So stoked for my friend and former colleague @rosannaxia.bsky.social! Her documentary “Out of Plain Sight,” about the hidden history of DDT dumping off the SoCal coast, is making its theatrical debut at the @laemmle.com in North Hollywood this week. Get tickets here: www.outofplainsight.com/tickets

😍

My interests have not changed an iota since 2019. (Married the guy.)

At some national parks, like Joshua Tree and Death Valley, it's been hard to tell the government is shut down. While bathrooms are being cleaned and trash emptied, some say conservation work is being neglected. My latest w/ Alex Wigglesworth on the front page of today's @latimes.com! .

If you visited a popular national park during the government shutdown, everything might have seemed normal. Behind the scenes, the Trump administration was likely neglecting key environmental work: www.latimes.com/environment/... via @lilaseidman.bsky.social

Update! I’m now writing a newsletter about California wildlife for @latimes.com In my first edition, I spotlight messy politics and difficult decisions in the policy realm. One example: A battle over a plan to kill 450,000 West Coast owls. Check it out and subscribe: bit.ly/47A0LZN

Second-highest number of rabid bats ever recorded in L.A. County, officials say

"My beat is focused on wildlife and the outdoors. And in this world of fierce contention, over seemingly everything, it sounds downright peachy... However, there is also plenty of strife, messy politics and difficult decisions." From @lilaseidman.bsky.social: www.latimes.com/environment/...

Waymo killed KitKat. California neighborhood mourns a corner-store cat

Fascinating. And heart breaking - but invasive species - what to do? Thank you @lilaseidman.bsky.social for the piece. www.latimes.com/environment/...

It's been an eventful month for a battle over the fate of a controversial plan to save spotted owls by killing hundreds of thousands of other owls. This week the Senate voted to OPPOSE a GOP resolution that would have overturned the plan. www.latimes.com/environment/...

The owl wars just won’t end. Latest from @lilaseidman.bsky.social: www.latimes.com/environment/...

It might be spooky season for you but it's a time for love for tarantulas 💘 www.latimes.com/environment/...

Last week I left the L.A. Times and launched Climate-Colored Goggles, an independent newsletter about climate and culture. Here's my mission statement, please check it out and subscribe! www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/why-writin...

My latest 🕷️👀

Salmon have finally reached the Klamath River headwaters in Oregon. Amazing. www.sfchronicle.com/california/a... via @kurtisalexander.bsky.social

This thread culminates in a really interesting article about wild horses and the environment and Indigenous people's connection to the land and several other interesting issues.

This was a story I knew straight off would be difficult to write. Emotions run high in discussions about wild horses, and it's no different with those roaming California's Eastern Sierra. It's not hard to understand why. The horses are captivating, with their quiet strength and ethereal beauty.

Magnificent story from @lilaseidman.bsky.social about a plan to limit environmental damage caused by wild horses in California's Eastern Sierra — and the fascinating pushback, including from some local tribes: www.latimes.com/environment/...

South Bay folks, close your windows and mask up. If you're driving, set air to recycle. The Chevron refinery in El Segundo just blew up. citizen.com/-OacL7_yVyF5...

Thanks @lilaseidman.bsky.social, now I have to make another Owens Valley trip just to eat at this place. www.latimes.com/environment/...

Looking regal. Common Raven at Point Reyes National Seashore, CA. #birds

Times are strange. But there are still charming restaurant pitstops like the Merry Go Round, built to look like a carousel and filled with the just about the nicest folks you ever met. This spot happens to fall in the shadow of Mt. Whitney, where passers-by get mighty hungry. bit.ly/4nJzLfA

One year after dams were torn down, an Indigenous writer sees a healing Klamath River "I used to always say, I want my great-grandmother’s river back. And I feel like I am just getting to know my great-grandmother’s river." www.latimes.com/environment/...

ICYMI: a 50-home development was approved less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's nest. Advocates say the project will harm the celeb eagle couple and other wildlife/plants in the area. County officials say it was vetted to ensure it won't.

San Bernardino County reps have approved a 50-home gated community on the shore of Big Bear Lake -- located less than a mile from the nest of internet-famous eagles Jackie and Shadow. Advocates say it will harm the eagles and other wildlife. www.latimes.com/environment/...

