Defenders of Wildlife Blog

Today is the official start of Defenders of Wildlife’s 3rd annual photo contest. Over the last two years we have had some truly amazing photographs submitted as photographers of all skill levels compete for our grand prize; a week long photo tour with renowned conservationist and wildlife photographer Jess Lee as he takes you through Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons on one of his signature photo tours. I was fortunate enough to talk with last year’s grand prize winner, Jim Chagares, about his grand prize trip with Jess Lee, his views on conservation, and how he was fortunate enough to snap his grand prize winning photograph.  You can visit www.defenders.org/photocontest for submission guidelines, rules, and photo submissions as well as check our FAQ section for some answers to the most common questions we’ve run into in previous contests.  The contest runs from February 15th – March 15th and best of luck to everyone who enters. We here at Defenders are looking forward to another great contest!

How long have you been a photographer?

I have been a photographer all my life. I opened my photography business in 1988. Prior to that I was a musician and taught elementary school 14 years. In 1988, I joined Professional Photographers of America and began studying with the finest photographers in the world. Shortly after joining Professional Photographers of America I received my Master of Photographers Degree and this year became one of only 111 to hold the Fellowship Degree from American Society of Photographers.

How did you manage to get the shot of the bear with her cubs?

This was my second trip to Katmai in Alaska to photograph Brown Bear. While there the most exciting thing is to photograph mothers with cubs. I have photographed several with one, two or three cubs but this was certainly a special treat to find a mother with quadruplets. The interaction between the cubs and mother and cubs was the best. Never a dull moment. I was able to capture several sequences while they were nursing but this was by far the most unusual pose.

Can you tell me a little about the photography tour with Jess Lee?  How was Jess as a tour leader and what were some of the highlights of your trip?

Traveling and getting to know Jess was a great experience. His knowledge of photography and his images are second to none. He was fun to be with as were the others in the workshop. We photographed the scenery, elk, bison, wolves, coyote, eagles, moose, foxes, big horned sheep and more.

What are your views on conservation of our natural places and wildlife?

The National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges are by far the best thing for the preservation of our wildlife and scenery. Protecting and managing the wildlife along with limiting housing developments on this land is paramount.

Why do you support Defenders of Wildlife?

It is important to help Defenders of Wildlife lobby for the protection of our wildlife. They are the voice of the people toward the preservation of endangered species as well as all species. I enjoy their informative website and blog emails with articles about so many diverse species. Their magazine is full of great articles and pictures.

What is your favorite place to photograph and why?

My favorite place for wildlife photography is Yellowstone/Tetons National Parks. The scenery is also spectacular. I spend two to three weeks there each winter, spring and fall. I also love to photograph birds in Florida. Each year I photograph the warbler migration at Magee Marsh on Lake Erie and Point Peele in Canada. The Brown Bear in Katmai National Park in Alaska is certainly one of the greatest experiences ever.

What is next on your photographing agenda?  Any cool trips planned?

This January I went to Canada to photograph a Great Gray Owl for five days. I just returned from the Mississippi River where I spent time photographing eagles. I leave on Tuesday for two week in Yellowstone. In March I am traveling to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas to photography birds. The first of May I will again photograph the warbler migration on Lake Erie. The last week of May and September I will be returning to Yellowstone. July will be Loons with chicks in Algonquin Provincial Park in Canada. October will be filled with Wood Ducks in northern Ohio.

On a chilly bright blue sky day on top of the Vermillion Cliffs in northern Arizona, I finally got to see first-hand the results of a project I worked on while at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the late 1990s.  I stood on the edge of the cliffs with colleagues from Defenders and conservation partners from AZ Fish and Game and The Peregrine Fund watching critically endangered California condors soaring in the wind updrafts and sitting on boulders sunning themselves in the crisp morning’s sun.  They are certainly spectacular birds. Until you actually see one of these massive creatures on the wing, it’s hard to truly visualize just how incredible these birds are and how precarious their future still is.  They are almost magical to watch as they ride the thermals against the strikingly severe cliff sides near the Grand Canyon.

