Bear cubs don't always look both ways for oncoming traffic. Sometimes humans should provide that service/Deby Dixon.
What is more important, the animal or the shot?
Nearly every day someone tells me that I have the dream job as a full-time wildlife photographer in Yellowstone National Park, but if they knew that a Dutch photographer nearly punched me out yesterday, when I was trying to assist a black bear in crossing the road on a blind curve, they might think again.
When I arrived in Yellowstone, in October of 2012, to spend the winter learning about wolves, I was a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed photographer who had visions of magnificent shots of the animals as they moved across the landscape.
What I did not count on was that there is much more to wildlife photography then picking up the lens and shooting as they stand still and pose, or run across the sage filled Lamar Valley - much beyond the patience in waiting for the animal to appear, or being in the right position, at the right angle with the right light.
I did not know about the animals themselves and how much they go through while living in a national park. My photographic adventure soon turned to one of advocacy for the wildlife as it relates to many aspects - the hunting of the wildlife, getting too close to the animals and blocking them from moving freely and so much more. Driving cautiously because the animals like to use the roads. My time in Yellowstone, that has now stretched out to nearly two years, has been the greatest, single learning experience of my life.
Not only have I learned that wildlife photography is an extremely competitive and jealous business and my year-around access to Yellowstone does not make me very popular amongst other photographers, but also that the welfare of the animal is more important than the shot.
Yes, I have become an ethical photographer who puts their camera down in favor of helping an animal across the road safely or by removing myself from a situation where the animals are crowded and stressed. And, yes, if need be, I will call upon rangers to come and assist the animals.
Jockeying for that perfect photo/Deby Dixon
Yesterday, someone told me that calling the rangers would only ruin things for myself but what they do not know, is that I have to live with myself. And, so when a black bear sow with three cubs prepares to cross the road on a blind curve, I will alert people to slow down or stop if necessary, in order to keep those animals safe. In the case of yesterday, the cubs did not appear on the road but there was no way to know that when the adult was crossing.
Another wildlife photographer told me that it was okay for them to be close to a sow and three cubs because they were a 'professional wildlife photographer.'
'You are not a professional if you are going to get that close to a sow and three cubs,' I replied. The woman walked off.
The problem for the wildlife is that not only do they have to worry about the visitors with the point and shoot cameras who want to get the same close-up shot as the wildlife photographer, but also the professional photographer who is willing to do anything to any animal or anyone to get the shot.
Meaning that photographers will step in front of and prevent other photographers from getting their shots, while some will use animal calls to lure the bird or wolf to their lens. Others will feed the animals - such as supplying owls with mice or fresh road kill.
I do not believe that the majority of the wildlife photographers, or visitors with point and shoot cameras, intend the animals any harm when they get too close or they feed them, but that they do not fully understand the cause and effect of such actions. I believe this because I did not understand much about the animals and the integrity of wildlife photography until spending nearly every day of the year inside of Yellowstone and watching the problems play out time and time again.
Animal calls make the wildlife easy prey for hunters and poachers and feeding an animal can make it become aggressive towards humans in its attempt to extract food. Being too close to the animals can make them lose their fear of humans, making them easier prey for hunters and some times causing them to be too comfortable around the roads and places where people congregate. These are just a few of the problems related with not giving the animals their wild spaces and allowing them to be free to move about. Animals can be caused to spook and run into the path of a car or in the direction of a predator.
It is our responsibility to alter the animal's behavior as little as possible in order to keep them safe. After all, if the animal is dead our photo ops have ended.
Now, having said all of this, I am not perfect. I, quite often, find myself closer to the animal then is allowed in the national parks, but this is usually due to the animal moving closer to me, rather than me moving closer to them. I tend to read the animals and watch their eyes and behavior for signs of stress. When an animal is grazing peacefully beside the road, they are doing fine, as long as I am not going any closer to them.
How close to wildlife is too close?/Deby Dixon
Just two days ago, I watched as an habituated wolf - one that has been way too comfortable around humans - was hazed by a law enforcement ranger. The beautiful wild wolf has had a habit of coming way too close to people who have watched her in the landscape and she has done so without any signs of aggression whatsoever. I believe that she is just curious about us and wants to check us out, which would end in fatal consequences if she were to leave the park during hunting season.
