Welcome!

The mission of the Humboldt State University Natural History Museum, through its collections, exhibits, and programs, is to inspire in North Coast residents and visitors of all ages an understanding and appreciation of the dynamic natural world and to provide a learning laboratory for Humboldt State University students.

What?! A Wolverine in California?!

The Recent Discovery and the Search to Determine Its Origin.
Thursday, October 16
7 to 8:15 p.m.
$2 members ($4 non-members)
William J. Zielinski, Research Ecologist
USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Arcata, California

Wolverines are symbols of wilderness; places where humans have little influence. The last wolverine sighting in California was in 1922. So the confirmation of a wolverine in California in February of 2008 -- after nearly a century – grabbed the headlines. Is this a member of an undetected population of wolverines in California? Did it come from a population near the Canadian border? Was it deliberately or accidentally released? Come learn about the discovery that surprised the conservation and scientific community from one of the leaders of the research team that discovered it. This talk attempts to illustrate the role of serendipity and science in wildlife conservation.

Upcoming Events

•Wolverines In California? Lecture by Bill Zielinski, Thursday, October 16 (adults)
•Owl Discovery Afternoon, Saturday, October 25 (all ages)
•Tracking at the Dunes Field Trip, Saturday, November 1 (ages 6 to adult) (Info soon to be posted.)

Local Exhibits

•Shells Of the North Coast. Shells and tests from common invertebrates found on the North Coast.
•Birds Of the Redwoods. This exhibit displays common birds of the redwoods in a setting of well known plants of the coastal redwood forest.
•Local Fossils. These local marine fossils are from rock exposures along the rivers and surrounding hills of the Eel River Valley and from the cliffs of Cranell Junction.

Natural History Links

• Sierra Club has a great guide to global warming solutions
• Friends of the Dunes has two online field guides to local plants and bees
• Castle Rock Seabird Project - live webcam of second largest seabird breeding colony along the California coast