The head of a gray whale surfaces to breathe

Gray whales are starving and dying off at an alarming rate along the Pacific Coast

As long as yellow school bus and weighing as much as 20 cars, the eastern North Pacific gray whale is a gentle giant often seen breaching just off the California coast. As of 2016 the population consisted of 27,000 individuals, but around two years ago unusual numbers of whales started dying off, alarming scientists. Since 2019, gray whales have been decimated by something called an unusual mortality event, … Continue reading Gray whales are starving and dying off at an alarming rate along the Pacific Coast

A lighthouse and pine tree in shadow at sunset. The words Did You Know are in blue at the base of the image

Did You Know – Laws and Policies

Did you know that you could read the laws and policies that pertain to Cabrillo National Monument? These are all in the Superintendent’s Compendium and is available on the Cabrillo website. This is the document that guides everyone’s actions at the park. This compendium is updated when necessary. As you can see from the graphic above, the latest version is from May 2020. Changes needed … Continue reading Did You Know – Laws and Policies

Park volunteer Felix wears an unzipped dark-green jacket and stands on a cliff next to CVA Setareh, who is wearing a zipped navy-blue windbreaker with sunglasses and holding a colorful Flat Stanley cutout. Both Felix and Setareh are smiling at the camera and facing away from the ocean. Two people stand at the edge of the cliffs behind Setareh and Felix, with their faces away from the camera.

Volunteer Appreciation

Setareh Nouriboshehri, Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA) Well VIPs, we sure went through an interesting last year!  While it’s easy to get lost in all of the events affecting our communities and world at large, we thought you may enjoy taking a break to zoom into and reflect on this particular volunteer community.  Here are a few handfuls of photographs—all of you and the ways you … Continue reading Volunteer Appreciation

A lighthouse and pine tree in shadow at sunset. The words Did You Know are in blue at the base of the image

Did You Know – The Kumeyaay Garden

The Kumeyaay were adept at creating tools and other goods from their natural surroundings. They excelled in the production of fine coiled baskets made from agave, deer grass and sumac. The fiber of the yucca plant was woven into rope, and sandals were made for their feet. The Kumeyaay formed and fired ceramic clay pots using the natural materials found here on the coast and … Continue reading Did You Know – The Kumeyaay Garden