Ethical Wildlife Photography

Written By Sleeping Bear Wildlife Fund

Photography is an excellent way to enjoy connecting with wildlife and landscapes around Northern Michigan as there are a lot of great trails and places to see native wildlife. In order to get the best chance at a once-in-a-lifetime photo and help protect species in the area, there are a few things to consider.

The best approach for protecting wildlife is to never influence their behavior for a photo. Things like baiting, habituation, and approaching too closely can all put wildlife in harm’s way.

  • Limit your time with the subject

  • Give the subject space

  • Do not habituate the subject

  • Do not feed your subject, doing so can make the animal vulnerable and could make the animal sick

  • Do you not chase your subject, if the animal moves on, please let it walk away, there will be other opportunities to get your photo.

Sleeping Bear Wildlife Fund
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