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Condors

Condors

Condor 011

Condor soaring

Condors in flight

Condor flying

Condor soaring

Condor 017

Condors on netting

Condors on netting

Condor

Condor taking flight

Condor taking flight

Condors

Jamie Rappaport Clark

Defenders CEO Jamie Rappaport Clark watches condors soaring

Condors perching

Condor perched on Vermillion Cliffs

Condor perched on Vermillion Cliffs

Condors

Condors perched on Vermillion Cliffs

Condors perched on Vermillion Cliffs

Vermillion Cliffs

Vermillion Cliffs

Condor Wingspan

Display showing the wingspan of a condor

Jamie Rappaport Clark

Though there have been some birds now born in the wild since the original releases from captivity over a decade ago, most still wear the obvious brand of human help in the form of tags and transmitters to track their movements in northern Arizona and southern Utah.   It is only with significant human support that we are making headway in returning these incredible flying creatures back to their rightful place in the wild.  All of the birds now in the wild still require supplemental feeding and are monitored regularly to manage the leading ongoing cause of their deaths today; the ingestion of lead from carcasses and gut piles of animals hunted throughout their range.  As carrion eaters (consumers of dead animals), the lead often left behind by hunters in carcasses or gut piles is ingested during feeding and accumulates quickly to deadly levels in the birds.  If we are seeing it at such high levels on an ongoing basis in condors, just imagine all the other wildlife that feed in a similar fashion.  It is abundantly clear that lead and wildlife are not a good mix for long term survival and sustainability.

AZ Game and Fish and The Peregrine Fund have been working diligently through voluntary ammunition swap programs (free exchanging of lead bullets for copper or steel).  In addition, they have an around the clock program of supplemental feeding and monitoring of the birds’ lead levels with intervention by trapping and treatment to remove lead from the systems of those birds most affected.  Regardless, the condor population overall is still in real trouble.

Though there has been a positive response from hunters with the ammunition swap out program in Arizona, there is no such opportunity in Utah and that makes recovery of the condor all the more complicated and frustrating.   The birds range from their “home base” at the Vermillion Cliffs but are now flying further and further away into Utah where there are no controls or incentives to use other than lead shot while hunting.  Until the lead is out of ammunition used to hunt wildlife, it will continue to be a labor intensive uphill battle to save the condors.

It’s time for ammunition manufacturers to step up and do what was done for waterfowl decades ago.  Conversion away from lead should not affect hunter success, but it will do a world of good for condors and other critters.  The science is clear, now we need to encourage manufacturers and hunters to step up.

The FWP Commissioners listen to Fort Peck Tribal Chairman Floyd Azure’s testimony.

A meeting to remember

Attending day-long meetings of the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission isn’t usually at the top of my list of favorite things to do. But last Friday was one meeting that I simply couldn’t miss. The Commission was finally considering a proposal to relocate 68 bison from a quarantine facility near Yellowstone National Park where they’ve been held for more than five years to two tribal reservations in northeast Montana.

For years, Defenders has been pushing state wildlife managers to give the bison to the tribes, and this was our last chance to show our support. When it was my turn to testify, I told the commission that although we cannot return to the past when tens of millions of bison roamed the Great Plains, surely there are at least a few places to restore genetically pure wild bison. These two reservations stand ready and willing; this is an offer we should not refuse.

The bison of Yellowstone National Park are some of the only genetically pure wild bison left, and the Assiniboine, Gros Ventre and Sioux tribes of these two reservations have long wished for their return. Giving the bison to the tribes would mark the beginning of efforts to restore new conservation herds of these important bison to the heart of their historic range in the Great Plains.

Although we cannot return to the past when tens of millions of bison roamed the Great Plains, surely there are at least a few places to restore genetically pure wild bison.

Several Defenders’ Montana members spoke in support of the plan too, as did other local Montanans and tribal members as well.

“These majestic animals have played a very significant part in the history, religion, and the culture of our native people of the fort peck reservation,” said Floyd Azure, Fort Peck Reservation Tribal Council Chairman, as reported by the Associated Press. “These bison have sustained our ancestors for thousands of years and they are in need of us of returning the favor. We are here to make sure they will always be here for our children.”

The proposal seemed like a no-brainer to us, and the majority of people testifying supported the move. But some came to testify in opposition, including commissioners from counties near the reservations and some local landowners who fear the bison will escape and damage their fences and property. Despite these objections, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the plan.

The 22,000-acre bison reserve at Fort Belknap awaits genetically pure bison. In 2012, Defenders will assist the tribe with improvements to fencing in preparation for these bison.

Over the past several years, Defenders has helped Fort Peck and Fort Belknap expand the size of their designated bison reserves (currently 4,800 acres and 22,000 acres, respectively) and purchase the required fencing in preparation for return of these bison. We continue to raise funds to help finish the job, and will continue to help expand the bison reserves as opportunities arise in the future.

The next step is for the state and tribal governments to complete and sign agreements. This could take a few weeks to a few months. Then, the tribes are planning a “welcome home” ceremony for their return.

