an Observation right here in this Project. We are excited to see what you see and can't wait to share all your wild finds with each other. So, get out there are find the good, then share it here for all to enjoy!