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08/25/2026

Sweet Sip. 🥹

Cutest little softy quenching a big thirst in the Florida heat. There's just something about animal babies that tugs at the heart. ❤️

Sandhill Crane at Sweetwater Wetlands Park

Wrong Place. This handsome fellow is a non native agama. Yes he's beautiful but doesn't belong in Florida.We often think...
08/24/2026

Wrong Place.

This handsome fellow is a non native agama. Yes he's beautiful but doesn't belong in Florida.

We often think of harm to wildlife in terms of litter, toxins, or habitat loss. But one of the most overlooked impacts is the release of exotic pets into the wild.

Many of these animals don’t survive. They starve, succumb to disease, weather, or predators. Others establish populations and spread. Once that happens, native species can be pushed out and entire systems can shift. Burmese pythons are a clear example.

So please, never release any pet. It is not a kind act. It is not compassionate. It is devastating.

08/24/2026

Triple Trouble! You're welcome for the cuteness infusion 😁

Isn't this just the cutest little gymnastics session? 🥹

Black bear cubs, Cades Cove GSMNP

Window Into Another World. A greater yellowlegs was gently cruising through calm waters in the Everglades. A few water d...
08/23/2026

Window Into Another World.

A greater yellowlegs was gently cruising through calm waters in the Everglades. A few water droplets fall as he/she pauses.

It may seem hard to believe in this era, but there's still so much more to learn about many wild animals. Indeed, according to Cornell All About Birds:

"Despite its familiarity and widespread range, its tendency to nest in buggy bogs in the North American boreal forests make it one of the least-studied shorebirds on the continent."

Everlades National Park, FL

08/23/2026

Give That Back!

Siblings, am I right? 😆 Great egrets are notorious for sibling rivalry. Like the extreme version. And so are a few other species. Let's see what Montana Osprey Cans has to say about it:

"Siblicide occurs in MANY species of birds and other animals, including all hawks and owls, egrets and herons, kingfishers, pelicans, bo***es, cranes and some others.

Although it may seem cruel, it is an adaptation that allows the parents to raise the maximum number of healthy and vigorous young under fluctuating and unpredictable food supplies.

When there is enough food to go around, all the chicks thrive; when food is limited, only the number of chicks that can be supported survive.

So siblicide is a self-adjusting mechanism that matches the number of chicks with the available food."

Hopefully the parents of these two kept bringing lots of food! 😬

Orlando Wetlands, FL

“What cheesecake?”OK, that’s my line when the fam looks at me with disapproval. 😆 But this guy? A non-native rhesus mac...
08/22/2026

“What cheesecake?”

OK, that’s my line when the fam looks at me with disapproval. 😆 But this guy? A non-native rhesus macaque, caught chowing on goodies he foraged from the Silver River.

And that’s kind of where things get complicated with these guys. They’re a BIG tourist draw. I can see why... they’re adorbs. But they are not native. And they compete with native species for food and can impact local ecosystems.

Efforts to remove them were undertaken in the past, but met with public outcry because the monkeys were being sent to research labs. Definitely the right call to stop that!

But now, more than ever, native species in Florida are disappearing, under pressure from unfettered development, over-tourism, and invasive species. There may come a time when a humane solution has to be part of the conversation for these populations.

Spotted while kayaking at Silver Springs State Park.

08/22/2026

How come nobody ever wants to record me when I am dribbling? 🤣

Isn't it amazing how something as seemingly ordinary as taking a drink can turn into a moment of sheer beauty when it's wildlife. ❤️

Magnificent elk bull from the PA rut season archives

All we need is Goldilocks. 😆Even without her, being in wild spaces can feel just like a fairy tale. Enchanting, captivat...
08/21/2026

All we need is Goldilocks. 😆

Even without her, being in wild spaces can feel just like a fairy tale. Enchanting, captivating, and full of surprises.

But unlike fairy tales, the consequences of being unprepared are real.

Whenever I visit a new wild space, there are a few things I want to understand before I ever step onto the trail.

⚠️ What lives here that can kill me?
⚠️ What's the recommended distance to keep from those animals?
⚠️ If something goes wrong, what should I do?
⚠️ Are there any rules or closures that protect wildlife or visitors?

Those are my first questions for obvious reasons. If someone doesn't survive the experience, the rest of the planning was rather pointless. 😆

Next comes seasonal awareness. For example:

Fall: elk rut, with bulls carrying swords on their heads.

Spring: mama bears with cubs.

Spring and summer: alligator breeding season.

Then I think about weather, water, distance from supplies, and all the usual trip planning.

But in my experience, while our own comfort is important, understanding what lives in a place, how the wildlife behaves, and how to safely and respectfully share that space with it is where every adventure should begin.

I know... how did three adorable black bear cubs turn into a conversation about trip prep?

Welcome to my world. 🤣

08/21/2026

Don't Touch Me! 🤣

Not sure if the little guy had the zoomies or thought the other one had the cooties. I think they both have a severe case of the cuties 😆

If you were wondering, these cuties are marsh rabbits. According to Anamalia:

"They take to water readily and are excellent swimmers. When not hiding in dense thickets, the rabbits will stay submerged in muddy water with only their eyes and noses exposed and ears laid back flat. If they have been spotted, they will readily take to the water and swim quickly to a new hiding spot or floating vegetation."

Sweetwater Wetlands Park, FL

I love calm, peaceful moments like this.Except it wasn't calm. Or peaceful. But I still loved it. 😁That's one of the fun...
08/20/2026

I love calm, peaceful moments like this.

Except it wasn't calm. Or peaceful. But I still loved it. 😁

That's one of the funny things about photography. A single frame can convince you you're looking at one reality when the truth is something completely different.

Behind this great egret, those soft golden circles aren't dancing on calm water. They're sunlight reflecting off crashing waves pounding the rocks at Sebastian Inlet.

And this bird wasn't quietly relaxing. It was dodging pelicans and wood storks while trying to grab scraps around the fish cleaning station.

People rave about the photography opportunities there, and I understand why. I spent part of one day at Sebastian Inlet and came away with some beautiful images.

I also came away heartbroken.

Fishing line is everywhere. Less than five minutes after I arrived, I had to report a pelican with line wrapped around its leg.

And people use live bait that attracts terns, pelicans, etc and then the birds waste precious energy pursuing unattainable meals. Or worse, actually get hooked and entangled (you may have seen my reels showing this). Those are real consequences of human choices.

I understand that many people fish to put food on the table, and I respect that. Others fish simply because they enjoy it. Whatever the reason, we all share these places with wildlife.

Picking up discarded line, disposing of hooks properly, and being mindful of the animals around us takes little from us and gives so much in return. And we can do more than love picture-perfect moments, we can be proud of who we are and the places we protect ❤️

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Silver Springs, FL
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