Chuck Schneebeck Photography

Black-tailed Prairie Dogs Prairie dogs are a type of ground squirrel that live in the grasslands of North America. They are herbivorous and dig extensive systems of burrows. They are called prairie dogs because of a warning call that is similar to a dog’s bark. Meriwether Lewis described them in 1806 as a “barking squirrels.” Black-tailed prairie dogs once numbered in the hundreds of millions – maybe even over a billion – and were possibly the most abundant mammal in North America. But as ranching and farming filled the grasslands of North America there was an aggressive effort to eradicate them from the land. They were believed to be competing for feed for cattle, and the burrows they created were despised by farmers. Their numbers have decreased by over 95%. Today, they may number around 10-20 million. Removal of prairie dogs has altered the ecosystem, as they were a primary food source for a variety of mammal and avian predators. The following photos were taken after a March snowstorm in Louisville, Colorado. To see the text for each photo, view in full size.

The first elephant I saw in Africa walked within a few feet of our safari vehicle. I can’t think of another encounter with a wild animal where I felt so apprehensive and so thrilled – all at once. It was love at first sight, and my affection for elephants has only grown stronger. I could sit for hours just observing elephants as they gather at water holes, browse on shrubs and trees, amble through the environment, and play and swim in rivers and lakes. But elephants are in peril due to poaching for their ivory and habitat modification for agriculture. In the 1970s, there were about 1.3 million elephants in Africa. Today that number is down to about 400,000. And the carnage continues. I am posting photos of, and information about elephants in hopes that the viewer will gain an appreciation for how special elephants really are. "Only elephants should own ivory." – Yao Ming

From Alaska to the Falkland Islands and multiple countries in Africa, I have been fortunate to experience some very special places. I have assembled a potpourri of some photos that I took while changing latitudes. The intent of this collection is to create an environment where the viewer can let the mind wander, and perhaps create a feeling of awe for our beautiful planet. To see the text that goes with each photo view in the largest format possible. To remove the text from the image click the chevron at the bottom of the page.

Grand Teton National Park Grand Teton National Park is located in the northwest corner of Wyoming. The dominate feature of the park is the Teton mountain range which rises about seven thousand feet above Jackson Hole, the valley floor. A major attraction in the park is the variety and abundance of wildlife. In fact, every species of wildlife that was present when Louis and Clark traveled west is still represented in the park, a rarity in the lower forty-eight states. The winters are long and harsh, but the summers are lush. I hope you enjoy these photos of this very special place.

The deserts of the southwest United States have more than their share of magical landscapes. A few have such beauty that they cause one to feel a reverence for the earth. These are places where you find yourself whispering to others in respect for the feeling that you are in a scared place. They are mother nature’s cathedrals. The Wahweap Hoodoos in southern Utah is one of these places. The hoodoos consist of soft white sandstone pillars topped with dark harder sandstone caprock. They intrigue scientists and stir the spirit of all who visit. “Those who dwell, as scientists or laymen, among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.” - Rachel Carson. To see the text that goes with each photo view in the largest format possible. To remove the text from the image click the chevron at the bottom of the page.

The Great Sand Dunes National Park is located in the San Louis Valley in southern Colorado. It is on the east side of the valley nestled against the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. The elevation of the sand dunes is about 7500 feet and the backdrop include peaks that tower over 14,000 ft. The sand is piled up by prevailing southwesterly winds. The combination of a rich sand source, strong winds, and tall mountains blocking the movement of sand result in the tallest sand dunes in North America. Although sand dunes are the main attraction of Great Sand Dunes National Park, there is a rich variety of wildlife and birds that make their homes here. I hope these photos capture some of the wonder of this unique place. To see the text for each photo, view in full size. To remove the text from the image click the chevron at the bottom of the page.

