A mountain lion was seen near the Downieville courthouse Wednesday morning, prompting the sheriff’s office to urge vigilance and to report any sightings. Officials reminded residents to leash pets and avoid solitary dawn or dusk outings.

Highway 1 through Big Sur is fully open again, restoring the classic Carmel‑to‑San Simeon drive. Here’s a tight guide to top stops, hikes and travel tips for Bay Area readers.

A hiker reported a bear in Rockville Hills Regional Park on April 26. City and county officials urged residents to secure trash, keep pets inside and report sightings.

Retired KTVU reporter Lloyd LaCuesta filmed a mountain lion in his Redwood City yard Friday. Officials urge residents to keep pets inside and report sightings.

Rep. Sam Liccardo’s "Save Willy Act" would create a Coast Guard "whale desk" and fund real‑time monitoring after a surge in whale deaths in the Bay. The measure pairs federal coordination with new state speed rules for ships.

Gov. Newsom rolled out State Parks Forward on April 22, proposing three Central Valley parks and a plan to add 30,000 acres to the state park system by 2030.

SF Rec & Park says Hippie Hill’s official 4/20 celebration will not be held; Volo Sports’ field day will take over with tournaments and extra facilities.

Alcatraz Island is closed this week for dock repairs; scheduled tours were canceled and refunds issued. Ferry operators are offering bay-cruise alternatives and rescheduling help.

CDFW will close Fishing Zone 3 on April 30 to protect whales, but authorized pop‑up (ropeless) gear will let some commercial fishers resume limited landings starting May 7. The department cites high humpback concentrations and new trials showing the gear can work.

The Rec and Park Commission approved naming Crocker Amazon's ballfields for Willie Mays as part of a $50M renovation backed by the Giants and Say Hey Foundation. The plan promises year‑round play but has divided neighbors over turf and tree removals.

Park rangers on a predawn patrol weren't expecting to find a sea lion napping against a utility pole in the Outer Sunset — but here we are. Irving, as the pup has since been named, is now at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito awaiting a full veterinary workup.

Snowmelt has turned Yosemite's rivers cold, fast and hazardous. Park officials and rescuers urge life jackets, wide margins at river edges and checking conditions.

The Presidio Trust runs a 1,500-acre park at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, generates $182 million a year without a cent of federal funding, and just had its entire board fired by email. The chairman says he's surprised it took this long.