Elk – My Wildlife Wonders No. 5
The sight and sound of a bugling bull elk, especially during the autumn rut, is one of the most celebrated and recognizable wildlife experiences in North America. They symbolize the majesty and rugged beauty of the continent's wild spaces. For many Native American tribes, the elk (Wapiti) is a revered animal, central to ceremonies, spirituality,...
Alaska’s Bold New Wildlife Crossing Project: My Latest Story for Sierra Magazine
My latest story – and first for Sierra – is a news feature about brand new wildlife crossings being built into a major infrastructure project on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska to help with the pervasive moose-vehicle collision problem in the region. Come behind the scenes with me. Read the full story on Sierra → A Road Less Deadly: Can...
Inside the Fight to Save the Bali Starling: New Feature Published in Mongabay News
My latest story - and first for Mongabay News - is a feature about Indigenous-led conservation sparking a remarkable recovery for the critically endangered Bali starling, which was nearly lost forever in the wild. I have been reporting on this story since December, and I am so pleased to share it has been published by...
Monarch Butterfly – My Wildlife Wonders No. 4
Humans have long been fascinated by monarch butterflies and their epic journeys. Their innate ability to endure hardship and navigate thousands of miles mesmerizes us, as they migrate with multiple generations across thousands of miles. Their unique transformation between an egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and ultimately butterfly is a vivid metaphor for change, rebirth and hope....
Eastern Collared Lizard – My Wildlife Wonders No. 3
The eastern collared lizard, colloquially called the "mountain boomer," is named for its distinctive black "collar" markings around the neck and shoulders. Males are particularly colorful, displaying blue-green bodies, yellow stripes, and orange or yellow throats, while females have more subdued coloration. They can run on their hind legs, reaching speeds of up to 15...
Heather Physioc Wins Six Honors in OWAA’s 2025 Excellence in Craft Contest
Kansas City–based conservation photojournalist and writer Heather Physioc has earned six awards in the Outdoor Writers Association of America’s (OWAA) 2025 Excellence in Craft Contest, which celebrates outstanding outdoor media across writing, photography, and other creative disciplines. The contest, sponsored by Friesens, ASA, and Pew, drew entries from across the country. Winners were announced during...
Bighorn Sheep – My Wildlife Wonders No. 2
Once pushed to the brink by overhunting, habitat loss and disease, bighorn sheep have made a strong comeback, thanks to decades of conservation work across the western U.S. and Canada. However, population growth has plateaued and constant vigilance is necessary to maintain stability, and several subspecies remain at-risk. Species: Bighorn Sheep Also Known As: Rocky...
My top 24 photographs of 2024.
Being outdoors and capturing wildlife is my happiest place with a camera in hand. The worst weather conditions and most painful injuries can fade into the background when I’m locked in on an animal with my zoom lens. Shooting in the Chihuahua desert Then I return home with the camera, and go through the sometimes...
Mountain goats on the McCullough Gulch Trail hike in Colorado
Something always stands between me and the goats. I haul all my stupid, heavy photography gear on my back for miles into thinning air, hoping I'll spot their white fur against the rocky ridges. Then, every time I see them, something terrible happens that keeps me from them. I nearly crap my pants on Grays,...
Skåne, Sweden is for the birds.
Tap photos to view full-size. Photos best viewed full-size on desktop computers. I recently traveled to Sweden for a speaking engagement in Stockholm, and added 5 days in Skåne County, about a half-hour outside the major city of Malmö. Home base was a guest home in Höllviken in the backyard of a local family, perfect...
Barbados: A Tale of Two Coasts
A fan pushes warm, humid air around the room. The first hint of hazy morning light seeps through slatted wooden blinds, the bright blue curtains puffing in and out in the morning breeze. I hear palms rustling and waves crashing and rolling onto a beach. I get out of bed and shuffle to the window....
Peru Creek: Crapping in a Bag & Other Stories
This is a story about defeat, joy, and grief. It is full of adventure and misadventure, with a touch of prescience. Twists and turns. Bathroom humor. Summit season 2022 was unsuccessful, but mountain season was a hit. Buckle up; it's a ride. This year has been a lesson in coping with the unexpected. Every trip...
1% of 1% of Yellowstone National Park
June 15, 2022 - Yellowstone National Park Update: I published this story just two weeks before record-breaking floods occurred at Yellowstone National Park, causing widespread destruction, with mudslides and rock slides washing out major roadways. At a time when the country's first national park was to celebrate their 150-year anniversary, this astonishing flooding created extremely...
Western Kitsch: The Black Hills, South Dakota
We daydreamed about visiting Badlands area for years. We were drawn by the mystique of its wide open spaces, curious about its strange, striated western landscape. We were eager to discover its legendary herds of bison. In April, we finally set forth on our great Northern road trip with the dog in tow. 50mph winds...
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge
I have been setting my sights on day trip destinations near Kansas City. I'm seeking places to branch out and shoot landscape and wildlife photography. I visited Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Missouri, about 90 minutes drive north of the city. Loess Bluffs is a birdwatchers' favorite thanks to its terrain of wetlands...
Sunrise at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland
I recently had the opportunity to return to Annapolis, Maryland to visit family, and we awoke early to visit the United States Naval Academy yard before sunrise. The Plebe Summer training program is in full swing on the Naval Academy base, and incoming freshmen Midshipmen gathered en masse on Farragut Field for morning PT. Meanwhile,...