California is planning a 307-mile rail-trail from the San Francisco Bay to Humboldt Bay, billed as a bucket-list destination akin to the Pacific Crest Trail. But along the Eel River, the project is colliding with Indigenous history. 🧵 1/4
Lila Seidman
@lilaseidman.bsky.social
Wildlife and outdoors reporter for the @latimes 🐆🦜🦝🦦🐏🐊🦭🦨🌵🏔️
As I told @lilaseidman.bsky.social for this article, #Prop45 backers cannot definitively say that data centers won't receive CEQA streamlining under this measure. It will be up to the courts, and the ballot language creates an opening that backers could have foreclosed but chose not to do so.
Los Angeles Times@latimes.com · last wk.California's Prop 45 aims to speed construction projects. Opponents say data centers will benefit
Today marked the last construction update for the Annenberg wildlife crossing before it opens Dec. 2! As crews move and compact massive amounts of soil, there's one concern looming: El Niño. Heavy rains could derail the work and create unsafe conditions. www.latimes.com/environment/...
World's largest wildlife crossing is on track to open this winter — unless El Niño intervenes
Despite political backlash and past weather delays, the massive wildlife bridge over the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills is racing toward a Dec. 2 opening. Now, the only threat to the deadline is Mother N...
latimes.com
Newsom signed a bill that will bring back a California program to address conflicts between people and bears, wolves and mountain lions. The move comes amid a record number of wolf pup births -- at least 42! www.latimes.com/environment/...
California revives Wildlife Coexistence Program amid record wolf pup boom
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that restores California's Wildlife Coexistence Program in an effort to resolve rising conflicts with wolves, bears and mountain lions.
latimes.com
California revives Wildlife Coexistence Program amid record wolf pup boom www.latimes.com/environment/... via @lilaseidman.bsky.social
California revives Wildlife Coexistence Program amid record wolf pup boom
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that restores California's Wildlife Coexistence Program in an effort to resolve rising conflicts with wolves, bears and mountain lions.
latimes.com
Attended bald eagle Jackie's celebration of life today in Big Bear and boy was it heartfelt. Some 2,000 people attended and fans took solace in the camaraderie. My story: www.latimes.com/environment/...
Jackie 'brought us together': Fans say goodbye to beloved Big Bear bald eagle
After a rollercoaster year, fans gathered in Big Bear to say goodbye to the beloved eagle who brought them together.
latimes.com
“We live in an infinite sea of rats.” UC ANR human-wildlife interactions advisor Niamh Quinn explains the challenge of rodent control: beyond any control project, there are more rats ready to move in. The goal isn’t elimination, it’s effective management. www.theatlantic.com/science/2026...
City Rats Are Going on Birth Control
Contraceptives are kinder than poison.
theatlantic.com
A California river has dried up. Critics say the state should do more to protect its salmon
A California river has dried up. Critics say the state should do more to protect its salmon
Portions of Northern California's Scott River have dried up. Critics say state regulators should do more to keep the river flowing for salmon.
latimes.com
How's California doing on "30 by 30"? The state is on track to conserve 30% of its land by 2030 — but not 30% of its coastal waters: www.latimes.com/environment/... via @nohaggerty.bsky.social
California on track to conserve 30% of its land, but is lagging on coastal waters
The state added more than 1 million acres this last year toward its goal of conserving 30% of it land by 2030. It made no progress toward conserving 30% of its coastal waters in the same time frame.
latimes.com
Today, Gavin Newsom said an otter may have helped cause his parents' divorce. His dad "fell in love with river otters and brought one home," he said at an event. "I think it was, 'Me or the otter,' my mom said. And I think my dad may have chosen the otter." 🤯
With a strong El Niño increasing the odds of big storms this fall and winter, California is on alert for possible flooding. But if El Niño delivers a wet punch, it will also bring an upside: a bonanza of water. How prepared is California to capitalize on it? www.latimes.com/environment/...
Will El Niño have an upside? California tries to capitalize on big storms
El Niño could unleash major storms and flooding. It also could bring precious water to drought-afflicted California.
latimes.com
Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have limited logging and given Indigenous tribes more say over 14 California forests: www.latimes.com/environment/... via @lilaseidman.bsky.social
In blow to tribes, Newsom vetoes bill that would have remade little-known state forests
Gov. Gavin Newsom said AB 2494 could have hampered research in demonstration forests, dealing a setback to tribes and environmentalists pushing to curb commercial logging.
latimes.com
Gift article: Tribes “are already reaping the benefits of stronger fall chinook runs. The Yurok in August held their annual salmon festival; for the first time in years, they actually served salmon. They’re also distributing salmon to elders and schools.” www.nytimes.com/2026/09/24/c...
Salmon Are Thriving After Klamath Dam Removals, Study Finds (Gift Article)
The first fall runs of chinook salmon since the project in California and Oregon was completed have surpassed researchers’ expectations.
nytimes.com
A decades-long fight to rein in logging in a Mendocino County redwood forest hit a setback after Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill to reshape priorities across a little-known public land system. My latest: www.latimes.com/environment/...
