Other Wildlife

Mama Goat

Yes, Ligers do exist. Being face to face with this largest of all cats makes me an instant believer. The hybrid cat is a cross between a male lion and a female tiger. This one grabs your attention when you visit Wild Animal Safari at Pine Mountain, Georgia. F2.8 at 1/640, ISO 100, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

Today is one of the worst days ever. I am trying to make a portrait of our beloved lab Beamer, knowing our loyal, loving companion for the past 12 years is living the last day of his life. Cancer is cruel to animals as well as people. F8.0 at 1/640, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 120 mm

Franz Lanting, one of the greatest wildlife photographers in the world, talks in his amazing photography book Eye to Eye about getting "eye to eye" with animals. That's what I am trying to accomplish while photographing this buffalo in its pasture along South Stiles Road between Ludington and Scottville. F6.3 at 1/125, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

Sometimes possums can look quite homely, but I am thinking this one looks rather cute huddled under a pine tree near Dennis Road eating an apple. I stop quickly and try to capture a good moment. The possum doesn't seem to mind, perhaps thinking I cannot see it. F4.0 at 1/200, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

Mink live all along the Sable River at the Ludington State Park. This adult mink was busy finding food for its young. I watched this family of five hunt crayfish and chase each other for over an hour before making this photograph.

Porky Pine

I was driving along my parents’ dead-end road, watching the pastures as I always do, when I spotted a skunk! I jumped out and got my big lens on. Thankfully he was too busy searching for food to notice me!

Snaking Around

Staring down a large toad "eye to eye" on the Island Trail at the Ludington State Park was a hoot. I love getting close to my subject and truly enjoy the challenge of trying to show nature from its own perspective. As most fairytale princesses would agree, toads are not creatures of great beauty. However, when you get close enough to a toad that the end of your lens is touching its nose, you realize that toads do have an amazing beauty all their own.

A tree frog was so well camouflaged that even when a friend was pointing it out to me, I couldn't see it. I finally spotted it when it blinked and moved its eyes.

We have been spending a lot of time at the farm during this COVID-19 shut down. Today, my nephew spotted a muskrat in our pond. Thankfully he was feeling photogenic and stayed above water!

I think I have discovered who has been stealing all the bird feed from my shed. This fat little guy was too cute to not photograph tonight in my backyard.

The dog days of spring are here! This grand-looking creature checks me out at a stoplight from the back of its master's pickup truck. I roll down my passenger window and try to capture its beauty. F6.3 at 1/1600, ISO 800, 80-200 mm lens at 155 mm

Happy Easter! This bunny was in my yard tonight. I used a rabbit call on my iPhone to help make this image.

Praying Mantis

Smorgasbord

Mountian Goat

Snakes startle me sometimes but I appreciate their beauty. My brother Budde discovered this garter snake while we were mushroom hunting near our Pere Marquette River cabin with my nephew Ryan and his girlfriend Erica. F3.2 at 1/500, ISO 200, 105 mm lens at 105 mm

My kids aren’t afraid of anything! Often, I must ask what is in their hand before they open their “surprise” to show me. Today it was a salamander. It brought back many memories of when I was little, and always squealed with delight at finding them, and I too rushed to show my mom and dad.