Slimy, yellow, impossibly slow, and so very beloved. The banana slug, humble hero of the redwoods, is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Thanks to Assembly Bill 1850, the iconic mollusk has been officially crowned California’s state slug. More than …
Pelissero believes most people understand the need to protect the redwoods but fail to realize how critical it is to connect more young people to these irreplaceable forests. “We feel very strongly that this could help save us environmentally,” she explains. “The redwoods are commanding teachers. When you learn about these trees when you’re young, you want to try to preserve them. You realize you’re losing a precious thing.”
Along its wild western edge, Sonoma County hosts a menagerie of feathered, furred, and finned creatures—many of them at-risk species. Protecting these amazing animals is a key driver behind the League’s efforts to acquire Sonoma Coast Redwoods, a 1,624-acre property that connects more than 7.8 square miles of wildlife habitat and nearly 8 miles of streams. This biodiverse mix of redwood forest and coastal grasslands also provides essential habitat for vulnerable flora and fauna.
Dark Gulch fills a critical hole in the Montgomery Woods Initiative, particularly from a fire resilience perspective. Protecting the nearby Dark Gulch property will help buffer the reserve’s old-growth redwoods from fire and encroaching development. Consolidating ownership helps us implement fuel reduction projects more efficiently and reduce the severity of wildfires. By connecting Atkins Place to Weger Ranch, Dark Gulch helps secure the region’s redwood footprint and creates a new protected corridor for fish and wildlife. It allows us to be better stewards within a changing climate.
