Observations by roheryn

Creature is about 1.5-2 inches body length with very long anterior and posterior antennae. Segmented body has striping, and clearly multiple legs. Found inside house near an open window. Released to backyard open space.

California Toad seems to match description and photos online. Greenish toad, approximately 2 inches. Found at late dusk, captured long enough to photograph and returned to capture location for release. While we carried it, we heard small squeaks.

Dark green circles around raised red bumps (warts). Pale strip down spine. Reddish parotid glands behind eyes.

Found climbing in small backyard rocks with a second matching bug (sorry for the slightly indistinct photo) Abdomen is orange red, black eyes and black heart shape on back. Very faint red line on head.

About 4" long x 3.5" wide shell, brownish shell with raised spines. About 8" head to tail (with head only slightly exposed) Tail has projections (which is why we think it is a common vs. alligator snapping turtle). Found in backyard pond, burrowing in the mud.

Small burrowing owl sitting on a row of shopping carts at dusk. Several people were taking photos, getting quite close. It didn't seem to have any injuries, and when approached, made small hissing sounds and opened its wings a little. Strange place for this little guy!

Largish lizard, approximately 9" from snout to tail. Reddish brown stripes down the back with large scales and white patches along the sides of the stripes. Very long tail and toes. Yellowish eyes.

Found in a bag of coals early evening, I think he scared us as much as we scared him! Quickly transferred to a bug box for identification, then released into our open space back yard.

Large leather-like soft shell turtle, maybe 14" long, pointed snout, dull, dark green color. Seen trying to cross the road to a creek. Very aggressive, displaying and snapping. Successfully moved it to the creek.

Looks like a firefly without the light, long abdomen extends beyond wing covers. Bright orange head, legs and abdomen ending in black. Antennae are feathered, I can't find anything like this in any photos I've seen, but it appears to be some sort of soldier bug...

approximately 2 inches long, tan and brown segments, long greenish tentacles on back end, legs also somewhat translucent green. Head uniform tan, tan/green antennae. (red item is a dried flower petal)

Large wolf-like spider with unusual markings. Found in hallway inside house near open space in Martinez. After looking extensively online, we think this may be an invasive species Zoropsis spinimana. It is originally from the Mediterranean region, but was introduced the the San Francisco Bay Area recently and is spreading. We contacted a specialist at the CA Academy of Science for confirmation (he is a specialist on this particular spider) but did not receive an answer. Marks and body structure match female.

~ 2.5" from nose to tail, found under rock in rock wall, very moist. Reddish brown with gold or copper dust-like flecks along sides of body and in a v-like pattern from base of neck to eyes. Very pale underside, toes squared off. Possible immature, seems rather small. Seems to have damaged tail, (possibly from 5yo capture)