A fire raging through the Sierra National Forest has burned through part of a grove of giant sequoias. @lilaseidman.bsky.social www.latimes.com/environment/... @latimes.com

Bad news: the Garnet fire burning in the Sierra National Forest swept through a portion of a giant sequoia grove by early this morning and officials say several of the rare trees are on fire. www.latimes.com/environment/...

Catch up on the latest with bald eagle power couple Jackie and Shadow in today’s LA Times! It looks like their youngest paid their nest a visit — and it’s giving millennial vibes.

A fire burning in the Sierra National Forest is threatening a grove of roughly 200 giant sequoias. Crews have put in sprinklers and taken other precautionary measures to protect the behemoths. The Fresno County blaze is about 3 miles from the grove. www.latimes.com/environment/...

Remember Jackie and Shadow's sweet eaglets, born this spring? An eagle that was likely Gizmo, one of the youngsters, visited her parents' nest -- unusual behavior for an eagle of nearly 6 months! www.latimes.com/environment/...

Someone *at the Natural History Museum* called me a nerd for wearing this tarantula shirt. That’s where my life’s at!

Say hi to Marilyn! Yes, she’s a blonde (desert tarantula).

Satellites have been tracking the water held in glaciers, lakes and the world’s vast underground reserves — aquifers. A extensive analysis of that data reveals water is rapidly disappearing beneath much of humanity’s feet, and large swaths of the Earth are drying out. www.latimes.com/environment/...

God I love the library, where people still flip through hard copies of the LA Times. Passed by a table and saw my story — on national park workers unionizing — staring back at me! www.latimes.com/environment/...

For two years, labor organizers tried to unionize workers at a trio of iconic California national parks but couldn't get a critical mass. Then came the mass firings of park service employees shortly after Trump took office. My latest: www.latimes.com/environment/...

Trump’s cuts left workers at Yosemite and Sequoia national parks angry and demoralized. So they voted to unionize. Story by @lilaseidman.bsky.social www.latimes.com/environment/...

"Pat, why do you carry that ridiculous 600mm lens on long hikes?" Buddy, I can see mountains reflected in the eyes of a trailside pika.

A momma and three cubs mark the first black bear family to make their home in the Santa Monica Mountains in years! Via Andrew Campa. www.latimes.com/california/s...

Serina Diniega wants to plant an avocado tree at her Altadena home but worries: will the fruit poison her family? The Eaton fire seared her yard and contaminants could be lurking in the soil. Diniega is looking to treat the tainted earth herself and she's not alone. My latest: bit.ly/4oTAOuO

A Southern California tribe is regaining ancestral land. “To see it come full circle back to us again, it’s very healing.” www.latimes.com/environment/... @nohaggerty.bsky.social @julianayamadaphoto.bsky.social

One of the world's tallest trees is burning. Why can't firefighters put it out?

Over three days at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, hundreds of plant lovers and the plant-curious streamed in and out to bask in the beauty of cacti and succulents. By @afroxander.bsky.social Full story: lataco.com/biggest-cact...

My talented colleague and editor @ashleyharrell.bsky.social worked hard to break this news yesterday: 3 months after a large transgender pride flag appeared on El Capitan, park officials terminated 1 employee and put 2 others on leave. www.sfgate.com/california-p...

California dogs are increasingly testing positive for exposure to the bacterium that causes anaplasmosis, an illness spread by western blacklegged ticks. The ticks also spread Lyme disease, and some experts say people need to be on alert for their pets and themselves. bit.ly/4739CDk

So hard to know what's actually going on at the Sierra Club when the board won't say why they fired exec director Ben Jealous. Still, clearly a lot of anger bubbling up at the staff level for a long time. Good story by @suhauna.bsky.social & @lilaseidman.bsky.social: www.latimes.com/business/sto...

A supermajority of unionized @latimes.com newsroom employees announced this week that they will vote “yes” in a strike authorization vote latguild.com/news/los-ang...

Is Southern California prepared to avoid a 'Day Zero' water crisis? I wrote about various potential solutions that could shape the region's water future: www.latimes.com/environment/...

some animal excitement in Glendale on Friday night- bsky.app/profile/trop...

New episode of my series, “AnimaLA” is live. It’s all about ground squirrels! Yes, they make holes in your garden. But did you know they do epic battle w/ rattlesnakes? And hunt voles when the opportunity is right? Check out the full video on YouTube: youtu.be/UF2dc2vk4bY?...