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The Sacramento Zoo euthanized Skye, a 26-year-old giraffe, due to her deteriorating health from age-related issues, despite treatments to improve her quality of life.

Sacramento's new Hanami Line features a cherry blossom grove along the riverfront, representing Japanese culture and celebrating the legacy of late Congressman Robert T. Matsui.

Stockton invites residents to suggest names for three new parks by September 30, prioritizing ideas that honor community service or reflect local geography and history.

Davis begins Central Park renovations including a tribute to Officer Natalie Corona, with an interactive space, set for completion in June 2025. Woodbury's Central Park also renovates for modernization, closing facilities during the process.

Sacramento City Council approved the Parks Plan 2040 to enhance and expand parks, focusing on underserved communities, with plans for 66 new parks and improved facilities.

Colonial Park in Sacramento is set for a community-led revamp on September 14 to enhance its landscape, picnic areas, and add new murals by a local artist.

Homewood Mountain Resort will not open this winter due to financial issues and delays in approvals for improvements. The resort is seeking alternative employment for staff and remains committed to enhancing the guest experience in the future.

Sacramento is planning a new dog park in William Land Park. The YPCE is hosting a public meeting to gather input on the location based on a survey's findings.

An invasive fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which causes white-nose syndrome in bats, has been detected in California, raising concerns for the state's agriculture and ecosystems.

Invasive golden mussels found in the Port of Stockton pose a threat to California's marine ecosystems, with officials urging public prevention measures.

The City of Davis and the California Conservation Corps are conducting vegetation management along North Putah Creek to reduce wildfire risks from November 5-7 and 12-14, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

California State Parks set a 5 mph speed limit on Folsom Lake due to low water levels, impacting boaters and ramp access.

Toad Hollow Dog Park in Davis is closed due to flooding from rainy weather, with the city planning to re-evaluate the park's condition on November 22, 2024.

Over 400 volunteers planted 215 trees along Sacramento Northern Parkway as part of the city's Equitable Urban Forest project, funded by a USDA Urban and Community Forestry grant.

Toad Hollow Dog Park in Davis has reopened after a temporary closure due to rainwater flooding, with the city advising visitors to beware of residual mud.

Placer County approved a $724,575 contract to expand trails at Hidden Falls Regional Park, connecting it to Big Hill Preserve with new trails and bridges. Construction begins this winter with completion expected by fall 2025.

Sacramento's YPCE is seeking community input on the design for Sutter’s Landing Regional Park during a meeting on December 12 at the Clunie Community Center Auditorium.

A UC Davis study reports squirrels in Northern California preying on voles, indicating a shift to carnivorous behavior, which challenges their image as mere nut gatherers.

Placer County in Roseville uses raptor perches to control the vole population, which has been damaging irrigation lines. The eco-friendly strategy reduces complaints and avoids chemicals.

Placer County Board of Supervisors approves a conservation easement to protect 279-acre Vista Ranch, part of a larger effort by the county to preserve natural landscapes.

San Francisco is developing an ADA accessible trail at Sutter’s Landing Regional Park and seeking community feedback for the project, which also includes a boat launch and educational signs.

West Sacramento's Westacre Park is set for a major upgrade including new skate park, pump track, splash pad, climbing wall, and modernized facilities, with construction starting in March and aiming for a May 2026 completion.

Cows are grazing at Hidden Falls Regional Park as part of a land management program to reduce wildfire risks and enhance local ecosystems. Visitors to the park should follow guidelines when encountering the cattle.

Placer County introduced cattle for grazing in Hidden Falls Regional Park to reduce wildfire risk and enhance the ecosystem, requiring visitors to exercise caution around the animals.

The Placer County Office of Education invested $2.37 million to conserve 402 acres of Clover Valley for environmental preservation and educational use.

Sacramento's parks, including Southside, Hampton, and North Laguna Creek, have undergone upgrades with new picnic tables, BBQ grills, and trash bins, enhancing the community's outdoor experience.

Goats returned to West Sacramento for eco-friendly weed control, assisting in fire prevention and vegetation management until July, as announced by the city.

West Sacramento has begun transforming Westacre Park with a community-focused redesign, featuring new amenities like a skate park and splash pad, aiming to finish by mid-2026.

Placer County approved a $283,400 enhancement project for the Lower Sawtooth Recreation Area, including parking improvements and an information kiosk.

