The best way to avoid exposure to poison oak is knowing how to identify it. While the classic adage “leaves of three, let them be” can help differentiate poison oak from true oaks, it's not always correct. Poison oak is also deciduous so detecting it in the winter or spring when there are no leaves can be tricky.

More information on about this plant can be found in the recently updated

Have you seen wild turkeys wandering through your neighborhood? These American birds were once on the verge of extinction but now can be found foraging for food in urban and suburban neighborhoods. Some people enjoy the sight of a flock of wild turkeys strutting by their house. However, others may consider wild turkeys pests because of the droppings they leave behind, blocking traffic, destructive foraging, or aggressive behavior.

Whether you're a turkey fan or not, you can find out more in the brand new Pest Notes: Wild Turkeys. Author...

Wildlife in California is an important natural resource that many people appreciate in their natural habitats and strive to protect. However, sometimes vertebrate animals can become pests in our homes, gardens, schools, parks, and landscapes and management efforts are needed.

But identifying what has burrowed under the porch, eaten the fruit on your trees, or caused holes in the lawn can be difficult if you don't see the culprit in action. If you think you have an animal pest but are not sure what it is, the new UC IPM Wildlife Pest Identification Tool will help you narrow down potential...

The giant whitefly is not a gargantuan monster out of an old sci-fi movie, although it is quite a bit larger compared to other whiteflies. Whiteflies are typically tiny insects that are hard to spot on plants unless they are flying, but the giant whitefly is more obvious. Giant whitefly adults produces spirals of wax on leaves and as the infestation grows, so do the waxy deposits, and soon a susceptible plant can be covered in waxy strands.

This insect is a serious pest of many ornamental plants including begonia, hibiscus, and lantana, as well as on some fruits and vegetables. The giant whitefly sucks out the plant's sap and excretes honeydew, damaging plants and causing...