RECENT NEWS

Rivers & Lands Conservancy’s monthly “Connecting with Nature” column runs the first Saturday of the month in all of the SoCal Newsgroup daily papers like The Press Enterprise. Our column covers local landscapes, wildlife, conservation news, and the many reasons to love the our natural, wild, and open spaces!

Catch our column in your local paper, or visit this page to catch up on our recent columns and occasional news releases.

8/30/2025 Rivers & Lands Conservancy Presentation at the Sage Society in Hemet

The SAGE Society of Hemet is pleased to announce a special presentation on September 10, titled “Connecting With Nature in the Inland Empire: Conservation and Ways to Enjoy Our Open Spaces.” The event will feature Rebecca O’Connor, Co-Executive Director of the Rivers & Lands Conservancy, who will provide an insightful overview of local conservation efforts and discuss the numerous benefits of connecting with nature.

7/31/24 Tips for creating a summer oasis in your garden to help native wildlife thrive

Creating a summer oasis in your garden helps wildlife thrive despite high temperatures. As the community weathers July heatwaves and braces for August, it’s hard not to peer out the windows and wonder how wildlife is managing. Finding food, water, and shelter during the summer can be extra difficult for wild animals, especially for creatures who have been displaced by wildfires.

7/8/2024 A look at the ecological importance of wildfires

Acknowledging the history of wildfire suppression can help us ignite ecological solutions for our future. In the sun-blessed landscape of Southern California, wildfires have long danced across the horizon, shaping the land in ways both dramatic and profound.

5/29/24 Ways to defend native habitats from the threat of invasive plants

Integrated Pest Management defends SoCal native habitats from the threat of invasive plants. Here in southern California, we are fortunate to be a short drive from a diverse array of landscapes. We have it all, from coastal sage scrub, riparian streams, alpine forests and inland deserts. Unfortunately, invasive non-native species put our natural open spaces at risk.
Stinknet at Santa Ana River Trail

5/3/2024 Invasive stinknet dominates natural areas and poses threat to native habitats

In the wild open spaces of southern California, one small plant is creating a big stink for land managers.  Stinknet (Oncosiphon piluliferum) is an invasive plant posing a serious threat to our region's native habitats.  Also known as globe chamomile, most would consider it too sweet a name for this highly invasive plant native to South Africa. It was first noted in Riverside County in 1981 and has since spread throughout the western county and beyond to the whole region of Southern California. 
Gray hairstreak buttefly on encelia

3/2/2024 – A simple home garden can do wonders for butterflies that need our help

Last year, eastern monarchs were found in 2.2 hectares and this year they inhabited only 0.9 hectares. This report followed another on western monarchs in January that showed a slight decline in a population that still sits at only 5% of population numbers recorded in the 1980s. I found this disheartening even though I know it was a difficult weather year for the monarchs on the West Coast.
Closeup of a Hoary Bat

2/3/2024 Discovery of a hoary bat in Banning leads to understanding of its importance

In the spring 2023, I was preparing to go on a wildflower hike with Jack Easton, the Rivers & Lands Conservancy’s retired executive director, when our plans were disrupted. My neighbor marched across the street with something pinched between his fingers and thrust it at me. I took it without thinking. I found myself holding a hissing bat and left with curt instructions to fix it.
Monarch butterfly laying eggs milkweed

1/6/2024 The Benefits of Overwintering Habitat

During the cold months of winter, I love to start my morning with a hot cup of coffee and a long look at my yard, taking in the activity and features that are unique to the season. The cedar waxwings scurry around the branches of the toyon tree. The desert cottontails hop through the deerweed and feast on the weedy microgreens popping up after the rain. Even the fallen leaves have insects nesting underneath. Though small, my backyard is home to many. 

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