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Recently Asked

Learn what the community is asking about this season, with answers by Museum experts.

“I recently bought this bone. I bought another as well at the same time. I was told it was mammoth, but i knew better, i think its some type of bison sacrum, but i was hoping you could tel...”
Savanna, Quincy, IL - January 26, 2020

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“We found this shell at Hendry's Beach this week. Can you identify it?”
Jay, Santa Barbara - January 11, 2020

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“I found these (possible) Latticed Stinkhorns fruiting in the redwood grove at the SB Botanic Garden. Do you concur with the identification or are there other, more plausible possibilities at thi...”
Steven Gaulin, Santa Barbara, Mission Canyon - November 10, 2019

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“I have no idea what these rocks are.  I need help in identifying.”
Linda Schmidt, Whitewater, Kansas - November 9, 2019

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“My friend gave me a bunch of fossils before he died at the age of 99. I have 2 large shells which he found on his ranch in Camarillo years ago.  I would love to donate them to anyone...”
Johanna, Santa Barbara - October 22, 2019

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“It's about the side of 9pt felt tip pen dot. It didn't seem to jump. It crawled onto an iPad in our house. It didn't quite look like a dust mite or bed bug. We thought maybe a plant mite?”
Tom, Oxnard, CA - September 2, 2019

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“Is this a Polyphemus Moth? I discovered this amazing moth on my front door doormat at 8:00 AM on July 30, 2019. The light above this door was on the entire night. I determined it was alive while...”
Anne, Santa Barbara - August 26, 2019

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“Is this a praying mantis?   It has been on my screen door for over a week.   Is this insect normally found here in Santa Barbara?   Thanks!”
Molly, Santa Barbara - Upper East - August 13, 2019

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“We have had a severe problem with chiggers in our Cleveland School area yard for decades. Only recently have they been positively identified. For years we were told chiggers were not present in...”
Lauren, Upper Eastside - August 5, 2019

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“Can you help me identify this caterpillar? We found it in Carpinteria. Thanks!”
Ananda Mahto, Carpinteria - July 10, 2019

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