When I was in Bakersfield, California, on February 11-12, 2020, high on my list of places to visit was the California Living Museum, or CALM for short. It specializes in California native fauna and flora.
Although the California Living Museum is only 14 acres with 250 animals representing 80 species, I can highly recommend it.
Keep in mind that I have been a member of zoos, arboretums, aquariums, and animal sanctuaries since I was 13 when my wise old grandmother got me a membership to the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas. After that it was the San Antonio Zoo and the Houston Zoo. Also keep in mind that I have been a member of the San Diego Zoo since May 1993.
When I was searching for things to do in Bakersfield and found the California Living Museum, I immediately compared it to the San Diego Zoo at 99 acres, 3,700 animals, and 650 species, and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park at 1,800 acres, 3,500+ animals, and 400+ species.
I had convinced myself that I would be disappointed, but I just cannot bear to miss a zoo, arboretum, or sanctuary, so off I went, thinking that since it specialized in California native flora and fauna, maybe I would see something that I had never seen before. At $10, the price was right, too!
I spent four hours at CALM, which breaks down to $2.50 per hour. That’s entertainment that doesn’t break the bank!
Following are some of my best pictures of CALM.
Seeing a saguaro (Carnegia gigantea) in the parking lot gave me great hope
and it only got better.
Barrel cactus
Northern Mojave Rattlesnake
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake
Sidewinder
Sonoran Gopher Snake
Chuckwalla
Desert Iguana
Desert Tortoise
Desert Bighorn Sheep
Coyote
Mountain Lion
Nelson’s Antelope Squirrel
Roadrunner
Turkey
Western Scrub Jay
Barn Owl
Acorn Woodpecker
Bald Eagle
Did you notice that I got a picture of both a coyote and a roadrunner?
Russel Ray Photos 