There’s more to Los Angeles than Tinseltown, facelifts and boob jobs. The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles explore the real wild side of this area, combining history, geology, flora and fauna into a travel guide to the best this area has to offer. Includes beautiful photography

As a former native Angelino, I was a bit skeptical that anyone could write about all the cool places that you can visit when you live in Los Angeles. Since I left the city, over 30 years ago, some new areas have become open to the public, such as Malibu Canyon.



I was pleased to see which places were brought up, such as Eaton Canyon.



And surprised that Frogtown was brought up, as I thought that was my own little secret spot that no one else knew about.



And I love the advice on Griffith Park, which I have hiked, to not hike in the summer, in the middle of the day, which is quite true. There is no shade.



The book is divided up into different sections. First, with an explanation of where L.A. came from, from, such as the water wars, and the La Brea Tar Pits.

The second section is on what native wild life to look for, and where.







And the final section is on the tours, the hikes that I mentioned at the top of this review.

Most people, I suspect just wan the field trips, and might feel that didn't need to k now the background, or all the animals they might run into. Their loss if they do.

Well written, well researched, and feels as though it was written by a L.A. native, for all the things that are mentioned for each spot.  And although some of the authors were not originally from Los Angeles, I love that one of them grew up in Atwater, which is the area between Silver Lake and Glendale.

Recommended for those who want to find the secret hiking and walking in nature spots in Los Angeles.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

I read hundreds of books every year and few have impressed as much as Wild LA.  Beautifully presented, informative, friendly, interesting, and never talking down to the audience.  The authors have done stellar work in all aspects of this nature guide and there is so much in here that I didn't even know/realize, despite having grown up around so many of these nature areas in LA.  From urban legends of 'glowing cats' to the variety of native and non native species that have made their home in Los Angeles with urbanization.

The first half of the book is an overview of Los Angeles - from its ancient history in the La Brea Tar Pits, water issues, fires, native species, exotic species, after dark, migration, backyards, and the science being done by ordinary people.  The middle of the book is a really nicely presented breakdown of 101 LA species to know - they can be anything from plants to insects to animals, native and non-native.  Then the third portion of the book is a list of field trips that stretch from the beach to Mount Baldy.  Nearly all are in the urban areas of Los Angeles - from Whittier to Pasadena, Torrance to Long Beach.

The book is written in a clear and friendly manner suitable for kids but also adults.  It never talks down to the audience and the wealth of information is staggering.  But more importantly, that information is presented in a colloquial way that makes it palatable and actually fun and interesting.  The text is very conversational and reminds me of being taught by the best teachers: the ones who are passionate about their field of work but also love working with people.

The first section has great information about the past that we are finding today but also discusses quite a bit about the milieu in which we have native and non native species.  From parrots to poison oak, bats to geckos.  Each chapter is prefaced by a real world example of someone interacting with the nature (e.g., a young boy who uses his iphone ap to study bats in the area at nighttime baseball games) and there are many callouts full of interesting asides and facts.

The 101 species has all the information you need to know about LA nature: background on the origins of the species, where they live, pictures that show their distinctive marks (e.g., side by side of a raven and a crow so you can tell the difference), and a lot of other information.  It's surprisingly interesting and never dry reading and the facts are always fascinating.

The third section, the hikes/nature walks, has a map, pictures and callouts of the nature you can find there, and why that area is worth the hike.  Tips like parking information, time of year/day to go, exact address, difficulty, distance of the hikes, facilities such as picnic tables and bathrooms, and special notes are clearly marked and easy to read in advance.  I was greatly surprised at many of them - some even in cities I had lived next to but never explored or even knew there were dams or waterfalls in that area!  E.g., I used to work at NASA JPL and saw the deer all the time but never knew there was a a waterfall hike just around the corner or a damn just a few blocks away.

