A sudden irruption of California tortoiseshell butterflies is blanketing parts of the Bay Area this spring, likely fueled by regrown ceanothus and an unusually warm March.

Yosemite’s no‑ticket summer collided with an early spike in rattlesnake bites, turning holiday crowds into a safety headache for parkgoers.

San Francisco switched on an AI whale‑detection network this week to warn ships when whales enter busy lanes, a move officials say could cut deadly ship strikes. The rollout follows an unusual spike in gray whale strandings in the Bay Area.

Volunteer testing found Linda Mar Beach exceeded health limits in 72% of 2025 samples, putting the Pacifica surf spot on Surfrider’s ‘hot spots’ list.

Neighbors say a Meetup-run tennis club has been occupying Rossi Park courts for hours on weekends, prompting 311 complaints and a Recreation and Parks review.

A Reddit riddle and a 150‑pound chest of dollar coins have drawn hundreds into SF parks — and left gardeners repairing holes, sprinkler lines and plantings.

Bright-blue Velella velella have washed ashore in huge numbers along California’s coast, carpeting beaches from the Bay Area to Southern California while experts say they’re mostly harmless.

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.

An off-duty Brisbane officer guided a malnourished sea lion pup off a highway ramp and into The Marine Mammal Center's care. The pup is now in veterinary treatment.

An 11-month-old female mountain lion that spent five months at Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue was released back into northern California and fitted with tracking gear.

A coyote was seen sunning in North Beach on Friday; Animal Care & Control responded and reminded residents how to report sightings.

Firefighters and a park arborist spent nearly nine hours extinguishing a smoldering blaze inside a Golden Gate Park tree near Fulton Street.

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.