The Vista Blog

The Western RCA Newsletter

Species Spotlight: Western Pond Turtle

Species Spotlight: Western Pond Turtle

The western pond turtle (Clemmys marmorata pallida) has a hard, dull shell that ranges in color from dark greenish to grayish or black. As the only native freshwater turtle in Western Riverside County, it inhabits streams, rivers, wetlands, and human-made ponds. To...

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City Spotlight: City of Perris

City Spotlight: City of Perris

The City of Perris, steeped in history and known for its skydiving, the Lake Perris State Recreation Area, the Southern California Railway Museum, and more, has a rich past that dates back to the early 1800s. The time when Spanish miners, upon discovering gold...

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Species Spotlight: Bell’s Sage Sparrow

Species Spotlight: Bell’s Sage Sparrow

The Bell’s sage sparrow (Artemisiospiza belli belli) is a small, brownish songbird with a gray head, a white breast, and a distinctive dark spot in the center of its chest. Well-adapted to arid environments, this sparrow thrives in dry, open areas of coastal sage...

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Species Spotlight: San Diego horned lizard

Species Spotlight: San Diego horned lizard

The San Diego horned lizard (Phrynosoma coronatum blainvillei) is named for the prominent horns displayed on the back of its head. This small, spiny lizard has a flat, wide body and uses its sandy, grayish-brown or reddish tones to camouflage into surrounding rocks...

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