Tag Archives: wildlife

International Tiger Day was July 29

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A white tiger lies on the ground surrounded by green grass and plants. Its mouth is wide open in a big yawn, showing its teeth and tongue. A large rock sits behind it, and part of a concrete surface is visible, suggesting a zoo or wildlife enclosure.

Rare White Tiger- Photo Credit Deb Neumann

Yesterday was International Tiger Day and I’m pleased to announce that great strides are still being made in Tiger conservation. India still set the bar for conservation success with roughly 75% od the world’s tiger population residing in India. The country’s long-running conservation program, Project Tiger, now protects 58 reserves across 18 states.

Worldwide, wild tiger estimates now range between 3,700 and 5,600, depending on survey methods.

Why This Matters

Tigers are keystone predators. When they thrive:

  • Forests stay healthier
  • Prey populations stay balanced
  • Water sources stay protected
  • Carbon storage increases

Saving tigers means saving entire ecosystems.

🧡 The Roar Continues

Lets Celebrate International Tiger Day as a reminder that the tiger comeback remains one of the strongest conservation success stories on Earth — a reminder that when science, community leadership, and cultural respect work together, nature rebounds.

Photo Credit Deb Neumann

A Miracle Comeback Nine Years in the Making

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Rustic log cabin in Rangeley, Maine surrounded by trees and summer greenery, the lakeside vacation rental where I stayed during my 2017 moose‑spotting trip.

A Quiet Cabin, an Empty Town, and a Mountain Waiting for a Miracle

A Moose heading for the treesIn 2017 I chose Rangeley for my summer vacation because I wanted to see Maine moose. And I did — moose, deer, and more quiet forest roads than I could count. But I also found a town on a beautiful lake that was struggling.

Saddleback, their ski mountain, was closed. Talk of a sale floated around like fog over the lake, but I can’t say the atmosphere was hopeful. Most people didn’t expect anything to come of it. Rangeley has plenty to offer if you love the outdoors — hiking, camping, nature photography — but in town the restaurants were either closed or empty. My cabin was beautiful, but I didn’t see many other vacationers around. It felt like a place waiting for something that might never come- a town holding its breath for a miracle.

So I’ve always wondered: What happened to Rangeley in the nine years since that visit?

Well, COVID didn’t stop the little town that could. In 2020, the sale of Saddleback finally went through — and everything changed.

The mountain woke up again

After years of false starts, Saddleback was purchased by Arctaris Impact Investors, a Boston‑based firm focused on revitalizing rural communities. And they didn’t just buy the mountain. They revived it.

More than $42 million has been invested since 2020. New lifts, new snowmaking, lodge improvements, a new T‑bar, a high‑elevation restaurant, and even a 7.5‑megawatt solar farm that produces twice the electricity the mountain uses.

It’s the kind of transformation you expect from a mega‑resort, not a once‑shuttered independent ski hill in western Maine.

Rangeley’s winter heartbeat returned

The reopening didn’t just bring skiers back — it brought life back.

Saddleback created 240+ jobs, built workforce housing, and restored the winter economy that had been fading when I visited. Restaurants filled up again. Lodges booked out. Seasonal workers could count on steady income. The town’s identity — which felt fragile in 2017 — snapped back into place.

It’s hard to overstate how much a single ski mountain can mean to a rural town. In Rangeley’s case, it meant everything.

From shuttered to #1 in the East

This is the part that still amazes me.

In 2025, SKI Magazine’s readers ranked Saddleback #1 ski resort in the East.

Number one. In the entire East. After being closed for five years.

If you wrote that in fiction, people would say it was unrealistic.

A different kind of ski mountain

What makes Saddleback’s comeback special isn’t just the money or the lifts — it’s the philosophy behind it.

They’re leaning into:

  • Independence — no mega‑pass, no corporate sameness
  • Sustainability — that solar farm is a game‑changer
  • Community — housing, childcare support, year‑round jobs
  • Authenticity — the “real ski mountain” vibe people crave

In a world where so many ski areas feel interchangeable, Saddleback is intentionally not trying to be anything but itself.

Weather still rules the game

Of course, skiing is still skiing. Warm spells still happen. Rain still happens. Gas prices still matter. Travel budgets still matter.

But Saddleback is far more resilient now than it was in 2017. Better snowmaking, better infrastructure, and a broader year‑round recreation economy give Rangeley a buffer it didn’t have before.

Looking back at that 2017 trip

When I think about that quiet summer week — empty restaurants, shuttered lifts, locals who didn’t dare hope — it makes Saddleback’s comeback feel even more remarkable. Rangeley didn’t just survive. It reinvented itself.

A comeback nine years in the making — and absolutely worth celebrating. I can honestly say that I love a happy ending! Rangely, Maine got it’s miracle. 

The Red Onion

 

The One That Got Away: Why Wildlife Deserves Our Respect

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Two American bison lock horns in a grassy field during a head‑to‑head clash, their massive bodies braced in a show of strength. Morning light casts a warm glow across the dry grass, while other bison graze quietly in the background near a distant fence line.

A Hobby That Shapes My Travels

Good morning, folks.Red fox kit Monday afternoon

Today I’d like to talk about my hobby — photographing wildlife. Most of my vacations revolve around seeing or experiencing some kind of animal in its natural habitat, from elk in Wyoming to manta rays and whales in Hawaii. I get an incredible thrill from seeing these magnificent creatures (and yes, even the not‑so‑magnificent ones) in the wild instead of behind bars in a zoo.

And of course, once I see them, I try to get a picture. Why? Because without proof, my stories start sounding like fish tales — you know, the one that got away.