When that happens, we’ll be one step closer to the true restoration of wild bison to their historic stomping grounds.

Defenders’ wolf expert Suzanne Stone served as a guest lecturer last week for Portland State University’s Wildlife Conflict Management Training Workshop in Wallowa County, Oregon. On Tuesday, attendees toured the Zumwalt Prairie, a high-elevation grassland beneath the Wallowa Mountains and one of the primary corridors used by wolves in Oregon.

Suzanne  discussed her experience working to restore wolves in the northern Rockies and more recently, working with ranchers and wolf managers to implement nonlethal practices to reduce conflict between wolves and livestock. (See Wolf Coexistence Partnership) Other guest speakers included Ed Bangs, former US Fish and Wildlife Service western wolf coordinator; Russ Morgan, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife wolf recovery coordinator; and Jim Akenson, executive director of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. The workshop participants included state, federal and tribal wildlife and environmental agencies.

Then on Wednesday, Suzanne participated on a panel of wolf advocates who discussed wolf management and recovery in Oregon. Though Defenders and our conservation colleagues don’t always agree on tactics, we adamantly agree on the overall goal of ensuring that Oregon remains a place where wolves can thrive for years to come. We continue working both together and independently to make sure the state has the resources and plans in place to promote the full recovery of wolves over the long run.

And finally on Thursday Suzanne met with ranchers, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife wolf managers, and the Zumwalt prairie ranch manager for the Nature Conservancy to discuss ways to further reduce conflicts between wolves and livestock in northeastern Oregon. Tensions have been running even higher this fall since a few area ranchers continue to suffer occasional livestock losses due to wolves. But some are implementing nonlethal deterrents and better husbandry practices instead of just fighting to try to have the wolves killed. This kind of collaboration is key to the long term survival of wolves in Oregon and has been successful in reducing losses of both livestock and wolves.

Here are some photos from Suzanne’s trip (all photos courtesy of Suzanne Stone/Defenders of Wildlife):

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Wallowa valley

Snow-covered Chief Joseph mountain looms in the distance.

Rider on the ridge

Cattle ranching is the dominant business in Wallowa Valley.

Hillside latrine

Because you never know when (or where) nature will call

In the classroom

Suzanne describes successful tools for reducing conflict between livestock and wolves.

Working together

Suzanne joined Russ Morgan (left), ODFW wolf coordinator, and Jim Akenson, head of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, for a tour of the Zumwalt Prairie in eastern Oregon.

Wolf notice

This notice from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is posted to help people identify signs of wolves in the wild.

A motley crew

Ranchers, biologists and conservationists are sharing ideas about ways to coexist with wolves on the landscape.

Big red barn

Wolf sign

Animosity still runs high in the region where anti-wolf extremists still promote "zero tolerance" for wolves. The rest of us are working toward practical solutions.

Wolf statues

Love 'em or hate 'em, wolves are becoming an iconic part of life in eastern Oregon.

A peak through the pines

For Wolf Awareness Week this year, Defenders has invited guest bloggers to offer their perspectives on the importance of wolf conservation. Peter Haswell, a graduate student in wildlife conservation biology from England, spent the summer volunteering on the Wood River Wolf Project in central Idaho. Below are excerpts from an interview with Peter about his experience–don’t mind the British spelling.

(Photos courtesy of Peter Haswell and Patrick Graham)

What work were you doing prior to joining Defenders?

Peter spent his summer volunteering for Defenders on the Wood River Wolf Project.

Before joining Defenders I had spent the past couple of years working on large carnivore projects.  I had been involved with educational activities at the UK Wolf Conservation Trust (UKWCT) and conducted my undergraduate dissertation research with captive wolves at the trust. After graduation I spent 3 months living in Bulgaria working on a wolf conservation project and rare livestock breeds farm they support. I spent a brief time at the Polish mammal institute brushing up on my field techniques before I went on to begin a research project looking at wolf activity in Croatia with Zagreb university.  I gained a lot of experience with radio telemetry, tracking wolves and generally learning how to run a conservation project and study large carnivores. I also learnt a great deal about livestock husbandry and how to operate in wolf territory whilst minimising livestock losses.

How did you hear about Defenders and what made you want to volunteer?

Peter and the other field technicians sleep in small tents right near the flocks of sheep to deter wolves from preying on them during the night.