I highly recommend this book, especially for families.  The copious amount of images as well as the great information provided makes this a must for learning about the nature of Los Angeles.  Though I know the authors must be passionate about the topic, it isn't as preachy about conservation, either.  The authors make good points that help us appreciate our nature - and by appreciating, want to keep.  I think that has to be the best message in the book.  Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

Beautiful and well-researched, this book is an extensive collection of stories, facts and pictures. Written for lovers of nature and Los Angeles, Wild LA tells a story of man and nature in an urban environment, capturing moments of awe as well as moments where the two species clash. This book is definitely targeted toward older kids and adults based on the amount of written material, but one that the whole family could enjoy together. The 300-some pages are chocked full of beautiful photography and graphic features which makes it an excellent source of entertainment as well as education. 

Specific chapters on invasive species, backyard habitats, and community science were particularly interesting and will be very helpful for people looking to get involved. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in nature and the LA area.

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  
From the publisher --- 

Los Angeles may have a reputation as a concrete jungle, but in reality, it is incredibly biodiverse, teeming with an amazing array of animals and plants. You just need to know where to find them. 
Wild LA—published in conjunction with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County—is the guidebook residents and visitors have been waiting for. Equal parts natural history, field guide, and trip planner, this fun-filled book has something for everyone. 
You’ll learn about the factors shaping LA nature—including floods, fire, and climate—and find profiles of over one hundred local species, from sea turtles to rare plants to Hollywood's famous mountain lion, P-22. Also included are day trips that detail which natural wonders you can experience where, on hiking trails, in public parks, and in your own backyard.

Do you live in LA or are planning a trip to that area? This is a wonderful guide to finding the nature and greenspace in a land of freeways and concrete. The fire aspect of LA is so current as I write this as it seems most of California is on fire and lack of rain is unknown where I live so this adult learned a lot.  

I do wonder what Los Angelinos would think of it and if the trips are as easy as they seem to be presented. I have problems with the idea of spending 2-3 hours on a clogged freeway to get someplace, but that is my Canadian point of view. It better be freaking spectacular place to take that long of a drive – I can get to Niagara Falls in that time and now, that is spectacular. 
This IS decidedly going along with these two ADULTS on our next trip to visit my aunt: a great, fun, interesting way to explore the city with this beautiful travel guide: I just hope that someone else drives us or that there may be public transit to get there.

Loved this book! I think it did an excellent job of highlighting the natural world within LA and creating lovely adventures across the area. While it's probably a book that best serves LA families or young adults looking to explore the area, I think it can inspire similar guides within other areas. I look forward to sharing this with schools and families in my area to get them using it and seeing Wild LA!

A very comprehensive and interesting look at the wildlife of LA. As someone who has never been to Southern California, I wouldn't have guessed that the county was as biologically diverse as it is, and it was so interesting to learn about so many native animals. I'm glad the authors included images of every species as well. Overall, very informative and interesting read.

An absolutely must read to those who plan on visiting LA!  I found so many interesting things about LA that I never knew.  Fascinating read and I would recommend this to all tourists and even those who live in California who want to find out new places to hike and explore!
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Great read if you are travelling to LA check out the nature areas mentioned in this book, which is less a book and more like a field guide.

Fascinating book on the nature in and around the LA area. I loved reading about how these places came to be and what lives there. My favorite and most interesting to read was the history of the La Brea Tar pits. Stunning pictures and descriptions of every type of flora and fauna you can expect to find. At the end of the book are some great hiking options where you can try and spot some animals in the guide. A must have if you are a nature lover in the LA area.

Who knew there is so much nature around urban Los Angeles? It really is Wild LA.

This guidebook contains something for every Los Angeleno (or visitor). There is a page of pictures, descriptions, and interesting facts for 101 species including birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, snails, mold, and plants. All are found in greater Los Angeles and each profile gives the best locations to find them. There are twenty-five field trips around LA described that include directions, maps, and things to see. Ways to turn your own backyard into a wildlife habitat are also included.

A comprehensive and useful guide to the nature that is all around Los Angeles. Wild LA is recommended for nature lovers around LA and those who wish to educate their children. 4 stars!

Thanks to Timber Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.