Developing Stories Images and insights from life on the road
Wolves
When you hear the word wolf, what thoughts and pictures come to mind? Do you think of the big bad wolf from childhood fairy tales? Do the phrases lone wolf or wolf in sheep’s clothing come to mind? Does the book The Call of the Wild come to mind? Authors often projected human vices—like greed, gluttony, and cruelty—onto wolves, making them more of a villain than a animal. Do you have friends or family in the ranching industry that blame wolves for killing their livestock? Let’s just say wolves have gotten a bad rap.
Wolves are in a constant tug of war between federal and state governments on who should manage their populations. Let’s start with current status, in most of the lower 48, wolves are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Wolves are estimated to be found in about 7 states with the vast majority (about 9500) found in Alaska. There are three main types of wolves found in North America. The gray wolf is the most populous type and were reintroduced to Yellowstone in the 1990’s. Next is the Mexican gray wolf that was reintroduced to the southwest with approximately 380 in the wild. Finally, there is the red wolf which was essentially extinct in the wild until they were reintroduced to a small area in North Carolina where there are less than 25 still present.
It is argued that wolves are “good” for an ecosystem based on the Trophic Cascade concept. When a top predator (an apex predator) is added or removed from an environment, it triggers a chain reaction that spills down through every level of the food web, eventually changing the physical geography of the land itself. Wolves control the prey population which prevents over-grazing and herd health by eliminating the sick in a herd. They effect prey behavior increasing the movement of prey which leads to healthier vegetation. They boost biodiversity in an ecosystem. They manage mid-sized predators like coyotes. Additionally, they strengthen the soil and rivers. The perfect example of this is Yellowstone. After wolves were reintroduced in 1995, the elk population stabilized, the songbird population increased as trees grew back, and the physical shape of the rivers actually changed because the stabilized banks stopped meandering so wildly. This is clearly a benefit to the environment.
Even with all this, wolves do come with concerns mostly from livestock champions. At any given time, there are approximately 90 million cattle and 5 million sheep in the US. Estimates are the wolves account for between 0.01% to 0.05% of livestock deaths in states where they are located. The overwhelming majority of livestock deaths (95% - 98%) are caused by non-predatory factors: respiratory disease, digestive problems, birthing complications, and extreme weather (freezes/lightning). Recent studies indicate there is an additional indirect loss to cattle from weight loss, lower reproductive rates and increased labor costs due to stress on livestock when wolves are in the area. Most states offer compensation for confirmed wolf kills on livestock.
Check back tomorrow as I finish up conservation week by discussing things that can be done to mitigate livestock and wolf interaction and conflict with hunters.
The Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 protects endangered and threatened species and their habitats. It was signed into law by Richard Nixon. Almost before the ink was dry, there has been an onslaught to change this law. A federal court has struck down the current administrations attacks against the ESA, restoring key values of this important environmental law. The courts reaffirmed that federal agencies must use the best available science when assessing harm to species, they cannot ignore incremental harm to critical habitat, and agencies must commit any measures relied upon to reduce harm to endangered plants and animals.
To me, the key is “best available science.” Why have we stopped believing in science? I have some thoughts but I will keep them to myself for right now. Just know that it was a a good day for endangered species in the US but the fight will continue.
Although not endangered at this time, the prairie dog is considered a keystone species and is indicative of ecosystem health
The most important thing we can do is make sure our voices are heard. Make sure those making the decisions know that we must protect endangered species.. Scientists estimate that 100 to 10,000 species go extinct each year. It’s time we stop this before it is too late. Check back tomorrow as I continue conservation week.
Wendy
Save America’s Forgotten Equines
Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act (SAFE Act) of 2025 (H.R. 1661/S. 775) is a bipartisan bill that is intended to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption in the US and prevent the export of horses to Mexico and Canada for that purpose. Hard to believe this isn’t already a law. This Act isn’t a new law it would just add equines to the law that prevents the slaughter of cats and dogs. This Act (or similar ones) have been proposed in the past but have failed to move forward out of committee. Why? The main reason cited is lobbying against the act. That raises another why? This would permanently prohibit the slaughter of all horses and burrows (domestic and wild). Who opposes this? Ranchers? Horse owners? People who would have to continue to provide support for horses after said horse stop being of use or making them money? People who instead ship them off to slaughter to make money? I’ll let you answer that question for yourselves but if you have time, please contact your representative and senators and ask them to support this Act.
