Living with Wildlife Photography Contest
Capturing THE BEST OF NATURE
CELEBRATE OUR 2025 WINNERS!
The judging is completed and the finalists in WildCare’s 2025 Living with Wildlife Photography Contest have been chosen.
WildCare’s photography contest received over 200 stunning entries this year. Each one showcases the beauty of California wildlife and landscape, AND the amazing talents of our photographers! Every photo offers glimpses into the wide diversity of California wildlife and its stunning places wild animals call home.
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PHOTOGRAPHY JUDGES
• Randall Bryett
• Alan Dep
• Ryan Hopper
• Evan Jane Kriss
• Melanie Piazza
• Kate Van Gytenbeek
BEST IN SHOW
Coyote Looking Through His Own Tail
PARHAM POURAHMAD
BEST general nature
Yosemite Layer Cake
MARK DECKER
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Fox Kits Playing With a Leaf
SUSIE KELLY
BEST CALIFORNIA WILD ANIMALS
(OTHER) IN THEIR NATURAL SETTINGs
Baby Elephant Seal
CINDY DAVIS
BEST LIVING WITH WILDLIFE
Cityscape (Coyote)
JANET KESSLER
BEST CALIFORNIA WILD BIRDS
IN THEIR NATURAL SETTINGS
Raven Portrait
CINDY DAVIS
2025 CONTEST FINALISTS
FINALIST: Mono Lake Tufas – Morning Bliss
Michael Gifford
FINALIST: Elk Fence Jump
Cindy Davis
FINALIST: Osprey Delivers Fish to His Chicks
Susie Kelly
FINALIST: Ocean Horizon
Cindy Davis
FINALIST: Annas Hummingbird
Mike Gifford
FINALIST: San Francisco – Coyote Trio
Janet Kessler
FINALIST: Brandt’s Cormorants
Davol Tedder
FINALIST: Nuttall’s Woodpecker Taking a Drink
Susie Kelly
FINALIST: Broken Tree
Cheryl Lentini
FINALIST: Sunset Bounty River Otters
Cindy Davis
FINALIST: Squirrel and Burrowing Owlets
Melissa Usrey
FINALIST: Lone Coyote on Empty City Road
Parham Pourahmad
FINALIST: Long-legged Bobcat on Road
Parham Pourahmad
FINALIST: Osprey Dive Bombing an Egret
Susie Kelly
FINALIST: Male Gray Fox Escaping the Sun While Still Monitoring His Kits
Douglas Gillard
about WildCare’s Living with Wildlife Photography Contest
Click for the Official Photography Contest Rules.
PRIZE FOR BEST IN SHOW
$500 and your photograph featured in WildCare’s Newsletter
BEST PHOTO IN EACH CATEGORY
Prizes will also be given for the best photograph in each category
THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD is determined by an online vote.
Cash prizes made possible by a generous donor.
ENTRY FEES
• $20 per photograph
• All entries must include a digital file of the image
DEADLINE
The deadline for the WildCare Photo Contest is usually at the end of September. Please check back for details.
Entry fees support WildCare’s programs including our Wildlife Hospital and our Nature Education programs. Your photos also help us advocate for and educate about the wild animals with which we share our environment.
Entered photos will grace our website and printed materials, and may also be used to raise much-needed funds for our organization.
