Bad times in the Badlands
One of the projects that I have been slowly working on, and will continue to work on is centered on the big horn sheep of the Badlands in South Dakota. Back in 2021 when I visited the park for the first time, they were everywhere. On a later trip, after a harsh winter, I noticed that the population seemed…off. I didn’t see the numbers I had during my first trip. That made me wonder what happened.
I emailed the park to inquire and found out that between the abnormally cold and snowy winter, the population was also hit by a bacterial infection. These two things decimated the population. Nearly 70% of the big horn were lost. The suspect: M.Ovi bacteria spread from domestic sheep on a boarding ranch.
I think these are majestic creatures, and it’s amazing to watch them leap from point to point that would make skilled climbers run for…well the hills I guess. The close up image above was taken just after sunrise on an early trip to the park. I had just packed up my gear, and turned to head back to the car when I saw him standing there grazing. He wasn’t more than 50 feet from me, and didn’t seem to care that I was there. I grabbed a couple shots as I cautiously walked past (he was between me and the car, but still roughly 50ft away). He looked up a couple times, but quickly went back to breakfast and even laid down for a bit.
The Badlands will always be special to me, for so many reasons. This is one of them.
Other adventures
I haven’t gotten a chance to travel nearly as much as I would like to. In the travels that I have been able to do, I am reminded every time about the beauty in the world around us. It’s also incredibly apparent that we as a society need to do a better job taking care of this amazing place we call earth.
That’s why one of thing I want to accomplish in my life is to help tell the story of how climate change is affecting our planet. I want to do this through our amazing National Park System. Sure, the stream next to a farm field where pesticide and fertilizer run off damage ecosystems is of course important; but the National Parks are something that most people can connect with. I’ll work to tell as many stories as I can about ways we are affecting the planet, but working to visit as many National Parks as I can, and sharing what’s happening at them, will continue to be a goal.
Storm Chasing
Storms have always fascinated me. Lighting was actually the reason I first picked up a camera. I wanted to take photos of lightning, and as I learned more about photography, my love for the craft grew. I still chase storms when I can, hopefully more in the future. The raw power and beauty of them never ceases to amaze me.
It takes skill to place yourself in the right (and safe) place, and the ability to put a little fear in the back seat for a bit. For me though, it is more than worth it.