Absolutely — and here’s a **preliminary, biology-grounded list** of species around **Strawberry Creek** (Berkeley, CA) that you can refine and upload into your `/meta/` as a reference for SCV metaphor work. I’m drawing on documented creek ecology, restoration data, and local habitat surveys to make this credible both ecologically and narratively. --- ## **Strawberry Creek Species Inventory (Plants & Animals)** ### **Aquatic & Riparian Animals** **Fish reintroduced or present in the creek** * Sacramento Sucker *(Catostomus occidentalis)* — bottom-dwelling native fish in deeper pools. ([Creeks of UC Berkeley][1]) * California Roach Minnow *(Hesperoleucus symmetricus)* — small schooling fish in mid-water. ([Creeks of UC Berkeley][1]) * Three-spined Stickleback *(Gasterosteus aculeatus)* — small near-bank fish. ([Creeks of UC Berkeley][1]) (*Note:* historical populations once included salmonids like steelhead and coho, but these are not currently present due to alteration and urban impacts. ([Wikipedia][2])) **Invertebrates & Creek Surface Life** * Water Strider *(Aquarius remigis)* — “skates” the water surface. ([Creeks of UC Berkeley][3]) * Benthic macroinvertebrate larvae (e.g., midges, damselflies; caddisflies, worms) — important aquatic insects. ([Creeks of UC Berkeley][3]) **Terrestrial & Semi-Aquatic Creatures Nearby** * Fox Squirrel — common small mammal near shaded riparian areas. ([Creeks of UC Berkeley][4]) * Arboreal & Slender Salamanders — occur in rock walls, moist areas upstream. ([Creeks of UC Berkeley][4]) * Birds (resident and migratory): * Scrub Jay, Stellar Jay — woodland birds near shaded creek zones. ([Creeks of UC Berkeley][4]) * Brown Towhee, Mourning Dove, Robins — common riparian and adjacent habitat birds. ([Creeks of UC Berkeley][4]) * Winter Wren, Creeper, Varied Thrush — more forest-like species recorded in shady forks. ([Creeks of UC Berkeley][4]) *(Local observations also suggest possible sightings of owls such as Great Horned Owl and night herons near wetter sections at certain times — useful if you want narratively evocative species but less formally documented in the core creek ecology.)* ([reddit.com][5]) **Large Mammals in Adjacent Wildlands (stray into watershed)** * Deer, Coyote, Bobcat, Mountain Lion — range into the greater Strawberry Canyon ecosystem, especially outside urban core. ([Creeks of UC Berkeley][4]) --- ### **Flora — Plants Along the Creek & Immediate Riparian Zone** **Native & planted woody vegetation** * *Toyon* *(Heteromeles arbutifolia)* — native shrub/small tree with red berries in the Bay Area. ([PocketSights][6]) **Common Riparian Trees & Shrubs** (*Note:* many riparian plant lists include both native and non-native species due to urban landscaping and restoration work.) * California Buckeye *(Aesculus californica)* — native riparian margin tree (often planted/restored). * Willow species *(Salix spp.)* — classic creekside trees in many riparian corridors (implanted or remnant). * Alder *(Alnus spp.)* — bankside trees stabilizing soil (typical of Sonoma/Marin/Contra Costa riparian corridors). **Herbaceous & Groundcover Plant Life** * Blackberry *(Rubus spp.)* — widespread brambles along banks offering cover and food. * Native wildflowers / meadow plants near the creek’s edges during wetter seasons. *(Exact taxa vary with microhabitat; local native gardens around Strawberry Creek Park include California native plantings.)* ([Berkeleyside][7]) **Invasive & Exotic Plants (commonly present)** * Algerian Ivy, English Ivy — aggressive non-native groundcover. ([Wikipedia][2]) * Himalayan Blackberry — common invasive bramble. ([bpfp.org][8]) * Siberian Elm (*Ulmus pumila*), French Broom, Pampas Grass — recorded in local restoration notes. ([fivecreeks.org][9]) --- ## **How You Can Structure This on /meta/** A simple pattern for your **ecology reference list** (to use in SCV for sensory grounding): ``` ### Aquatic Life - Sacramento Sucker (fish) - California Roach Minnow - Three-spined Stickleback - Water Strider insects - Macroinvertebrate larvae (midges, damselflies, caddisflies) ### Birds - Scrub Jay - Stellar Jay - Brown Towhee - Mourning Dove - Robins - (Occasional: Great Horned Owl, Night Heron) ### Mammals & Amphibians - Fox Squirrel - Arboreal & Slender Salamanders - Deer, Coyote, Bobcat, Mountain Lion (near watershed) ### Plants — Native & Riparian - Toyon (native shrub) - Willow species - Alder - California Buckeye - Blackberry (native and invasive varieties) - Common restoration natives (seasonal forbs, grasses) ### Invasive & Exotics - Algerian/English Ivy - Himalayan Blackberry - Siberian Elm - French Broom - Pampas Grass ``` --- If you want, I can **turn this list into a downloadable JSON or markdown** formatted precisely for your `/meta/` scaffold reference. Just let me know the format you prefer. [1]: https://creeks.berkeley.edu/faq/strawberry-creek/are-there-fish-strawberry-creek?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Are there fish in Strawberry Creek? | Creeks of UC Berkeley" [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry_Creek?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Strawberry Creek" [3]: https://creeks.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/publications/strawberrycreek2000.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com "University of California, Berkeley" [4]: https://creeks.berkeley.edu/strawberry-creek-management-plan-1987/424-wildlife-and-fisheries?utm_source=chatgpt.com "4.2.4 - Wildlife and Fisheries | Creeks of UC Berkeley" [5]: https://www.reddit.com/r/berkeley/comments/12js1ff?utm_source=chatgpt.com "owl by the stadium?" [6]: https://pocketsights.com/tours/place/Haas-native-plants-38665%3A4817?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Haas native plants - Strawberry Creek natural history - PocketSights" [7]: https://www.berkeleyside.org/2025/08/26/strawberry-creek-park?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Strawberry Creek Park is West Berkeley’s hidden gem" [8]: https://bpfp.org/affiliate-groups/FSC/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Friends of Strawberry Creek" [9]: https://www.fivecreeks.org/projects/strawberry_creek/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Strawberry Creek"