This is the Trail Report, a weekly email newsletter from reporter Maura Fox about hikes and San Diego County’s outdoors. Sign up to get it in your inbox first, every Friday.
After brushing my teeth the other evening, I was shocked to see a tarantula waiting just outside the bathroom door.
A tarantula! In my home! My initial bout of fear gave way to confusion as to how the not-so-little guy had gotten in. Days later, it’s still a mystery.
But he wasn’t my first visitor. Since moving back to East County — and into a space converted from a garage — I seem to have welcomed all kinds of critters: scorpions, crickets, stink bugs and a few lizards that scurry out, casually, once I tell them to leave. I’ve checked the door and window seals and am perplexed as to how they are getting in.
The whole experience makes me feel very at one with nature. No, I don’t want a tarantula in my room, though I do have a soft spot for them. But I’m developing a soft spot for all my visitors.
Am I alone in this? What kind of wildlife have you found in your home? I’d love to hear from you.
The weather this week was brutal, and I wasn’t too inclined to hike. But I did take a short walk at Flinn Springs County Park, complete with shady oak trees, picnic tables and a year-round stream. There’s a trail network, but on especially hot days, I’d recommend just bringing a book and reading under the trees.
There are a few stories I wanted to share with you this week. But one that really piqued my interest looks at how endangered wildlife in Iran has been further threatened by the war. And as wildlife season kicks into full swing, here’s a guide on how to protect yourself from the smoke.
That’s all from me. See you next week.
—Maura
Hike of the week: Pick up a book and read under the oaks at Flinn Springs County Park
UCSD surgeons perform first-of-its-kind operation on San Diego Safari Park gorilla
How to protect yourself from the bad air caused by wildfires
Why San Diego filmmaker Elliott Kennerson co-directed a film about lesbian seagulls
War and economic crisis complicate efforts to protect Iran’s rich but endangered wildlife
Pier to Cove Swim in La Jolla draws hundreds
Hike of the week: Quiet trails at Famosa Slough are a no brainer for an easy summertime stroll