In the UK Defenders have a great reputation as a big conservation group that do a lot of good work. I had been in contact with Suzanne previously through the UKWCT, and when she mentioned the summer opportunity to me I jumped at the chance. The project offered me the prospect to get more involved with the human side of wolf conservation and combine scientific skills with social issues that tend to be the biggest deciding factors in the success and survival of conflict species such as the wolf. Idaho also sounded amazing and I was not disappointed. It’s some of the most beautiful wilderness I have ever worked in and the wildlife is outstanding.

What were your responsibilities for the Wood River project?

The work came under two main categories: monitoring the wolf populations and working with the ranchers to raise awareness of nonlethal livestock protection. We looked at previous predation events and tracked wolves to figure out numbers, locations and activity so that we could pre-empt any possible conflicts, keep the sheep away from the wolves and know when to apply protection devices. I created an interactive map containing all of the livestock grazing routes on public lands and information we had on local wolf populations, which we used to keep track of unfolding events.

A herder on horseback keeps an eye on his flock. He carries a rifle--though rarely used--to scare away predators that make a move on the sheep.

We spent some time out in the field protecting the livestock with overnight guard at high risk times, but we were trying to transition the project so that livestock producers could apply techniques themselves as we can’t possibly cover everywhere at once. We developed a lending system for equipment to livestock producers to enable the project to cover a larger number of producers.

A lot of time was spent demonstrating and promoting nonlethal tools and livestock husbandry techniques that can help prevent losses to wolves. The main aims of this are to make the livestock an unattractive prey source. It’s all about energy economics with predators; they don’t waste time and energy on prey that doesn’t give them any gain.  So we try to make the livestock hard to predate with fladry fencing, guard dogs, overnight guards and scare devices. And if they are predated, we try to make it so that no gain comes from it by removing carcasses or making them inaccessible with fladry.  The wolves in Blaine County were mainly subsisting off of wild prey sources and took livestock when an easy opportunity presented itself. By focusing on making livestock an unprofitable prey source, wolves become conditioned to this fact and stick to wild prey.

What was the highlight of the summer?

A spotlight, airhorn, flare gun, and radio tracking device are all essential tools for preventing conflict between wolves and livestock.

I saw some great wildlife this summer, but the discovery of the South Valley pack at the start of the summer and howling conversations with the collared mother throughout the summer were highlights. Hearing those pups howl back with us instantly after getting down near the resting site was something special.

Another highlight for me was the reaction of one of the livestock producers Mike Stevens with Lava Lake Lamb and Livestock. He lost some sheep to a wolf predation in an area with pretty severe terrain and no radio collared wolves, so it was tough to know what was going on there. The attack came completely out of the blue as wolf activity had not been noted in the area beforehand. The reaction of the producer was exactly the kind we are aiming for. He didn’t call for lethal control and proceeded instead to call us in for advice and to assess what nonlethal tools could be applied. He brought in an extra overnight guard and added extra guard dogs, and we developed a plan for him to incorporate electro-fladry when his lambs had shipped.

A week spent protecting a flock of rancher John Faulkner’s sheep was also a highlight. We had reports of wolves across the valley and thus worked with him in advance to protect his vulnerable livestock. The wolves were near the band most of the week and we heard them howling many nights and even saw a few wolves. I really felt we did our job here as no wolves predated any sheep and they eventually moved on. It was really satisfying to know we prevented conflicts and stress to the producer here.

What lessons did you learn from working on the project?

Sheep are penned in at night using electro-fladry.

I learnt a great deal about how large a role people play on the conservation of large mammals. The habitat and the wild prey stocks are there but it is pretty much up to the local people if they want to have them in the landscape. I learnt a lot about outreach and how much can be achieved by working with those people who are against keeping predators on the landscape. There are always going to be those who are extreme in their views but most people who are anti-predators have good reason, and if you can remove that reason through helping alleviate the pressures and conflicts, then most people are reasonable and will compromise. You get nowhere working against people and only move forward to an amicable compromise by working with these people. It’s tough sometimes but eventually you get there.

Is coexistence possible?

The Sawtooth wilderness of central Idaho in full bloom. Not a bad office for the summer.

Co-existence is definitely possible. It will be tough and will need some really big leaps from those who experience problems from the return of wolves. A great deal of the livestock producers we have worked with have amazed me in how willing they are to get on board with nonlethal control. It adds to their work load and costs so it isn’t fair that they have to take the burden of this. That’s why the Defenders project is so great because we offer the help they need. I think programmes such as this one, compensation schemes and educational programmes can greatly help reduce the conflicts and reduce animosity towards wolves. People need time to adjust to the presence of wolves on the landscape again but I am confident it will happen. The wolves have settled nicely into the Northern Rockies and have regained their appropriate place in the ecosystem. The habitat and prey are clearly available for them as they are spreading further westwards and regaining a lot of their former territory. If people keep the right attitude and are willing to adjust their activities and use of the landscape slightly then we will see the survival of wolves and be able to enjoy the ecological, cultural and economic benefits that come from their presence.

