Can you name (and save) these California Cuties?
Think you’re the ultimate wildlife expert? 🦦🌿 Some of California’s most photogenic fauna are fighting for survival due to a changing climate. Let's see how much you know about these endangered or threatened species that call California state parks home in this 10 question quiz! Bonus – learn about what we can (or already) do to preserve and protect these critters.
1. The sea-lebrity of the cute animal world, southern sea otters live in California parks like Morro Bay State Park and Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. This cutie is called a “keystone” species and is essential to keeping the ocean healthy. Why?
2. The desert tortoise calls parks like Red Rock Canyon State Park home. It’s threatened by the increased presence of what type of predatory bird, which is attracted to parks by crumbs left behind at campsites and picnic areas?
3. This robin-size bird lives most of its life at sea, and only nests in the tallest redwoods. What bird is this?
4. Speaking of birds, the Least Bell’s vireo, an endangered migratory songbird, lives in which urban state park? Hint: California State Park Foundation volunteers have been reviving the riparian zone habitat here.
5. California State Park Foundation volunteers have also been hard at work removing invasive plants and restoring dune habitats at Fort Ord Dunes State Park, which protects endangered critters like the California legless lizard, the snowy plover, and this butterfly:
6. At Malibu Creek State Park, efforts continue toward the goal of removing the Rindge Dam to enable an unobstructed migration of endangered southern steelhead. This move also benefits which endangered amphibian, recently reintroduced to the park? Photo: Andrew DuBois, Flickr
7. Restoring habitats and migration routes for endangered coho and chinook salmon benefits what type of famous California trees? (If you’re wondering why — researchers have found marine nutrients in these trees, brought inland by these fish!)
8. Many beaches, from Montaña de Oro State Park to Gold Bluffs Beach in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, are places where the snowy plover breeds or raises its young. What human behavior harms these protected birds?
9. Although most often associated with state parks on the Big Sur coast, California condors have been reintroduced to Redwood State and National Parks in partnership with what Native nation?
10. California State Parks manages the most overwintering groves what endangered migratory insect? Hint: These habitats, found in parks like Lighthouse Field State Beach, Natural Bridges State Beach, and Pismo State Beach, have been negatively impacted by recent harsh winter storms.