Wildlife Photography Ethics & Fieldcraft

Great wildlife photographs show animals behaving naturally. The best way to get them is also the ethical way: give animals space and time.

Distance

National parks set minimum distances: 100 yards (91 m) from bears and wolves and 25 yards (23 m) from other large animals such as bison, elk and moose. Elsewhere, a good rule is:

If the animal changes its behavior because of you, you are too close.

Signs of stress include an animal stopping feeding, staring at you, moving away, flaring wings or ears, or vocalizing. Use a longer lens or a teleconverter rather than closing the distance.

Bears

Coastal brown bears fishing for salmon — in places like Alaska's Katmai and Lake Clark — are among the most dramatic wildlife subjects. They're usually photographed from designated platforms or with licensed guides who follow strict protocols. Never approach a bear on your own, carry bear spray where recommended, and never come between a sow and cubs.

Birds and nests

• Never approach active nests; disturbance can cause abandonment.
• Avoid flushing birds — it costs them energy they need, especially in winter and during migration.
• Seabird colonies (puffins, murres) are often viewed from boats; keep the distances the operators use.
• Playback of calls can stress birds and is banned in many parks and refuges.

Baiting and feeding

Don't bait or feed wildlife. Animals that associate people with food become habituated and often have to be removed. Photographs made at bait stations shouldn't be presented as wild encounters.

Sharing locations

Geotagging sensitive species — owls, nesting raptors, rare orchids — can draw crowds that disturb or destroy them. Share general areas, not exact coordinates, for sensitive subjects.

Fieldcraft that works

• Use your vehicle as a blind on refuge auto routes; animals often ignore cars.
• Be there at dawn and dusk when activity peaks.
• Learn behavior: predictable patterns (a heron's fishing spot, a pika's haypile) let you wait for the moment.
• Eye level shots feel intimate — get low.
• Fast shutter speeds (1/1000–1/4000 s) freeze action.

Our bird and mammal calendars show which species are most often recorded each month in every state.