Where are you off to next?

Next up I have a research paper to finish publishing and a seminar to give, after that I have a few meetings about fundraising to attempt to turn my research in Croatia into a PhD and obtain my doctorate. I really fell in love with the project this summer and became so passionate about the great work we were achieving. I found Idaho brilliant. There is nothing like having the wilderness on your doorstep and knowing you have large predators roaming around. I felt like I had a real impact this summer and I am very tempted to come back. So depending on how fundraising goes for my PhD you may find me back in the US next summer.

Heather's been known to travel just to get a certain bird photo.

Photographer Heather Green knows how frustrating it can be to wait for the perfect shot. But she also knows how rewarding it can be when opportunity finally comes along. Earlier this year, her patience paid off–big. After years of waiting, Heather happened upon a mother panther and two cubs in the Sunshine State’s Fakahatchee Strand Preserve, camera in hand. Defenders caught up with the Florida photog to talk cameras, conservation and capturing some of the state’s unique animals on film.

Defenders: How did you get into wildlife photography?

Heather Green: Originally I started doing equine photography (horse shows, rodeos, etc.) until we moved up to Clewiston, Florida. We bought a house on five acres and I couldn’t believe the amount of wildlife that was just in my own backyard. I started photographing the different birds, then I’d look them up online to identify them. I also started to view other wildlife photographers’ work on flickr.com. I opened my own account and began uploading my photos, eventually meeting several really wonderful people who gave me some tips on photographing wildlife. As my ‘addiction’ to wildlife photography grew, I knew I had to invest in a better camera and lens. A camera with more frames per second, and a lens with more of a zoom.

D: Where have you photographed?

HG: Right in the vicinity of my own area I love to visit Dinner Island Wildlife Management Area. There’s so many birds, wild hogs and deer out there that you could easily fill up a half day or full day just shooting there. I also enjoy the Okaloacoochee Slough, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Ding Darling (on Sanibel), and of course Fakahatchee Strand. I have been known to travel just to get a certain bird photo.

Last year Heather struck gold when she came upon three panthers playing in the road.

D: Was your run-with the panther your most memorable shot? What made it so special?

HG: Most definitely! For years I’ve obsessed over seeing a Florida panther. I’ve gotten up before sunrise to go scout out areas more times than I can count, walked trails looking for tracks, I’ve visited different areas at different times of the day where panthers have been spotted, hoping to catch a glimpse of one. One day I was checking out my contacts’ photos on flickr and saw a post by a friend who said he’d spotted a panther on Jane’s Scenic Drive around 12 o’clock in the afternoon the day before. Right away I thought, I need to get down there. My husband and I took a drive down there and to this day, I’m still shocked that we saw that family of three. When I go back and look at the photos I took that day, I still can’t believe it.

D: What’s the toughest part of your job? What do you do to overcome it?

HG: Having patience is probably the toughest part. Waiting on a bird to move into the position you want or waiting on it to move it’s head so that the sun catches it’s eye the right way. There is a lot of waiting involved but if you can wait it out, it pays off in the end.

Heather loves to photograph hawks and owls since they pose such a challenge in flight, but her favorite is the white tailed deer.

D: How do you think wildlife photography is important to conservation efforts?

HG: I think an amazing photo of a bird or animal in it’s natural (wild) environment catches everyone’s attention and it helps people to realize how beautiful and special these animals are and that they’re practically living in their own backyards here in Florida.

D: What advice do you have for aspiring wildlife photographers?

HG: You have to have patience, you have to do your research if you’re looking for a specific animal to photograph and find out where you need to go to get that photo. You should have a decent DSLR camera (that you know very well) and at least a 300mm zoom lens if you’re just starting out. You don’t need top of the line equipment, you just have to know YOUR equipment very well and you’ll be able to pull off some amazing shots.

Check out some of Heather’s work below and see more on her website, HeatherGreenPhoto.com.

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Eagle family, photo copyright Heather Green

Bobcat, photo copyright Heather Green

Doe, photo copyright Heather Green

Burrowing owl, photo copyright Heather Green

Wild hog, photo copyright Heather Green

Great horned owl, photo copyright Heather Green

Buck, photo copyright Heather Green

Panther cubs, photo copyright Heather Green