His nominator calls him a joy to be around and endlessly knowledgeable. You might hear him in his backyard playing lawn games, or in his garage building sasquatch lawn ornaments, and you can find him just about anywhere in the city photographing wildlife. If you've ever been curious about how to grow native plants, how to attract more pollinators, the best time of year to see a meteor shower, or how to photograph any of it on a macro level, his nominator says he's your guy.
Wright was born and raised in Riverside. He went to preschool at Temple Beth El, then to Washington Elementary School, Gage Middle School and Poly High School. Along the way he made friendships that have lasted a lifetime. He met his closest friends when they were five or six years old. Thirty-five years later, they are still best friends, and nearly all of them still live in Riverside.
His interest in natural history started early. He grew up hiking Riverside's hillsides, watching insects and turtles, and exploring Southern California. He remembers trips with his mom to Thousand Palms Oasis, where he watched damselflies perch near the water while his sister waited, patiently or not so patiently, to go back inside. The deserts, mountains and local hiking areas fueled his passion for biology. His AP Environmental Science teacher at Poly cemented it.
That path led to a bachelor's degree in ecology from UC Davis, with summers spent working in the UCR Entomology Department. He then earned a master's degree from UT Austin before returning to Riverside and to UCR Entomology. He has also worked at the county's ranger station in Idyllwild. Today he is the Curator of Natural History at the Museum of Riverside, the same museum where he dissected owl pellets as a kid. "I'm so lucky I get to practice my passion for a living," he said. He hopes his work will inspire the next generation of biologists and scientists, and he is committed to promoting Riverside's incredible natural history for all to enjoy.
What does Riverside mean to you? Riverside is home to me. My best friends and I all still live here. Some of my family have moved away and I have come and gone a fair few times, but the sights of the hillsides, the smell of brittlebush, and the feel of granite beneath my hiking boots will always be my comfort zone. Riverside was a great community to grow up in, and it meant being close to all the places I wanted to explore. It really helped mold who I am today.
What is your Mt. Rubidoux summit count (estimated)? Oh, probably a few dozen times since I was a kid. It's a beautiful view, but it's far too crowded with joggers and people blaring music. I prefer the quieter trails where there are still native plants, critters to see, and fewer people to scare them away.
What is your favorite restaurant outside of Downtown or Magnolia Center? Probably my own kitchen! Though a big shout-out to Viano's Pizza up in Woodcrest. Get the chicken alfredo pizza and thank me later!
What is the most beautiful building in Riverside? There are some great pieces of architecture on the UCR campus. I'm definitely biased, but I would also say that the Museum of Riverside building is quite charming!
What is your favorite Riverside small business? I grew up going to Mrs. Tiggy Winkles and DragonMarsh, so those will always hold a place in my heart.
What is your favorite Riverside non-profit organization? I've been working a lot lately with the Rivers & Lands Conservancy here in Riverside. They are a TERRIFIC organization working to preserve land for conservation all across the region.
The Festival of Lights: Every year on opening night or maybe on a Tuesday? Hah, maybe once a decade! It's a beautiful event and fun to bring visitors to, but I prefer swarms of bugs over swarms of people.
What is your go-to sandwich in town? Backstreet. Definitely the roast beef and Swiss.
What is your idea of a perfect weekend day in Riverside? Hiking around with a camera, seeing some cool insects and native plants. Ideally, finding a large rattlesnake to photograph and just spending time observing it. Throw in some mammal sightings or a good bird or two and I'm a happy man!
What is your favorite spot for a date night? Probably the Central Plaza area. Otherwise, the bluff of a hillside looking for bats and owls!
Do you call it the Galleria or Tyler Mall? Oof, that's a tough one. Actually, probably "the Galleria at Tyler"? I grew up with both used interchangeably.
What is one place in Riverside you would bring back if you could? All the native areas and hillsides that are now houses or warehouse complexes. There used to be great habitat for burrowing owls and horned lizards all over, but sadly, that's pretty much entirely gone from the city and even the surrounding areas.
If you could put one message on a billboard on the 91, what would it be? Plant native plants! And I'd tell everyone to be more curious.
Finally, tell us what you're working on right now and how our readers can support your efforts, whether it's a project, passion, or cause close to your heart! Both personally and professionally with the Museum of Riverside, I'm working on documenting Riverside's rare species and the work researchers are doing to protect them. We depend so much on biodiversity, and all that diversity needs its habitat intact in order to thrive. I would strongly urge readers to check out the Rivers & Lands Conservancy. If you're going to hike Mt. Rubidoux, make sure to also stop by the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District's LandUse Learning Center. They have great native plantings, and you'll see so many more birds and flowers than you'll see on the regular beaten (and paved-over) path. While there, talk to their fantastic educators and learn more about how you and your family can learn about, support, and enjoy our wild Riverside places!
Neighbor of the Week is our way of celebrating the hidden heroes of Riverside, those who go above and beyond to make our community stronger, kinder, and more vibrant. We believe every remarkable Riversider deserves their story told. Know someone who's making a difference? Nominate a Neighbor of the Week
