Stories

Welcome to Stories, a place to explore—and be inspired by—the wonder of our natural and cultural worlds.

The Fairy Poppy Bee's Dance of Fragility and Resilience

Discover one of the 1600 species of native California bees and the intimate portraits in conservation photographer Krystle Hickman's forthcoming book, The ABCs of California Native Bees 

2025 UNLAB Symposium

UNLAB researchers share insights from their collections-based research conducted at the Natural History Museum.

Rare Purple Snail Lands Here

The shells of a violet-colored sea snail, Janthina janthina, washed up on SoCal beaches recently.

The Cat That Changed Los Angeles

From the opening day of Fierce! The Story of Cats, a discussion on P-22, the mountain lion that left a lasting influence on art, culture, wildlife conservation, and public awareness of urban nature.

How To Build A Bat Box

When Southern California (or other bat-heavy areas) sees waves of extreme heat, the second-largest order of mammals can be put at significant risk. But with a little community assistance, our nocturnal neighbors like this Yuma myotis can sleep safely during hot days in a comfortable bat box — which you can easily build and install yourself.

In Hot Water

As the ocean temperature continues to rise, how are the Pacific’s flora and fauna faring, adapting— or not—and how can people help?

Sun’s Out, Bears Out!

We’re diving into the curious phenomenon of bears in pools with our bear experts and local observers to learn what to do when encountering a vibey bear in your backyard. 

Shade, Then and Now

Discover the changing tree line of L.A. through the lens of La Brea Tar Pits fossils—and the evolving presence of shade in our warming climate

Joyful Traffic

Romel Pascual | CicLAvia

Hidden black and white feathers are the secret behind songbirds' dazzling colors

Colorful songbirds like tanagers use a painterly technique to make their colors pop