Places › Nature Centers & Preserves › the Pacific Grove Museum

Wildlife in Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Here’s what naturalists are spotting in the Pacific Grove Museum right now - pulled live from recent research-grade observations. Browse by group, explore the map, and identify what you find with Huck.

18,696
recent observations
30
species listed
13
birds
13
other
3
mammals

Naturalists have logged 18,696 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in the Pacific Grove Museum. The most frequently seen is the Western Gull, with 2,120 recorded sightings.

Birds account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (13 of the species listed here), followed by other (13).

Rarer finds confirmed in the Pacific Grove Museum include Woolly Sculpin - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Woolly Sculpin
🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist📋 Printable field sheet

Most-observed species in the Pacific Grove Museum

Western Gull
Larus occidentalis
2,120 observations
Bat Star
Patiria miniata
1,419 observations · iNaturalist
California Ground Squirrel
Otospermophilus beecheyi
1,282 observations
Harbor Seal
Phoca vitulina
1,236 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
1,085 observations
Sunburst Anemone
Anthopleura sola
809 observations · iNaturalist
Brandt's Cormorant
Urile penicillatus
712 observations
Pacific Purple Sea Urchin
Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
659 observations · iNaturalist
Black Oystercatcher
Haematopus bachmani
629 observations
Striped Shore Crab
Pachygrapsus crassipes
578 observations · iNaturalist
Pelagic Cormorant
Urile pelagicus
576 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
560 observations
Pigeon Guillemot
Cepphus columba
546 observations
Black Tegula
Tegula funebralis
485 observations · iNaturalist
Heermann's Gull
Larus heermanni
468 observations
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
442 observations
Blueband Hermit Crab
Pagurus samuelis
438 observations · iNaturalist
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
419 observations
California Mussel
Mytilus californianus
417 observations · iNaturalist
Mossy Chiton
Mopalia muscosa
412 observations · iNaturalist
California Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
407 observations
Ochre Sea Star
Pisaster ochraceus
400 observations · iNaturalist
Aggregating Anemone
Anthopleura elegantissima
380 observations · iNaturalist
Giant Green Anemone
Anthopleura xanthogrammica
357 observations · iNaturalist
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
352 observations
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
345 observations
Woolly Sculpin
Clinocottus analis
321 observations
White-speckled Dorid
Doriopsilla fulva
285 observations · iNaturalist
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
283 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
274 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

Get rare-sighting alerts for the Pacific Grove Museum

We’ll email you when an uncommon or rare species is spotted here. One check a day, only when there’s something new.

Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.

More wildlife near the Pacific Grove Museum

Exploring the Pacific Grove Museum?

Take Huck with you. Identify any wildlife you find in seconds, and watch the live map of what is being spotted in the Pacific Grove Museum right now.

Get Huck

Exploring the Pacific Grove Museum? Get Huck field notes

Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what naturalists are finding - straight to your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to receive Huck emails. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.