This is the first of a monthly series we will be writing to update you on our animals and their enclosures. Hawaiian Exhibit/Plants: Our first ever Endemic Hawaiian plant: the Māmaki germinated this month Planted June 22, 2026, the sprouts are still small and delicate and will not be transplanted for at least a year or too. Mamaki is a large shrub or short lived tree that serves as a fast growing pioneer species that is one of the first to appear after wildfires. Another Poly

Nosy Pill Woodlouse (native to Europe; main invasive stronghold is Eastern US) found in Metro Vancouver by me What comes to mind when you think of British Columbia? Maybe the crystal clear lakes or the lush temperate coniferous forests? Well when I went to Vancouver last month, I was constantly on the lookout for secretive invasive species that were hidden just a couple minutes away from the sprawling metropolis. While thousands of invasive species are present throughout Vanc

I have finished a new short film about the San Francisco Alligator Lizard, a local subspecies of the Northern Alligator lizard that I see regularly near Glen Park Reservoir. It’s a unique, snake-like lizard that people often miss because of its shyness and incredible agility. Beneath the scrub lies a hidden world that few people notice. This unusual lizard looks like a snake with legs, staying close to the ground and moving silently through the undergrowth. It waits patientl