The Riverside Metropolitan Museum in Riverside, California includes some displays on Southern California’s wild animals.
According to the Museum display:
“The landscaped spaces surrounding Riverside homes provide sheltered places for birds, often with convenient food and water (from bird feeders and bird baths).
These artificial settings can attract bird species that occur naturally in Southern California, and may be the only habitats in which non-native species can survive.”
According to the Museum display:
“Garbage, pet food and rotting fruit can make up almost half this animal’s diet in urban areas. To survive the Southern California summer heat, opossums depend on water from pet bowls, man-made ponds and fountains, and they will seek out shade in attics and crawl spaces of buildings. Though they hiss and display their teeth, opossums are generally harmless.”
According to the Museum display:
“Barn owls live year-round in Riverside, and will nest from January to June in eaves, the crowns of palm trees, or in buildings…even barns! They hunt and kill small animals close to the ground, creatures like gophers, and ‘potato bugs’ (Jerusalem crickets) that otherwise live underground by day. People have probably helped to increase the number of barn owls in Riverside by planting trees, building buildings, and bringing to the area new food sources.”
According to the Museum display:
“After sunset, raccoons travel the streets and sidewalks of most Riverside neighborhoods. Their natural habitat is river bottom woodland, but raccoons have adapted to feeding on garden vegetables, garbage, pet food and more. They often move through the city by crawling through storm sewers, and they may sleep in street trees during the day. Though many people think raccoons are ‘cute’, these animals can be destructive, and sometimes carry diseases like rabies. Adult raccoons can put up a fierce fight if they are bothered by a dog or approached by a person.”
According to the Museum display:
“Easy digging in the well-watered lawns of residential neighborhoods has helped attract skunks into town, and there they can scavenge on other foods and take shelter in man-made structures. Garbage, gardens, bird feeders and pet food dishes have all been added to the urban ‘menu’ for these animals.”
Museums 101
This series provides photo tours of museum displays. More from this series:
Museums 101: Birds of the World (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: North American Mammal Hall (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Hall of African Mammals (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Water Birds, Arctic Birds (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Animal Sculptures (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Rodin at Maryhill (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Argylls (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Iranian Art (Photo Diary)