The Sacramento Zoo introduced two clouded leopards, Serai and Rajasi, with a special celebration planned. They hope to continue breeding efforts for the species known for their unique tails and canines.

Sacramento City Express announces a garden tour on May 3 focusing on California native plants and sustainable landscaping, featuring a variety of native plants and rebate information.

Vista Ranch in Western Placer County, a 279-acre property featuring blue oak woodlands, has been protected from development by the Placer Land Trust, Placer County, and Placer Conservation Authority.

Placer County partners with Indigenous-led non-profit The Sierra Fund, supported by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, to boost wildfire resilience in the Foresthill Divide as part of a 10-year action plan.

Sacramento encourages park usage with guidelines for events, vending, and behavior to maintain communal green spaces. Permits are required for large gatherings and vendor activities.

El Dorado County plans to expand the Rubicon Trail staging area in Tahoma, adding new trailer spots to reduce parking overflow and protect ecosystems. Community feedback is sought through meetings and surveys.

Sacramento unveiled the new Mama Marks Splash Pad, offering an ocean-themed retreat from the heat with features like sea turtles and dolphins, and open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Sacramento reduces pool entry fees to $1 on June 14-15, with swim programs and facilities, including a new splash pad, available for summer recreation.

Folsom residents are invited to a workshop to discuss updates to the city's Kids Play "Castle" Park. The event is on June 26, 5:30-7:30 PM, at Folsom Middle School.

The Placer County Board of Supervisors approved plans for the first segment of the North Tahoe Shared-Use Trail, promising improved recreational opportunities and reduced traffic congestion.

The Sacramento City Council has approved the Urban Forest Plan to increase tree canopy coverage from 19% to 35% by 2045, addressing heat island effect and equity in tree distribution across neighborhoods.

Placer County is incentivizing development in North Lake Tahoe with economic sweeteners to modernize Tahoe City and Kings Beach, including tax cuts and tourist accommodation unit promises.

Rancho Cordova residents found a raccoon trapped in a fence and contacted Animal Services, who successfully rescued the animal and sent it to a rehab center.

The Placer Conservation Authority secured 4,245 acres of Raccoon Creek Ranch via conservation easements, ensuring its protection and ongoing agricultural and ecological use.

Oak Parkway Trail has reopened after improvements, including better surfaces, new trail markings, and erosion control measures, with future enhancements to focus on local foliage and habitat restoration.

Placer County allocates $1.6 million for the French Meadows Ecological Forest Restoration Project to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health on 22,000 acres.

Victory Park Pool in Stockton reopens after 12 years, renovated with Measure M and state funds, offering residents relief from heat and a place for community gathering.

Placer County officials will start a cleanup at the former Lincoln Gun Range and Titan missile silo in mid-September to address lead contamination, aiming to make the land suitable for residential use.

The Yolo County Board of Supervisors announced the Annual Coast and Creek Cleanup Day on September 20, focusing on environmental protection and community involvement.

Learn about Bald Eagles at Lake Natoma from Kathy Kayner at the “Get Outdoors” event on Sept. 23 in Folsom, with details on their life cycle and survival. Registration required, $7 fee.

Lodi's Legion Park might see the removal of nearly 30 trees posing risks, but Tree Lodi plans replanting. Locals worry about wildlife like owls, but mitigation efforts are promised. The city council will discuss the proposal.

The Sacramento Zoo announced the death of Serai, a clouded leopard, who faced significant health issues before being euthanized due to a severe leg wound.

Folsom's Parks & Recreation department is set to unveil the final design for Kids Play/Castle Park, celebrating the culmination of a collaborative design process with the local community.

Thelma Park opens in South Natomas, featuring a playground, picnic areas, and shade, showcasing the city's commitment to turning vacant lots into community spaces.

A coalition of farmers, water managers and conservation groups is flooding harvested rice fields to create food‑rich habitat that helps juvenile Chinook and migrating birds in the Sacramento Valley.

Visitors near California’s State Capitol are recoiling from an overpowering odor blamed on two aging trees. The city fenced them off as crews scrape away the pungent fruit behind perhaps the season’s strangest cleanup.

Peppermint Patty at the Sacramento Zoo gave birth to five pups; keepers say the babies and mom are healthy and already visible at the capybara habitat.

Roseville High School celebrates the second bloom of its corpse flower, achieving a rare horticultural milestone with proper care from the Think Green Club.

The Northern Lights appeared in Northern California following a severe G4 geomagnetic storm caused by solar activity, which could disrupt satellite communications and GPS systems.

