I recall (more than once) watching my mom getting chased around our yard's huge spruce tree by a moose, who didn't seem to share her enthusiasm for him being her subject.  That was likely part of what now gives me such delight with chance encounters of wild things.

Looking through this menagerie, I believe the only shot that isn't digital is the capture of the Blue Heron in Potter's Marsh on the outskirts of Anchorage.  I think what stands out for me in this instance is that the Alaska variety is seemingly fearless...they will allow you to get 15-20 feet without much more than an icy glance.  In contrast, at the Fallon Wildlife Reserve, I have never been able to get closer than 500 feet out before they get up and fly as far and fast from me as they can.  Not sure what the problem is, they appear as big as a C-130 Hercules when they get in the air.  I wouldn't deliberately tangle with one.

The thing about wildlife photography is that it is so much about chance and circumstance.  I am not sure that there are many more satisfying things for me than to be walking along a road looking for one visual opportunity---and a deer or coyote steps out from some bush, and just stares at me while I am holding a camera. 

One capture that wasn't accidental was the coiled up and hissing juvenile rattler.  When I was being tutored by Steve Sweringen at the Camera Clinic I met an actual herpetologist, who was also an avid shooter who had messed up one of his lenses.  While Steve looked over his gear I chatted with him about what his subject matter was.  He owns a ranch on Farm District Road in Fernley, and said if I was ever in the neighborhood that I should pop in on him and we could go find rattlers to photograph.  I "just happened" to be in the area a few days later and he took me out to the foothills of Hazen.  A short time later he had willed his 4 Runner up the slope and we hiked a medium distance to an overhanging outcrop, where of course there was this basking young fellow.  I had left my other lenses in the truck, and only had a manual focus 28mm mounted, so I had to get quite close.  My new friend was a little annoyed at me, as I was within easy striking distance.  He had admonished me to back off if the reptile started to get too agitated, which it did.  In my excitement, I did not.  I didn't get bit, but I was told that if I had that we were just remote enough in rough terrain that it might have been touch and go.  I wasn't invited to share another excursion, but if I had, I would have brought a better focal length for the job.

The digital era has certainly made shooting critters much less of a chore.  Whereas a 1/4000th shutter speed was the exception during the film years, it is expected now.  And the ISO range!!!  How can one not spend an afternoon tracking down bumble bees?  It has become a thing for me to get a "bee on the wing" capture in every state I travel to.  Even telephoto has benefitted from digital, as most DSLR and mirrorless bodies have a 1.5 to 1 "crop factor".  This means that my old legacy 400mm f.5.6 manual focus glass now has an equivalent reach of 600mm.  You can get some pretty sweet humpback whale shots on the cheap with these extended focal lengths.  And of course there is unlimited burst shooting, whereas with film you had 36 shots, and you better make them all count.  Yes, I appreciate the virtues of digital imagery.

The offerings here are only a good representation of what I have lucked upon over the years.  Since this has become one of my favorite genres I will certainly dig through the hard drives and find more to present.  Enjoy!