The Otters I Never Captured

Let me give you an example. I was walking a trail at Daniel Webster Sanctuary one late afternoon. I didn’t expect to see much until dusk, but I was headed toward a secluded meadow that often had deer in the early morning and late afternoon. The goal was  to be in place when they emerged.

The trail wandered past a pond mostly hidden by tall reeds. Suddenly, there was a commotion ahead and to my left. Three dark-coated animals came sliding down the bank beside the trail and bolted toward the water. I froze. I didn’t even lift the camera hanging around my neck. My brain was stuck on one question: What was that!?

As I came to my senses, I realized I’d missed a rare opportunity — three otters, right there in front of me. I didn’t know otters lived in that pond, and I certainly wasn’t ready for them. I tried to follow them, but the reeds were too thick.

Over the years, I’ve learned that when I tell this story, I’m met with skepticism. Without proof — and pictures are excellent proof — it remains just a tale. A vivid memory for me, but to others, it’s simply the one that got away.

Respecting Wildlife: The Heart of Today’s Post

Which brings me to today’s topic: treating wildlife with respect.

The photographers I admire most, like Thomas D. Mangelsen, carefully stalk their subjects. His breathtaking images come from patience and respect. He never encroaches on the animals he photographs.

Recently, there’s been a spate of reports of bison in Yellowstone attacking or goring tourists. Most of the time, it happens because the tourist didn’t give the animal space or respect. They broke the rules. I’ll admit from my own experience that sometimes things happen unexpectedly, but I’ve also watched tourists walk right up to these animals — camera in hand — trying to get a selfie. Not smart, dude.

When Humans Cross the Line

I once faced down a bear, and I was lucky. It wasn’t hungry that day. But if things had gone badly, it would have been my fault. Unfortunately, nine times out of ten, when a human is injured, the animal is euthanized. We humans sure do love the death penalty.

These animals are only doing what they’ve done for eons — defending their young, their mates, their territory. We’re the ones infringing on them, yet when a human gets hurt, the animal pays the price.

Recently, I saw a video of a safari guide and his group of photographers standing close enough to a puma to reach out and touch her. The park had clear rules: give the animals room — 100 meters minimum. They ignored it. Most of the injured tourists at Yellowstone ignored it too.

A Final Word From the Field

As someone who has wandered fields and forests looking for animals to photograph, I can tell you: encounters happen. Many are fast and unexpected. But plenty of times, the encounter could have been handled better.

Safety first. Respect the animal. And remember — no photo is worth crossing a line that puts you or the wildlife at risk.

 

 

Colorado’s Wildlife Bridge Gets Its First Big Visitors

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Update : Colorado, Greenland Wildlife Overpass

Remember that wildlife overpass Colorado finished earlier this year — the one I wrote about when it opened? Well, it just had its first major moment. A trail cam captured three elk using the bridge, strolling across like they’ve been doing it forever.

It’s exactly what biologists hoped for: large animals choosing the safe route instead of darting across I‑25. And honestly, seeing it actually work feels like a little win for both wildlife and drivers.

Two bull elk standing in a grassy field with trees behind them, representing the wildlife now using Colorado’s new overpass.”

I’ve linked back to my original post if you want the full backstory.

Hot Time Summer in the City

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Swan boat cruising the Public Garden lagoon on a sunny day, passing under the little suspension bridge everyone loves to photograph.

Summer Finally Arrives in Massachusetts

The weather is beautiful. Summer is finally here. Massachusetts has finally shaken off the dreary, rain‑filled days, and everything feels fresh again. The Public Garden is in bloom, the trees are lush, and the Swan Boats are once again cruising the lagoon. It’s the perfect time to explore the city.

Planning a Trip to Wolf Hollow Sanctuary

I’m trying to arrange a visit to Wolf Hollow Sanctuary in Ipswich. That’s a bit of a hike from Taunton and may turn into a car‑rental day, but I’m exploring my options.

One avenue I’m checking out is a Custom Tour with GoWithGuide US — which is exactly what I’d need for a Wolf Hollow trip. I checked the web page for their Boston Guides and they have options but nothing like Wolf Hollow. I’ve sent off an inquiry and will keep you posted on what I find out.

My Long Quest to Photograph a Wolf

I first heard about Wolf Hollow a few years ago when I was on a photography quest for wild animals. I’d photographed deer, bear, moose, and of course the little guys — chipmunks and squirrels. In Wyoming I added pronghorn and bison to my collection. South Dakota gave me those adorable prairie dogs.

 

After much chasing and tracking, I stumbled onto the elk migration (again in Wyoming) and got one of my favorite photos.

A pair of Bull elk

 

But I never even spotted a wolf. While in Yellowstone, I always seemed to be one day behind the pack.

The New Jersey Detour That Never Happened

Eventually I heard about Lakota Wolf Sanctuary in New Jersey of all places and started planning an overnight trip: drive down one day, take a photography tour the next, then drive back to Boston.

It never happened. Severe winter storms shut down the sanctuary, and after several attempts the trip got pushed to the back burner — where it stayed.

Discovering Wolf Hollow in My Own Backyard

Then someone told me about Wolf Hollow — a sanctuary right in my own backyard! I actually drove up there once and found it, but they were closed. Always do your homework — check times and days so you aren’t disappointed.

Then life got busy, COVID hit, and I just never made it back.

Time to Try Again

Now feels like the right time to look into it again. This is how my trips and explorations usually start: slowly, with a spark of curiosity, and sometimes they take forever to get off the ground… but eventually, I get there.

I’ll keep you posted on the progress — if any — on this adventure.

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