Occasionally an event happens that has an impact far beyond what is imagined at the time. It turned out that the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871 is an excellent example. Along with Hayden and his technical team were two artists: William H. Jackson, a photographer and Thomas Moran, a painter. Hayden compiled a comprehensive report of the expedition and Jackson and Moran provided visuals that helped congressmen to be inspired by the beauty and wonder of the place. On March 1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill into law creating the first national park in the world. This is a collection of photos that I have taken in Yellowstone over the years. To see the text that goes with each photo view in the largest format possible. To remove the text from the image click the chevron at the bottom of the page.

Not everyone would want to be up close and personal with one of the world’s largest living terrestrial carnivores, but the time I spent photographing brown bears on the coast of Katmai National Park in Alaska was nothing short of exhilarating. Salmon and other fish that live in the rivers and the tidal basins are a critical component of the Alaskan brown bears diet, and this rich food source is an important factor in their large size. We spent seven days plying the coast of Katmai National Park, anchoring where streams entered the ocean, and hiking up the rivers to observe and photograph the bears. “It would be fitting, I think, if among the last man-made tracks on earth would be found the huge footprints of the great brown bear.” – Earl Fleming Prince.

The Gentoo penguins are common on the Falkland Islands. They breed in colonies which are often far from the beach, and during the day lines of penguins go to and from the ocean. They use stones to build their nests and can be seen stealing stones from each other. They are monogamous breeders, and infidelity is punished by banishment from the colony. I was fortunate to spend time observing and photographing the Gentoo penguins in the Falkland Islands. Photo DSC_6420

During the first week of October 2018, I spent a few days photographing polar bears on Barter Island near the town of Kaktovik, Alaska. Kaktovik is located on the shore of the Beaufort Sea and is in the coastal region of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This area has just been opened to oil exploration by the Trump administration. In the past, large numbers of polar bears came to the village in the fall to scavenge the remains of whales harvested by the natives. Tourists come to see and photograph the bears. There is conflict in the community over plans for oil exploration and tourism. As a result, in 2018 the whale remains were pushed into the sea where the polar bears couldn’t get to them. The bears came, but a food source that they had relied on in years past was not available to them. With the reduction of sea ice, due to global warming, these beautiful animals are finding it more difficult to make a living, and their numbers are predicted to decrease dramatically during the next few decades. I hope I’m wrong, but I feel as if I may be making a record of a species that is on its way to extinction. To see the text for each photo, view in full size. “Polar bears everywhere face dire threats, but the polar bears of the southern Beaufort Sea in Alaska are the most threatened of all.” – Dr. Steven C. Amstrup

Paria Canyon – Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness within Vermillion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona is a region of beautiful sandstone formations. The area is divided into two regions: Coyote Buttes North and Coyote Buttes South. The Wave, in Coyote Buttes North, is famous worldwide. The Coyote Buttes South is not as famous but offers a plethora of spectacular sandstone formations that are erosional masterpieces. The area is filled with fins, cones, hoodoos, ridges and ravines. The sandstones are multicolored including reds, pinks, yellows, oranges, and even greens. The colors come from sixteen forms of oxidized iron compounds. The area is large and only twenty permits per day are issued. Consequently, one can roam for long periods of time without seeing or hearing another human. Here is a small sample of the diverse formations to be found in Coyote Buttes South.

It was the third week in August 2016 when I took a seven-day cruise along the coast of Katmai National Park in Alaska. The purpose of the trip was to photograph Alaskan Brown Bears. Each day the seven photographers, and our guide, would go up a drainage along the coast to be among the bears to photograph their behaviors. This story is about one bear’s quest for lunch. To see the text for each photo, view in full size.

In the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona, just south of the border with Utah, is one of the most beautiful sandstone formations in North America, and perhaps the world, the Wave. It consists of two U-shaped troughs that have been eroded into the Navajo Sandstone formation of the Jurassic age. The troughs were originally eroded by water. Now they are eroded almost entirely by wind. The sandstone was formed from giant dunes that developed crossbedding due to changing prevailing winds over time. This resulted in layers in the sandstone that have different resistance to erosion. The wind takes away the softer material, leaving some beautiful patterns and textures. To see the text for each photo, view in full size.