Jenni Lopez Archives - The National Wildlife Federation Blog

Celebrating World Oceans Month

Diana Kent — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 14:15:00 +0000

Did you know? June is World Oceans Month! In celebration of our oceans, seas, and bodies of water, we’ve compiled some stunning photos previously entered into the seven categories of our National Wildlife Photo Contest.

Baby Animals

Loggerhead Sea Turtle Hatchlings. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Christopher Doherty.

Sea Lion Pup. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Michael O’Neill.

Mammals

Atlantic Spotted Dolphins in the Atlantic Ocean. Photo taken by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Brandon Cole.

Bottlenose dolphin in the Indian Ocean. Photo taken by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Grant Atkinson.

Landscapes

Pacific Ocean at dusk. Photo taken by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Daniel Ewert.

Arctic Ocean over Greenland. Photo taken by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Joseph Anthony.

Birds

Pelican in Los Ayala, Mexico. Pacific Ocean. Photo taken by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Christina Stobbs.

Backyard Habitats

If you’re lucky enough to live near water!

Sunset off the Gulf Coast. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Jerry Elmore

Lightning off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Mary Lou Johnson.

Other Wildlife (underwater life, reptiles, amphibians, etc):

Shark in Atlantic Ocean, near the Bahamas. Photo taken by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Douglas Kahle.

Manta Ray in Indian Ocean. Photo taken by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Laurence Murphy.

There are many ways to celebrate World Oceans Day!

Learn about ocean animals from Ranger Rick!
Head to the coast: keep these tips in mind while sharing the beach with wildlife!

Be sure to enter your nature and wildlife images to the National Wildlife Photo Contest by July 1st!

The post Celebrating World Oceans Month appeared first on The National Wildlife Federation Blog.

Last Chance to R.O.A.R. for Bighorn Sheep

Diana Kent — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 13:57:28 +0000

Bighorn Sheep scaling the mountain side. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Norman Levine.

Wild bighorn sheep have had a long, enduring history. European settlement of the West proved devastating for bighorns. By the early decades of the 20th century, bighorn sheep trended toward extinction, their numbers estimated at no more than 15,000. Bighorn numbers grew slowly through much of the late 20th century, peaking at around 70,000 animals.

Since the 1980s, Rocky Mountain bighorns have suffered steep decline, with populations falling as low as 30,000 by the beginning of the 21st century. The most recent (2012) population estimates for 12 states of the West are about 33,000 Rocky Mountain bighorns. Today, bighorns occupy only a fraction of available and suitable habitat. Bighorn populations struggle despite the fact that hunting is limited and closely regulated, and despite tremendous effort and expenditures from state wildlife agencies aimed at promoting bighorn populations.

Bighorn sheep in the Rocky Mountains. Photo courtesy of Steve Woodruff.

So, why don’t we see more bighorns? Extensive scientific research confirms that disease transmitted to wild sheep through contact with domestic sheep is the primary limiting factor today for bighorn sheep populations. Even healthy domestic sheep can carry pathogens for which bighorn sheep have little or no immunity. Respiratory disease (viral pneumonia) stands out as the major disease of concern.

Pneumonia outbreaks exact a heavy toll on bighorn herds, with mortality commonly running 50 percent or more – sometimes reaching 100 percent of a herd. Disease outbreaks also suppress lamb survival for years following an initial outbreak, because surviving ewes infect their offspring, slowing herd recovery.

In response to the threat, NWF has pioneered a widely accepted approach to resolving livestock/wildlife conflicts through voluntary, market-based agreements negotiated with livestock operators and land managers.

To date, NWF’s Adopt a Wildlife Acre program has effectively eliminated livestock conflicts involving grizzly bears, wolves and bison across 675,000 acres surrounding Yellowstone National Park and Montana’s Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge combined. NWF is now pursuing grazing retirements that will ease and accelerate the transition away from domestic sheep grazing on public lands in proximity to occupied bighorn habitat, such as in the Centennial Mountains in Montana and Idaho. But we need your help!

NWF has joined Animal Planet’s R.O.A.R. campaign in order to REACH OUT, ACT, and RESPOND for bighorn sheep. These iconic American animals are counting on us. Without a safe place to roam, we will see their numbers continue to decline.

Today, we need your help to ensure that bighorn sheep and their offspring have a future in the American wilderness. NWF proudly participates in Animal Planet’s R.O.A.R Campaign with our Adopt a Wildlife Acre program, which ends on October 7th, 2014. Your donation will make a significant impact for bighorn sheep.

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Beyond Fireflies: Bioluminescent Organisms

Diana Kent — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 18:30:43 +0000

When it comes to bioluminescence, the first organism we typically think of would be the all-familiar firefly (also known as lightning bug). As land animals, fireflies are our most noticeable exposure to the reaction in which chemical energy is converted to light. But did you know that terrestrial bioluminescence is actually pretty rare and it occurs most frequently in marine wildlife? It’s true! Down in the depths of the ocean, light is scarce and bioluminescence can have multiple functions. According to the National Ocean Service, it can be used to warn or evade predators, to lure or detect prey, or to communicate with members of the same species.

I recently came upon this fascinating infographic that illuminates (haha!) all the different organisms that are bioluminescent. It’s a beautiful representation of how widely occurring bioluminescence is across land and sea. Make sure to click on the infographic to view a larger version.

Infographic of bioluminescent organisms. Click image to view full size poster. Poster created by Eleanor Lutz.
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We’ve also seen some real-life examples caught on camera and submitted to our annual National Wildlife Photo Contest. Have you witnessed bioluminescence in person? We’d love to know – make sure to share in the comments!

Bioluminescent Jellyfish. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Janis Bowman.

Bioluminescent Jellyfish. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Tim Newland.

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The Beauty in Your Backyard

Diana Kent — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 18:40:16 +0000

We know how it goes: life gets super hectic with appointments and meetings, and it seems as though there are a million things happening at once. In those moments of chaos, it can be easy to forget to stop for a second and take in the beauty all around us. But even nature’s tiny details are gorgeous in their own right. We encourage you to take a minute (or even five!) to go outside, breathe in fresh air, and admire the beauty around you!

The images below have been submitted to the National Wildlife Photo Contest over the past few years and they are a great reminders that there is beauty in the details – even in your own backyard! Snap away and see what you can capture!

Bee heading towards a Great Globe Thistle. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Birol Kirac.

Caterpillar eating a dill plant. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Kirsten Niedzwecki.

Fireflies (or Lightning Bugs) mirroring the sparkle of the stars. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Radim Schreiber.

Firefly lighting up the dark night. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Radim Schreiber.

“Essence of Milk Thistle.” Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Howard Cheek.

Palm Bonsai Tree in the garden of National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Harshul Nayak.

Pomegranate tree in the backyard of National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Birol Kirac.

A perfect spider web glistening in the sun. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Dave Sutarik.

A Syrphid Fly resting on a rose pedal after a rainfall. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Theresa Wiltrout.

A Squirrel Tree Frog posing at the base of a palm plant. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Dylan Rudolph.

National Wildlife Photo Contest

The National Wildlife Photo Contest is in its last week of submissions – the deadline has been extended to July 20th, 2014 so don’t miss your chance! Don’t wait another second to get outside, capture nature’s beauty with your camera, and submit! We can’t wait to see what you capture!

Visit our Nature Photography Tips Center for ideas and advice from pro photographers on photographing flowers, small animals, and more.

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