PAST WINNERS
2024 WINNERS & FINALISTS
BEST IN SHOW: American Kestrels Mating
Parham Pourahmad
LIVING WITH WILDLIFE & PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER: Jaxon Admires The Bobcat
Rob Wiley
BEST CALIFORNIA WILD BIRDS IN THEIR NATURAL SETTINGS: Gull Reflection
Susie Kelly
BEST CALIFORNIA WILD ANIMALS (OTHER) IN THEIR NATURAL SETTINGS: Whales Feeding In Monterey
Robert Dean
BEST GENERAL NATURE: Oceanscape With Deer
Cindy Davis
FINALIST: Bobcat Hunting From Atop A Pole
Ryan Hopper
FINALIST: Hummingbird In The Fountain
Susie Kelly
FINALIST: Coyote In Golden Gate Park Tree
Jacques Fortier
FINALIST: Succulent Close Up
Sue Klapholz
FINALIST: Yikes! Coyote Pups Teasing Dad
Janet Kessler
Yosemite Falls Rainbow
Yosemite Falls Rainbow
FINALIST: Nesting Bald Eagles
Rick Lewis
FINALIST: Great Horned Owl Feeding Chick
Susie Kelly
FINALIST: Dahlia Close Up
Jeff Greendorfer
FINALIST: Coyote And Monument
Jacques Fortier
FINALIST: 6th Pup On Moving Day
Janet Kessler
FINALIST: Least Bittern Foraging
Rick Lewis
2023 WINNERS & FINALISTS
BEST IN SHOW: Short Eared Owl At Sunset
Lauren Bettino
PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Bobcat Mother And Kitten
Ryan Hopper
BEST LIVING WITH WILDLIFE: Caught In The Act Coyote On Porch
Janet Kessler
BEST CALIFORNIA WILD BIRDS IN NATURAL SETTINGS: Peregrine Falcon & Great Blue Heron
Sharon Osbert
BEST CALIFORNIA WILD ANIMALS (OTHER) IN THEIR NATURAL SETTINGS: Ground Squirrel Long Goodbye
Sharon Osberg
BEST GENERAL NATURE: Tri Tones Poison Oak Leaves
Mark Decker
FINALIST: Peregrine Falcon And Ground Squirrel Confrontation
Brandon MacDonald
FINALIST: Tam Sunset Fog With Peak
Nick Fain
FINALIST: Juvenile Black Shouldered Kites Prey Exchange
Susie Kelly
FINALIST: We Share The Sidewalk
Janet Kessler
FINALIST: Elk Above McClure’s Beach
Cindy Davis
FINALIST: Acorn Woodpeckers Coming In For A Landing
Susie Kelly
FINALIST: Elk At Tomales Elk Fence
Patty Spinks
FINALIST: Cooper’s Hawk And Ground Squirrel
Parham Pourahmad
FINALIST: Anna’s Hummingbird
Dan Pagano
FINALIST: Wrecked Boat In Inverness
Ryan Hopper
FINALIST: White Lined Sphinx Moth
Gary Walter
FINALIST: Fog Rivers Sunset
Nick Fain
2021 WINNERS & FINALISTS
BEST IN SHOW: Peregrine Falcon In Flight
Carlos Porrata
BEST LIVING WITH WILDLIFE & PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Coyote Knocking Down Coyote Feeding Sign
Janet Kessler
BEST CALIFORNIA BIRDS IN THEIR NATURAL SETTING: Northern Spotted Owl Parent & Baby
Carlos Porrata
BEST WILD ANIMALS (OTHER) IN THEIR NATURAL SETTING: Coyote Stand Off
Elyse Omernick
BEST GENERAL NATURE: Crashing Waves
Lee Kuiper
FINALIST: Coyote Crossing Creek And Stilt
Robert Ho
FINALIST: Mist Rainbow
Robert Hughes
FINALIST: Gull And Reflection
Susie Kelly
FINALIST: Badger Portrait
Carlos Porrata
FINALIST: Fog Tree Sunset
Lauren Bettino
FINALIST: Bobcat On Ceramic Frog
James Forsel
FINALIST: Gray Foxes Playing On A Hanging Chair
Susie Kelly
FINALIST: Parrots In San Francisco 12
Robert Ho
FINALIST: Bobcat Caught A Rodent
Dan Pagano
FINALIST: Elk Silhouettes
Carlos Porrata
FINALIST: Crashing Waves
Lee Kuiper
2020 WINNERS & FINALISTS
FINALIST: Anna’s Hummingbird Take Out
Melissa Usrey
BEST CALIFORNIA BIRDS IN THEIR NATURAL SETTING: Sunrise Burrowing Owl
Melissa Usrey
PEOPLE’S CHOICE & BEST CALIFORNIA WILD ANIMALS (OTHER) IN THEIR NATURAL SETTING: Coyote And Raven In a Territorial Battle
Janet Kessler
FINALIST: Poppy Covered In Dew
Marjorie Scarborough
FINALIST: Bird Hit Window
Roland Dumas
FINALIST: Furrow Bees
Kirk Foster
FINALIST: Flicker Chick In Nest Box
Christine Hansen
FINALIST: Mallard on Water
Julie Kramer
FINALIST: Hummingbird Eating Mosquitoes
Matthew Hamre
FINALIST: Pine Point Reflection
Martha Ture
FINALIST: Coyotes In Coronavirus Vacated Dog Run
Janet Kessler
FINALIST: Fog Watcher
Nick Fain
FINALIST: Clark’s Grebe With Chick
Melissa Usrey
FINALIST: Moss And Water Droplets On A Rock
Craig Lanway
FINALIST: Bathtime Is Over Mama And Baby Raccoon
Mark Decker
FINALIST: Ground Squirrel On Foggy Coast
Veronica Geczi
FINALIST: Raccoon Portrait
Michael Schmidt
FINALIST: Laughing Weasel
Susie Kelly
FINALIST: Buck Voyeur
Sheri Hartstein