When a prairie dog stretches up and throws its arms wide like this, it’s often performing what’s called a “jump-yip” — a dramatic social behavior that can serve as both a territory call and a kind of group alert or check-in. The sudden, exaggerated pose is usually followed by a high-pitched bark, and if others respond, it can ripple through the colony like a wave. It’s a quirky but effective way for prairie dogs to maintain group cohesion and assess their surroundings in open grasslands. Photographed years ago in the Badlands of South Dakota. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 600mm manual focus lens, ISO 500, f/11 at 1/320th of a second.

Once nearly wiped out in Indiana due to habitat loss and unregulated trapping, North American river otters were reintroduced to the state in the 1990s through a successful restoration program. Thanks to protected wetlands and careful management, their population has rebounded, and otters are now found in over 80 Indiana counties. These two were captured in the southern part of the state where they are a symbol of conservation success, thriving again in rivers and marshes where they hadn’t been seen for decades. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (with 1.4 teleconverter for 550mm) ISO 1600, f/8 at 1/500th of a second.

Common snapping turtles are a prehistoric-looking reptiles known for powerful jaws, a spiked tail, and a tough, ridged shell. They live in freshwater habitats across most of North America, and spend most of their time buried in mud or lurking just beneath the surface with only eyes and nostrils exposed. They can live for decades and they play an important role in their ecosystem by scavenging and keeping aquatic environments clean. I photographed this one in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/5 at 1/500th of a second.