In blow to tribes, Newsom vetoes bill that would have remade little-known state forests
Gov. Gavin Newsom said AB 2494 could have hampered research in demonstration forests, dealing a setback to tribes and environmentalists pushing to curb commercial logging.
latimes.com
Overheard a conversation on a bus in LA: “El Niño is coming. I don’t know where to go, I don’t have a spot.” The unhoused and those experiencing housing instability are the most vulnerable to extreme weather conditions caused by climate change.
The cover photo is adorable but the story is grim: El Niño and an ongoing marine heatwave could bring an influx of starving sea lion pups to Southern California's shores. Why? Conditions could mess with a phenomenon that provides food for sea life. bit.ly/4xHwCSb
El Niño could bring waves of starving sea lion pups to California beaches. It's happened before
As El Niño and a marine heatwave threaten mass strandings along California beaches, the release of one rescued seal pup offers a window into the possible crisis.
bit.ly
Just got back from two weeks in Scandinavia! (Below is proof the sun even shines in Oslo sometimes.)
Internal documents reveal how an industry group plans to try to kill California’s plastic and recycling laws - By @susrust.bsky.social @latimes.com www.latimes.com/science/stor...
Leaked emails reveal industry plan to kill California's plastic and recycling laws
Leaked internal memos reveal how a packaging alliance drove a widespread lobbying and marketing campaign to dismantle California’s landmark plastic and recycling laws.
latimes.com
Big moment for activists seeking to rein in commercial logging at Mendocino County’s Jackson Demonstration State Forest. CA lawmakers passed a bill to shift management goals across 14 state forests toward conservation and tribal stewardship. www.latimes.com/environment/...
Tribes could co-manage ancestral forests under bill heading to Newsom's desk
Assembly Bill 2494 aims to pivot state demonstration forests away from commercial logging toward ecotourism and Indigenous stewardship. It now heads to Newsom's desk.
latimes.com
“When fire erupted in Channel Islands National Park on Santa Rosa Island, observers feared for the park’s rare Torrey pines. On Tuesday, the National Park Service released grim news: Up to 80% of the grove’s trees could die. The Torrey pine is among the rarest species of pine trees in the world.”
Los Angeles Times@latimes.com · 2mo agoRare Torrey pines faring worse than expected after Santa Rosa Island fire: 'heartbreaking'
TODAY 1pm Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social, @ucanr.edu climate scientist, discusses El Niño with @susconca.bsky.social www.eventbrite.com/e/voices-fro...
Voices from the Field - El Niño, Explained with Dr. Daniel Swain
Join Sustainable Conservation for a conversation with climate scientist Daniel Swain, PhD about this year's developing El Niño event.
eventbrite.com
The moment when she realizes she’s a small chonk in a big world 🥲
Is it extremely LA of me to constantly compliment my cats for staying so well hydrated
Who is the editor of the weather in Los Angeles this week? Because I have some feedback.
“I think we all agree that something needs to be done,” Yana Valachovic @ucanrfirenetwork.bsky.social, said at California Board of Forestry meeting. “The fire issue is an existential crisis for California.” @hayleysmith.bsky.social @nohaggerty.bsky.social report www.latimes.com/environment/...
State approves 'Zone Zero' fire-safe landscaping rules, reshaping yards for millions of Californians
The California Board of Forestry approved 'Zone Zero' regulations outlining what residents in fire-prone areas can plant, build and store near their homes.
latimes.com
Shadow's hanging out with a new eagle, and it doesn’t appear to be a summer fling. A prominent biologist says it’s “highly likely” the two will be a pair come nesting season. www.latimes.com/environment/...
Shadow 'highly likely' to nest up with new eagle pal, biologist says
On the heels of Jackie’s death, Shadow is spending time with a new eagle at his Big Bear aerie. Expert says it's 'highly likely' they'll pair up come nesting season.
latimes.com
After Jackie’s death, some fans want her brought “home” to Big Bear. But almost all dead bald eagles go to a federal facility that supplies remains to tribes. It's an unexpected fight where internet fame and Indigenous rights collide: bit.ly/4ctuDJe
Remains of famed eagle Jackie will go to tribes. Some fans are fighting it
Jackie brought millions together in life. In death, the beloved bald eagle's final resting place has ignited a bitter clash where internet fame and tribal rights collide.
bit.ly
Figeater beetles are big, green and clumsy fliers. But did you know they're expanding their range due to human activity -- planting fruit trees, creating compost piles and watering lawns? More in my latest! www.latimes.com/environment/...
This clumsy green beetle is buzzing all over L.A. It might just crash into your face
Big, green and notoriously bad at flying, figeater beetles are taking over Los Angeles this month. Here’s why the clumsy insects are thriving.
latimes.com