February 2023 - 4

GRAND PRIZE
GRAND PRIZE
Slap shot
(beaver)
Jackson
Savannah Rose Burgess
Jackson, Wyoming
Nikon Z9: 1/1250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1600
O
ver the several years
I've been a wildlife
photographer one of the
closest relationships I built with a
species has been with the beaver.
Often overlooked, these charismatic
rodents are arguably one of the
most important keystone species
in our ecosystem. They build and
maintain habitat for a large host of
native species and provide natural
fire breaks in the wilderness for the
dry season. Throughout the summer
and fall, I love spending my evenings
with these animals as I document
them innovating their surroundings.
On the evening I took this image,
I bushwhacked to a beaver lodge
before sunset to observe some
interesting behavior as they became
active in the afternoon. When I
emerged from the forest to lay on
the water's edge, my camera and
lens flush with the ground, a beaver
surfaced and cruised by me curiously.
I watched as the powerful muscles
near its tail tensed and lifted out of
the water. I prepared for what I knew
would come next. I squeezed my
camera and fired off a burst of shots
as the beaver drew his paddle-tail
from the water and brought it down
with a resounding whip-like crack.
Its back feet were the last thing
to disappear as it plunged away,
satisfied with its harsh dismissal
of my presence. When it emerged
farther back, it cocked its tail again
and I knew it was time to take the
hint. I rose from the muddy bank and
returned to the forest, hoping my
surrender would instill confidence with
its ability to reprimand travelers who
dare trespass on its family's privacy.
4 | February 2023

February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2023

February 2023 - 1
February 2023 - 2
February 2023 - 3
February 2023 - 4
February 2023 - 5
February 2023 - 6
February 2023 - 7
February 2023 - 8
February 2023 - 9
February 2023 - 10
February 2023 - 11
February 2023 - 12
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February 2023 - 14
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February 2023 - 55
February 2023 - 56
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/december-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/wyoming-wildlife-may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2024-e-edition
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-iak-special-issue
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/dec-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2021
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https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/January2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/December2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/September2020
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