A cardinal meadowhawk on Abbotts Lagoon Trail, which remains open during construction!

October 8, 2026

Greetings!

The park has been buzzing with activity these last few weeks. Abbotts Lagoon Trail is getting some exciting accessibility improvements, birders are flocking (😉) to hotspots in search of rare migrating species, and we’re hosting back-to-back groups at the Clem Miller Environmental Education Center for learning, recreation, and exploration.

We’re also still reeling from the success of our Fund A Need and 17th annual Party on the Pacific Plate. Thanks to the stunning generosity of our community of park stewards (that’s you!), we raised $661,950 in support of our conservation, education, and community-building efforts. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Salt marsh dodder via iNaturalist

Once you’re done, revisit a few of our favorites from the archives: how birds migrate by stars, a badger rescue and historic release, and a white shark mystery. Our friends at the California White Shark Project have kicked off the 2026 monitoring season, and are curious what the warmer ocean temperatures will mean for the sharks. So are we.

We hope you enjoy this Seashore storytelling, and we love hearing your stories as well. Feel free to share them with me—just respond to this email.

Gratefully,

Emily Summerlin

Communications Director

Keeping a Pulse on Pumas in Point Reyes

Otis the mountain lion. The Bay Area Puma Project has been mapping his movements since 2022.

It’s midday, and a mountain lion curls up on a bed of bay laurel leaves in a Point Reyes forest. The foliage releases an herbal scent as he settles down, licks his notched coat, sighs deeply, and finally closes his amber eyes. As he drifts off to sleep, the lion’s rounded ears twitch, attuned to birds rustling and hikers chatting on nearby trails. He’s keenly aware of human activity on the Seashore’s fire roads and trail networks, but always avoids them, staying just out of sight. This is Otis, dubbed the “Uncontested King of Marin.”

October Monthly Marvels

This month, Point Reyes’ daytime skies are filled with migrating raptors on their long journey southwards towards warmer wintering grounds. At nighttime, Tomales Bay is aglow with the light of billions of bioluminescent organisms—glittering night lights. Salt marsh dodder is out for spooky season in its full bright-orange, silly-string splendor, and coyote brush’s magical cloud-like seeds catch the autumn wind. And of course, one mustn’t forget the majestic tule elk’s bugle echoing across the water and land. There is so much magic in the air…what marvels will you find at the Seashore?

Upcoming Programs & Events

Chicken Ranch Beach Volunteer Workday

Multiple Saturdays & Wednesdays in October

Join the Tomales Bay Foundation and SPAWN for native wetland restoration. Gloves and tools provided.

Stop Taking Pictures, Start Making Photographs!

Sat. Nov. 21, 10am-4pm

Discover techniques, creative vision, and the power of your iPhone camera in this hands-on workshop for all levels.

Mushroom Identification

Sun. Dec. 6, 10am-4:30pm

Explore the mysterious and fascinating world of wild mushrooms in Point Reyes with the basics of identification and a foray into the woods.

Put Your Donor-Advised Fund to Work for PRNSA!

Today, October 8, is DAF Day! If you have a donor-advised fund, we invite you to recommend a grant to PRNSA to help sustain the vital work that keeps Point Reyes thriving. Whether you choose a one-time or recurring grant, your DAF gift enables PRNSA to care for Point Reyes National Seashore, support education programs like Youth in Parks, fund vital conservation projects, foster community connections to the land, and ensure this extraordinary place remains protected and accessible for generations to come.

PRNSA’s legal name is Point Reyes National Seashore Association, and our EIN is 94-2228894. If you have questions about giving through a DAF, please contact Kim Freyer, Annual Giving & Grants Manager, at kimf@ptreyes.org or (415) 663-1200 x314.

Documenting Science at the Seashore

What is it like photographing science in action at Point Reyes? Take a look through the lens of National Park Service Interpretive Assistant Clair Sapilewski. "The diverse habitats within the park, from the seaside lagoons to the foggy Douglas fir forests, make Point Reyes feel a bit like the sort of fantastical land you read about in storybooks. Photographing the park’s animal residents, from a respectful distance and alongside the teams that study them, means unlocking a new level of understanding of the ecosystems in Point Reyes."

Job Opening: Biological Science Technician

We’re growing our conservation team! PRNSA is seeking two Biological Science Technicians who will support natural resource management and native plant restoration at Point Reyes National Seashore. These positions will assist with field mapping and monitoring of lands leased for cattle ranching and targeted grazing to assess habitat, vegetation, water quality, soil, animal use, and ranch infrastructure conditions.

Find the full job description and application portal here. Apply by October 30, 2026!