Libraries and archives aren’t the only way history can be recorded. At natural history museums, vast collections that store plants and animals can tell us about what life was like when a particular specimen was collected.
Natural history collections help scientists keep a detailed record of the natural world, how it has transformed over time, and how those species may have adapted (or not adapted) to their ever-changing environment.
Our birds and mammals collection stores just under 53,000 bird specimens, almost 26,000 mammal specimens, and is one of the most important resources on the bird and mammal species of western North America—it's kind of a big deal.
To explore our collections, please visit VertNet or iDigBio (institution code: SDNHM). For the most up to date information or in case those sites are down, contact the Birds and Mammals department by using our contact form under “research”.