08/25/2026
We are sad to share the custom-carved Redwood Badger Totem at the Paula Lane open space land is gone.
One of our first Project elements for the Nature Preserve, the Redwood Badger sculpted from a fallen trunk, created by artist Rich Arata, was placed near the Preserve entrance in 2013. It was the guardian of the land.
It was the symbol to greet volunteers, in its rightful place near the longstanding Acacia tree next to the entrance.
Each Spring, the Acacia canopy would bloom like a yellow flowering umbrella for a few months, attracting bees and birds. The tree was a fixture of the space there.
It's gone, too, completely removed.
The badger totem and Acacia tree were in proximity to each other.
As the City of Petaluma dysfunctional, harm-inflicting government continues to try and erase PLAN, the badgers, and our Nature Preserve from the open space land, we send this message, for conservation, the habitat and wildlife, WE ARE STILL HERE.
We've been told by a community member the custom-designed Redwood interpretive kiosk, also created by artist Rich Arata, is laying on the floor of the shed barn. THAT was removed in 2020 from its place along the interior trail.
We are very sad about what likely is dumping of the badger totem and ongoing damage inflicted on the land we saved for open space and conservation.
(A photo of the badger totem is included here )
One of the Paula Lane Wildlife Crossing signs has also been removed - barbed wire fencing still surrounds the property perimeter.
And yes, it's all unbelievable, the harm, the cruelty, but does represent the City of Petaluma's disregard for the natural world.
