In 1891 and 1896, Behr published two essays entitled "Botanical Reminiscences" in which he describes the changes in the vegetation of San Francisco from 1850. The California Academy of Sciences elected Behr to the position of vice-president in 1895 and three years later he was made curator of entomology. He later donated his large collection of Lepidoptera to the Academy but it was destroyed in the earthquake of 1906. He authored a number of books including "The Plants of the Vicinity of San Francisco" and a book of verse, "The Hoot of the Owl". Behr Avenue in San Francisco is named after him.