Save our horses.
Photo of the week
Run Forrest run. For those of you who are fans of the movie Forrest Gump, this lighthouse will be familiar. This is the Marshall Point Lighthouse in Port Clyde, Maine that was featured in the movie.
I took this shot during my trip to Maine in 2020 on an absolutely beautiful night. If you love lighthouses, Maine should be a destination for you.
Where to wander next….
As i sit around and contemplate where I want to travel, it makes me think of the places I have been already. My “bucket list” place was Alaska. Even though I went once, I still feel the draw to go back but this time spend a few months there instead of weeks. I want to go to all the National Parks especially Yellowstone. I will be going to Grand Tetons later this year. I’ve never been to the Pacific Northwest. What adventures does that area hold? What beauty does it hold?
I’m not sure why I have this need to be in wild places. It wasn’t something I yearned for as a child. I spent a lot of time outdoors but not in what I would consider wild places. My family didn’t camp, hike, spend time on water or other outdoors type of activities. Now all I want to do is put a chair down in the woods and just be there. Breath in the fresh air and have it relax me. I can’t even so when this switch was flipped. All I know is I’m really happy that it did. Here are a few pictures of some of the wild places I have been.
Be sure to check. back for the photo of the week. It will be posted on Fridays.
Traveling
I have planned trips in the past. I make an itinerary, book hotels and activities, research the area, and provide the information to those I travel with and a trusted friend (just in case). I’m a planner. I like to know what I’m doing each day if I can. Since I have been living on the road, that has mostly gone out the window. Most of the time I’m completely flying by the seat of my pants and it’s way outside my comfort zone.
This year, I have a tentative schedule. Very tentative. I basically know places I want to go and things I want to do but that is about it. This is probably not a good way to live on the road but I have found it very freeing. My month of April is all set but May is completely wide open at this point. We’ll just have to see where the wind takes me.
Just chilling
For the next six weeks I will be a bit stationary as I visit family. There will be limited new photography chances. I will have some time to edit some old pictures. Editing is my least favorite part of being a photographer. I truly enjoy time outside, the fresh air, the sounds and smells, and the peace. Time at a computer is frankly, no fun for me but a necessary evil of the job.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll talk a little bit about how I travel and decide where to stay. Some of the things I’ve learned in the first 9 months on the road and maybe a sneak peak at some of my plans for this year. Stay tuned.
Here is a picture I took earlier this month at an aquarium in Albuquerque.
Hanging out.
I get to hang out with this handsome fella for a few weeks. I’m not going to complain. I love my nephew Ollie.
Photo of the Week
I couldn’t decide about this weeks photo. I’ve been on the road all week and feeling a little disconnected. I decided to go with a photo of my favorite subjects.
This photo was taken a few months ago at the Salt River. I always feel honored when a wild horse allows me to be in their presence. This day was no exception to that, a beautiful morning of peace. Have a great weekend.
Another day on the road
I took Route 66 for a bit today and came across a drive-in. It’s been years since I’ve seen one of these.
It brings back so many memories. Homemade popcorn with tones of butter in a brown paper bag. Cuddled under blankets watching a movie. Such simpler times. Oh to be a kid again.
Driving, driving, driving…..
It’s been a bit of a boring day of just driving. No interesting stops, just plain highway driving. I thought I would post a throwback photo from last year at Bryce Canyon.
It’s an absolutely beautiful place I hope you all get to visit one day soon. Have a great Wednesday.
