In honor of National Wildlife Week, I’m sharing one of the most colorful birds in North America — the stunning wood duck.
Wood Duck Wildlife Photography Spotlight
Protecting wildlife begins with appreciating the beauty right in front of us.
Tag Archives: wildlife
Largest Wildlife Overpass In North America
A Wildlife Win in Colorado
Gotta love it when the universe hands you a little validation. Back in December, I wrote about Colorado’s plans for a new wildlife overpass. Fast‑forward to April, and my Google AI feed lit up with an update: the Greenland Wildlife Overpass is officially complete — and it’s now the largest wildlife overpass in North America.
Greenland Wildlife Overpass
This thing is massive: 200 feet wide, 209 feet long, and fully covered with rocks, soil, and native vegetation so it blends right into the landscape. The goal is simple but powerful — give wildlife a safe way across a busy stretch of I‑25.
And it’s needed. Before the bridge, this area averaged one wildlife–vehicle collision every single day.
Expected Use
The overpass is designed primarily for pronghorn and elk, but biologists expect moose, black bears, mountain lions, and mule deer to use it too. Even better, the project wrapped up ahead of schedule and under budget, coming in around $15 million, funded through federal infrastructure support and state partners.
It’s a rare moment where safety, conservation, and smart planning all line up — and I’m here for it.
Want to know more? Check out my previous post:
Its International Tiger Day
🧡 Roaring Back: Tigers, India, and the Power of Rediscovery 🧡
Every year on July 29, the world pauses to honor one of nature’s most iconic predators: the tiger. International Tiger Day, also known as Global Tiger Day, began in 2010 at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit with a bold goal—double the number of wild tigers by 2022. In 2025, India stands as a beacon of hope, having not only met but surpassed that target.
Photo credit Deb Neumann
🐅 India’s Tiger Triumph
India is now home to over 3,700 wild tigers, representing 75% of the global population. This remarkable recovery didn’t happen by chance—it’s the result of decades of conservation work under initiatives like Project Tiger, launched in 1973. The strategy blends protected reserves, community engagement, and modern technology like GPS tracking to monitor tiger movements.
Photo Credit Deb Neumann
What makes India’s approach unique is its emphasis on coexistence. Tigers aren’t confined to isolated parks—they roam landscapes shared with over 60 million people. Through compensation programs, eco-tourism, and education, communities have become active partners in conservation. In places like Pilibhit and Dudhwa, grassroots efforts and “Bagh Mitras” (Tiger Friends) help prevent conflict and build trust.
🌍 Lessons from “Extinct or Alive”
This story of tiger resurgence echoes the spirit of the TV show Extinct or Alive, hosted by wildlife biologist Forrest Galante. The show follows Galante as he searches for animals believed to be extinct, often uncovering evidence that they still survive in remote corners of the world.
In one episode, Galante’s team rediscovered the Fernandina Island Galápagos tortoise, a species unseen for over a century. Another episode featured the Zanzibar leopard, caught on camera in a moment that challenged long-held assumptions about extinction. These discoveries remind us that extinction isn’t always final—sometimes, it’s a call to look closer, listen harder, and believe in nature’s resilience.
India’s tiger story is a real-world version of this ethos. It proves that with science, cultural respect, and community support, even the most endangered species can make a comeback.
Javan Tiger- Extinct or Alive
🌱 Why Tigers Matter
Tigers are more than majestic creatures—they’re keystone species. Their presence helps regulate prey populations, maintain forest health, and support biodiversity. Forests where tigers thrive also act as carbon sinks, protect water sources, and reduce flood risks.
Saving tigers means saving entire ecosystems—and by extension, ourselves.
🐾 Final Roar
On this International Tiger Day, let’s celebrate not just the tiger’s survival, but its return. Let’s honor the communities, scientists, and storytellers who keep hope alive. And let’s remember that extinction is not a closed door—it’s a challenge to open new ones.
Because sometimes, the roar isn’t gone—it’s just waiting to be heard again.
