NORTH
AMERICA
North America has been a popular destination for nature photographer. The continent has wide range of wildlife, spread across from the polar north to the southern deserts and tropical rainforests. It is home to some of the world's greatest populations of large mammals, making it a popular destinations for wildlife photographers.
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Alaska
Yellowstone is a place on the continent with sheer diversity, making Alaska more challenging to explore its massive size! The state has an abundance of wildlife hot spots, but it can take some time to get between different areas. Bear photography is a major attraction. Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks are the two of the best places to photograph wild brown bears . Because these areas have an abundance of coastal food sources for the bears (including sedge grasses, clams, fish, and berries), they’re often tolerant of humans. Wolves and foxes are also seen roaming in tidal areas and coastal grasslands. And constant hunting for salmon by Eagles and Osprey.
On the northern end of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, there is a popular spot for polar bear photography known as Kaktovik, as the locals are allowed to hunt a limited number of whales, the unused remains of these carcasses, combined with receding sea ice, have attracted a larger numbers of polar bears being seen in recent years and increased photo opportunities.
It has also good marine wildlife. Boat trips out of Homer or Seward for photo range of humpback whales, orcas, porpoises, and even sea otters. Eagles and puffins also attract a lot of attention.
The Everglades
So many of these wildlife hot spots are found in western North America, thanks in large part to the larger stretches of untouched wilderness found there. But that doesn’t mean the eastern part of the continent is barren. Far from it. Florida is best for birds photography ,highlighted by Everglades National Park. This place is a home of vast mix of wetland and dry habitat over three hundred avian species. Some of the most prominent subjects include storks, herons, and egrets, as well as the beautiful-but-strange roseate spoonbill. Not only birds there are also plenty of reptiles and amphibians reside in the Everglades, the most common of which is the American alligator. Mammals include raccoons, otters, and bobcats, as well as the ultra-rare Florida panther.
North-Central California
Only with few areas in the north-central part of the state California may not be high on the list for most casual wildlife photographers, that present some unique opportunities for animal viewing and photography, including places to see bobcats in the wild like Pinnacles National Park and Point Reyes National Seashore. You can also spot grey fox, wild turkey, coyote, and deer. If you are lucky enough , you can also see California condor, whose population is slowly rebounding from near-extinction. A photo excursion in Point Reyes may yield sightings of American badger, coyote, river otter, owls, and more.
There are great marine outings near Monterey Bay, south of San Francisco, to photograph sea otters, and at the right time of year, whales and orcas.​
The Great Bear Rainforest
The Great Bear Rainforest is situated down the coast from Alaska. The region is vey famous due to presence of Spirit Bear. This rare animal is far from the only attraction, however there are numerous other coastal species, including black and grizzly bears, coastal wolves, humpback whales, orcas, and sea and river otters. Spot mink dash swimming across the narrow channels and during salmon spawn, creeks and streams attract dozens of bald eagles and gulls and kingfishers above the tidal pools. There are lot of wild species to capture in lens but the wild areas of the Pacific coasts also makes it more extra special. Vast stretches of temperate rainforest, high cliffs, scenic fjords, and narrow tidal channels are reminiscent of the Norwegian or New Zealand coastline. The Great Bear Rainforest is a dynamic landscape with plenty of animals is a truly special place and reserving the spirit bear which play an important and active role in conserving the ecosystem.
The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Yellowstone National Park is the most famous wildlife destination in North America. It was established as the world’s first national park in 1872, and has drawn good number of visitors looking to experience its thermal features, wild animals, and landscapes ever since. The park’s reputation as a wildlife hot spot is well-deserved, but the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem extends beyond Yellowstone’s park boundaries and includes Grand Teton National Park to the south. The ecosystem boasts the continental United States’ greatest collection of animals and, perhaps more importantly, the most accessible gathering of major species on the continent.
There may be parts of Alaska and Canada that host the same mix of wildlife that the “GYE” has to offer. This Park is the home to most of the continent’s major predator species, including bears, three varieties of canids, and three types of wild cats. Plenty of Ungulates, American bison, moose, elk, deer, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn. And mountain goats can be spotted on the high mountain peaks. Smaller mammals are abundant, including a variety of weasel species, rodents, and lagomorphs (rabbit, hare, and pika). The GYE can be a great birding destination as well, with migrating and nesting birds active during spring. Raptors, waterfowl, songbirds, woodpeckers, and other avian species can be seen throughout the year.
The Local Parks and Reserves
There are hundreds of local parks, refuges, and preserves in the continent. Some are in urban areas. These parks and reserves provide excellent opportunities to photograph owls, woodpeckers and other birds. There are often migrating birds of species seen in these local parks.
Some are includes Magee Marsh in Ohio (famous for its migrating warblers), Bosque del Apache in New Mexico (sandhill cranes), and the Lower Klamath Basin in southern Oregon (huge flocks of geese and swans), but photographers should be open to exploring smaller local gems as well.