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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.