Stock Photo
RIP 399
Grizzly 399
Grizzly 399 was , without a doubt, the most famous Grizzly in the Yellowstone/Grand Teton eco-system. She was so famous that when I went to Jackson Hole in 2017 even I had heard of her. Sadly Grizzly 399 was killed in a car/bear accident about a week ago. She was 28. 28 is old for any grizzly but especially a wild bear.
photo credit- unknown
Grizzly 399 was unique in that she was still birthing cubs every year. This bear produced 18 offspring over the years. Another reason she became so famous is that she lived close to Jackson Hole so was more visible than most. It wasn’t unusual for her to be spotted along a roadside with her cubs. Fans even sent texts and posted on social media where she might be seen. That was how I was lucky enough to get a glimpse of the bear and 2 cubs when I was in Wyoming and know that it was this famous bear,
My Sighting
I was heading back to the condo where I was staying after a day touring Yellowstone National Park. The geysers had been plentiful but wildlife had been scarce. I’d just crossed into Grand Teton National Park when I saw a lot of cars pulled off the road. I parked, grabbed the camera and trotted up to the crowd. I could see a lot of pointing and low talking so I approached one of the people in front of me. He told me Grizzly 399 was in the area with 2 cubs. Right about then I heard someone say “There she is!” And cameras came out all along the roadside. I got as close as I could but having arrived late I wasn’t in the best location. Here’s what I was able to capture.
Grizzly 399 and 2 cubs -2017 photo Credit Deb Neumann
Grizzly 399 -2017 photo Credit Deb Neumann
Mangelsen Gallery
If you want to see really beautiful photos of Grizzly 399 you have to visit the Mangelsen Gallery in Jackson Hole. His work is some of the finest Wildlife Photography I have ever seen and he has some outstanding images for Grizzly 399 over the years.
Ode to 399
28 is old for a bear and sooner or later we were going to have to say goodbye to this iconic grizzly. At least we know what happened to her. She could have denned up for a winter and never come out. No matter what it would be sad. Part of me is thankful that we know what happened to her and part of me is angry that it was due to humans that this amazing bear is gone. At the same time having driven those roads and seen how dark they can be I can understand how it happened. RIP Grizzly 399. You will be missed.
Photo credit -unknown
National Wildlife Day Photo Contest
Photo Contest
I haven’t been involved with a photo contest in quite awhile. I used to enjoy them but they can get expensive. Many have entry fees, sometimes fees per photo so it can get pricey. Anyway a friend sent me a link to Mystic Aquarium’s National Wildlife Day Photo Contest and suggested I enter. There was no entry fee and the prize, if you won, is the right to name a seal they are releasing. So its basically just for fun and that’s about the amount of effort I made. Just for fun.
My Entry
I didn’t even look at the competing entries, just made a quick grab for something from my archives. I kind of like my choice but since it’s from the lizard family it might not have a lot of universal appeal. Maybe I should have gone with a deer or a bird. Actually I was thinking about my whale breach photo but couldn’t remember where it was filed and didn’t want to take the time to look. So my Key Largo Iguana was it.
Key Largo Iguana- Photo Credit Deb Neumann
The 4 Finalists
It will be another week before the winners are announced but I didn’t even make the finals. Here’s the top 4 as it stands now.
If I had thought about it I have pictures for all 4 categories that made the finals and here they are.
Finalist #1- Puffins
I like Puffins. I could have submitted a Puffin picture if I’d thought of it.
Puffin 2016- Photo Credit Deb Neumann
Finalist #2-butterfly
Oh. I have so many butterflies but my favorite is on the sunflower.
Sunflower and butterfly 2018- Photo Credit Deb Neumann
Finalist #3 – Fox Kit
This one was a bit harder. I have a fox kit picture but I balanced the camera on the car window and never thought to shut off the engine so it wouldn’t be Photo Contest worthy. There was a little camera shake.
Red Fox Kit 2017- photo credit Deb Neumann
Finalist #4 – Whale
I’ve been on whale watches from Cape Cod to Maui. I have tons of whale pictures. Even some of whale breaches. Here’s one.
Whale Breach 2017- Photo credit Deb Neumann
That’s a wrap
I have so many more wildlife photos that I just didn’t think about. I have seals and Elk and Moose. Even some Grizzly Bears. And this post about photo contests wouldn’t be complete unless I shared the one that made it into a National Geographic Contest. It didn’t win but at least it got past the initial screening. I’m pretty proud of that!
2015- Photo Credit Deb Neumann
I hope you enjoyed