The law enforcement ranger hit her with a bean bag and then fired a cracker shell between her and the people and road. The wolf took off running for the hills, hopefully a little less curious about humans. For myself, I would rather see this wolf safe then to ever get another close shot of her because she came too close.
So, the next time that you go to photograph an animal, ask yourself, is this animal safe or am I causing it harm. Then, ask yourself, will I enjoy looking at this shot later, knowing the full story about how it came to happen. I have many photos in my folders of times when an animal was photographed under less than ideal circumstances and even though they might be terrific images, the story behind the shot never goes away.
Comments
An excellent article. Unfortunately, it's mostly members of the choir who will read it here.
How about sending it to Yellowstone Association or National Parks Conservation Association? Perhaps they will publish it in a magazine with much wider circulation.
I just learned that Traveler has a larger readership than magazines published by either YA or NPCA. May I amend my comment from "wider circulation" to "as many readers as possible?"
Thanks Lee - yes, the Traveler has already given this article a wide readership. Would you revise the article in any way or send it as is?
I can see where the Denali approach would work for some - they should offer free bus rides, as they do in Zion, for those who would like to use that option. Zion and Denali both have dead end roads, which makes that option viable for those parks, but every road in Yellowstone leads to other towns and states. Some residents would really be cut off if the roads were closed.
Gary, you make s ome excellent points. I have many who are asking me, "How do you do it?" Some days I don't know the answer to that. My commitment to the national parks and the wildlife is quite strong and I believe that being a regular here gives me the responsibility to help others see wildlife and have a good time. But, when it becomes abusive and violent, then I have to re-think my responsibility. Unfortunately we seem to have a whole "entitled" generation visiting the parks right now and they intend to do whatever they want, regardless of the consequences to themselves, others or the animals. It is really quite tough to watch. I think that better education is needed for people visiting the parks and more citations need to be issued to those who are truly doing something that could be dangerous. Yesterday I received many reports of a woman running down the road to meet a bear. Guess that when she looked over the side of the road, she took off running fast because the bear was headed right towards her. She should have never put herself or that bear in that position and, in my opinion, those are the instances that require citation.
To revise or not to revise -- that is the question . . .
It's a fine article, Deby, on a subject that needs to be told and retold as often as possible -- and read by as many eyes as possible.
I'm sure that if you submit it to NPCA or YA, their editors would be able to advise on any need for changes.
Again in RMNP, before all the beetle blight, we were near the Colorado River campground and saw a handsome bull moose on the other side of the stream. We stood still and watched until he wandered off, heading west. We turned and went back the other way. I stepped out onto the dirt path leading to the campground, and paused to take a shot of the Kawuneeche meadow. Nice landscape. Suddenly all dark. What the...? Still holding the camera to my face, I opened my non-shooting eye. The moose had apparently looped around and had stepped out not 20 feet away from me. Totally blocked the viewfinder. I did not move a muscle. Not that there was much of anywhere to go! I stared at him. He stared at me. He casually curled that huge upper lip around a head-level (his, not mine) leaf and chewed leisurely. I pushed the shutter button once. (Before digital; you had to advance the film manually.) Almost like he wanted to see how long he could make me stand there. Finally, about when that camera was feeling like a concrete block, he strolled away. (Yeah, I did get a good photo, but sure would never voluntarily be that close to a wild animal any bigger than a ground squirrel!)
When I was working in Yellowstone back in the 1960's, I heard the story of two of our fearless leaders -- I cannot for the life of me remember their names, but think they were the chief ranger and maybe assistant superintendent. I think one was Bob Sellars.
Anyway, they showed up one morning all scratched and scraped and had to confess that they had been treed. They were fishing along the Snake River in Hayden Valley and carelessly wandered into some thick willows where they couldn't see very far. Suddenly they heard something crashing toward them. Something BIG.
There just happened to be a couple of climbable trees nearby and they both scrambled up as high as they could go.
The crashing came closer and closer until suddenly a large moose ran by below them.
They started to come down when they heard still more crashing, so they remained where they were as an elderly lady with a box camera passed by in hot pursuit of the moose.