Historic Folsom's ice rink is open with festive activities and themed events until January 19, offering a seasonal community experience with opportunities for skating classes and charitable events.

Planned projects in Sacramento and nearby Sutter County could outpace mitigation and put remaining giant garter snake habitat at risk, conservationists warn.

Nearly 900 acres of Henness Ridge were transferred to the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, returning ancestral land and funding for restoration and cultural stewardship.

Davis closes outdoor city fields and pump track due to wet conditions; synthetic soccer field remains open. Violations can be reported to Davis Police.

Storm topples bald eagle nest at Lake Natoma, but eagles "Mama and Papa" are safe, and there's hope they'll rebuild nearby.

The Sacramento Zoo has introduced a new river otter named Darla, who joins her biological brother Jackson in their habitat, after a preparation phase to ensure sibling harmony.

Yuba City plans to apply for up to $8.5M in state funds to build a 24-acre regional sports complex combining the old K-Mart site with Sam Brannan Park.

Truckee police say CDFW’s wolf tracker logged activity near town. Residents should supervise pets, protect livestock and report photos to state wildlife authorities.

Woodland opened a $15 million Aquatic Center with two pools, a 10‑lane competition pool and an activity pool with zero‑entry access.

A $3.59 million CAL FIRE grant will convert five Tulare County elementary schoolyards into living school forests, shade canopy and water‑wise outdoor classrooms.

Tehama County is weighing a USDA trapper and a county "wolf liaison" after two wolf packs were confirmed; county leaders say no livestock have been lost so far.

Lincoln will close McBean Park's pickleball courts March 16 for a $17.9M solar canopy; the city says shaded panels should be installed by late May and federal funds will trim the financing.

West Sacramento will vote on a $63 million overhaul of Bryte Park that would add an aquatics center, new fields and a small amphitheater. If approved, the park could close for up to two years while crews build the upgrades.

A Valley Springs resident was bitten by a rattlesnake as warm, early spring weather brings rattlers out; local experts and fire crews are urging caution.

Parents and coaches say Sacramento parks are inconsistently maintained, with bumpy fields and too few public restrooms forcing volunteers to fill gaps. The city’s Parks Plan 2040 points to a large maintenance backlog.

Two eaglets fell from a nest at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge; one died at the scene and the other later died after being taken to a rehab facility, officials say.

Volunteers with River City Waterway Alliance say they’ve recovered more than 24,000 hypodermic needles from Sacramento creeks and rivers, highlighting a persistent hazard to people and wildlife.

Rep. Doris Matsui won $3.15M in federal planning funds to advance a proposed 4‑acre deck park over I‑5 that aims to stitch downtown back to the riverfront.

CAL FIRE announced $70 million in grants aimed at fuels reduction, prevention education and planning across California. The funding targets public outreach and on‑the‑ground hazard reduction.

A California bill would shift state demonstration forests from a logging-first mission toward restoration and invite tribes into co-management of ancestral redwood lands.

Police warned Davis residents after a mountain lion was spotted near Kestrel Place on a popular north‑city bike path. Officers and wildlife officials are monitoring the area.

A possibly injured bear was seen near Parkside Terrace in Auburn. Police warned residents to avoid the animal, secure trash and keep pets inside while authorities monitor.

Trail camera footage captured three mule deer using California’s first state‑highway wildlife overpass in Siskiyou County. Officials say the crossing and fencing aim to reduce deadly collisions and reconnect habitat.

From the Yolo Causeway to downtown bridges, experts estimate about half a million bats stream out each night — a spectacular natural pest‑control force and a conservation challenge.

Yosemite has declared the start of its 2026 fire season and is urging visitors to follow campfire, smoking and parking rules as fuels dry. Park officials warn restrictions could tighten as conditions worsen.

The Mechoopda tribe reclaimed roughly 450 acres near Big Chico Creek in Butte County, a state‑backed land return meant to restore stewardship and protect the watershed.

Five orphaned black bear cubs released in November 2025 hibernated successfully and returned healthy, state wildlife officials say. The fall release was an experimental test.

A $500,000 state grant will fund three miles of trail and three bridges to connect Hidden Falls Regional Park with Big Hill Preserve, expanding public access in Placer County.

Davis police searched north Davis after reports of an unconfirmed mountain lion near Wintun Place. Officers used foot patrols and a drone but did not locate the animal.