Wanderlust
Wanderlust is a strong, innate desire or irresistible impulse to travel, roam, or wander the world. This word came up in a meeting I had this morning. I didn’t really think much about it as it was a conversation about a larger strategy regarding my photography. After the meeting, Scout and I packed up and hit the road again as we meander towards Indiana. As I was driving, the word kept popping into my head. I have no idea why, maybe it’s just because it’s kind of a cool word. You see, I don’t really think I have wanderlust. It seems very counterintuitive considering I live on the road now and wander most days. I consider myself a home body. The only difference now is that my home is on wheels and I can just park and be home immediately. What I do have is this childlike desire to go, see, learn, and photograph new places. A desire to have new experiences. Is that wanderlust? I don’t know. What I hope is that I’m instilling in all of you a wanderlust of sorts. Some inspiration to see a new place like Crazy Horse Memorial. To try something new like dog sledding. To learn about how we can protect our wild horses. I hope I help you flip that switch from just living life to experiencing it. Once you do that, I promise you won’t regret it. I know I haven’t.
Here’s to wanderlust, no matter how you define it.
Photo of the Week
This is definitely not the greatest picture based on technique but it is one that comes with great emotion.
This mama grizzly and her yearling cub were about 200 yards away when I took this picture. I was standing on a moving bus, shooting across an aisle, and out an open window. I was hand-holding a 600 mm lens and the image is heavily cropped. Not the best recipe for a great image. The reason I love this image has nothing to do with the technical aspects but it’s all about the feelings that come flooding back when I see it.
This photo was taken on my first, of hopefully many, trip to Alaska. It was the first time I had ever seen a grizzly in the wild. Despite the light color, you can tell this is a grizzly by the hump on the back. These two bears continued to walk down this ridge and popped up on the road in front of our bus. I’m not sure who was more excited, me or the two young boys who had been sound asleep before these bears came into site. This was one of many highlights of our trip into Denali National Park. I still get chills every time I see this image. That’s what I hope to provide for all of you with my photography. Give you chills, encourage your curiosity and move you to explore nature. You never know what you will see. Have a great weekend.
New friend
I spent a day at Petroglyph National Monument and made a new friend.
I believe this is a Western Whiptail Lizard (Aspidoscelis,tigris). They are extremely fast runners and found in Southwestern United States.
Today was another day of travel. The next few days will be spent on some editing and possibly a side trip to a museum. Stay tuned.
Happy Monday
We’ve been on the road today heading Northeast towards Indiana. I hope you all have a great week.
Photo(s) of the Week
This week’s photo of the week is a little different as I finish up my series of posts on Petrified Forest National Park. I’m always in awe when visiting places and seeing remnants of communities that existed thousands of years ago. This place is no different.
This is Puerco Pueblo, a prehistoric settlement built of shaped sandstone blocks by ancestral Puebloan people. It was inhabited between A.D. 1250 and 1380. It is believed to have had a population of 200 people. Large and small communities existed up and down the Rio Puerco and Little Colorado River. Archeologists have excavated only about a third of the site. For contemporary indigenous groups, sites like Puerco Pueblo are part of their heritage and oral traditions. Descendants return to pray, leave offerings, and interact with departed ancestors.
This site also contains several petryglphs. Although their exact meaning is not known, they are believed to be messages to other travelers and markings of clans that may have occupied the region.
I hope you have enjoyed this series on Petrified Forest National Park. My goal is to visit all our national parks at least once. If you have any questions, please go ahead and contact me. As you can tell, I love getting my nerd on about nature and wildlife.
What is petrified wood?
First, it is really cool. Technically, it is a fossil formed when plant material is buried in sediment—often volcanic ash—and replaced over millions of years by minerals, primarily silica (quartz), chalcedony, or opal. This per-mineralization process replaces organic cells with stone, often preserving detailed structures like tree rings, bark, and knots in vibrant colors.
The colors usually indicate trace amounts of other elements, for example, iron. The trees are a mix of conifer trees, tree ferns, and some gingkoes. It should be noted, it is illegal to remove petrified wood from the park. It is readily available for purchase in the area and I of course did get some to bring home with me.
I have to be honest, the pictures really don’t do it justice. They even sparkle on sunny days. This is a park to add to your bucket list. Check back tomorrow for the photo of the week.