California Trees and Plants
This oak species dominates the foothills of the Sacramento Valley and is known for its blue-green leaves.
What is the blue oak?
This woodpecker is known for storing thousands of acorns in granary trees.
What is the acorn woodpecker?
Deer grow these every year and shed them each winter.
What are antlers?
Of the seven Leave No Trace principles, this one advises hikers to avoid widening trails around muddy sections.
What is Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces?
This fault marks the boundary between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates.
What is the San Andreas Fault?
This tree, common along California rivers and creeks, often has smooth white bark and heart-shaped leaves that tremble in the wind.
What is the Fremont cottonwood?
This hawk is often identified by the rusty-colored tail visible in flight.
What is the red-tailed hawk?
This cat leaves round tracks with no claw marks because its claws remain retracted.
What is a mountain lion?
If thunder follows lightning in less than 30 seconds, you should immediately do this.
What is seek shelter?
What mountain range stretches over 400 miles along California's eastern edge?
What is the Sierra Nevada?
This native shrub, often one of the first plants to return after wildfire, has bright red bark and small evergreen leaves.
What is manzanita?
This black-and-white wading bird has made a remarkable comeback in California after nearly disappearing due to pesticide use.
What is the peregrine falcon?
These rodents build dams that create wetlands benefiting hundreds of other species.
What are beavers?
When crossing a stream, hikers should generally unbuckle this piece of gear in case they fall.
What is the waist belt of a backpack?
California's highest and lowest points, both less than 100 miles apart.
What are Mount Whitney and Death Valley?
Unlike most conifers, this California tree sheds its needles every fall.
What is the western larch?
This scavenger relies primarily on its sense of smell, unlike most birds of prey.
What is the turkey vulture?
North America's only native marsupial belongs to this species.
What is the Virginia opossum?
This navigation tool can determine your location without batteries.
What is a compass?
This rare habitat, covering less than 1% of California, supports hundreds of plant species found nowhere else.
What are vernal pools?
Oaks in California can be identified by examining these structures, which often vary by species more than the leaves.
What are acorns?
This jay species is notorious for caching thousands of acorns each year, helping oak forests regenerate.
What is the California scrub-jay?
This endangered scavenger has one of the largest wingspans of any North American bird.
What is the California condor?
The pointed tip of the "V" on a map feature always points in what direction of a stream?
What is upstream?
This phenomenon, common along California's coast, brings cold, nutrient-rich water to the ocean surface, supporting abundant marine life.
What is coastal upwelling?