A thirsty koala eagerly licks the trunk of a eucalyptus tree in the rain. (Valentina Mella) One adult female, with a joey, was observed drinking profusely and uninterruptedly for 15 minutes.

The eucalyptus tree is native to Australia and provides food and shelter to koalas, among other wildlife. It has spread rapidly in other countries, too, including Portugal, where it was introduced ...

If you look around, you'll see Eucalyptus trees all over Monterey County, but they aren't native to the area, and these 150-200-foot tall trees can cause problems.