Sunshine stretches across the sky as a new day breaks at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The changing colors of a sunrise can make us all pause to appreciate the beauty. Take that deep breath. The refuge protects 140,000 acres along the Atlantic coast of Florida’s largest barrier island. It provides a home for alligators to bask, birds to feed, otters to play, and so much more. Let’s remember public lands can offer us all moments of peace. Photo of a great blue heron staring off into the distance during a bright orange sunrise by Jose Torres (www.sharetheexperience.org). 

The American alligators at Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida are hard to miss. Growing up to 15 feet long, they’re a sight most visitors won’t forget after exploring this amazing 729,000-acre freshwater swamp. With their long tails, scales and giant jaws with sharp teeth, these predators are often a symbol of fear in the swamp. About those teeth, alligators have around 80 in their mouth at a time. As the teeth wear down, they are replaced. An alligator can go through as many as 3,000 teeth in its lifetime. Photo by Robert Sullivan (www.sharetheexperience.org).

Though many may assume that the high desert of Arizona is hot, dry, and barren, it is, in fact, full of life and color. Located near the Four Corners in northeastern Arizona, Canyon de Chelly National Monument experiences all four seasons, but Fall is arguably the best. The air is crisp and filled with the aroma of juniper and pinon burning in the wood stoves of traditional hogans dotting this still inhabited canyon. The cottonwood trees lining the wash start turning a vibrant yellow, creating a lovely display in this sacred place. Photo and words courtesy of Nina Mayer Ritchie. 

Happy 129th birthday, Sequoia National Park! Standing in the company of giant sequoias and looking up, what do you feel? For many, it is both a magical and dizzying experience. Established in 1890, Sequoia National Park in California was the first park created to protect a living organism. Trying to capture these magnificent trees in photos is difficult, as they can grow as tall as a 26-story building, averaging between 180 and 250 feet tall. Warning: you may be overwhelmed by the beauty of these towering trees. Photo of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks by Gourab Sabui (www.sharetheexperience.org).

It never hurts to have backup. Bobcats tend to be solitary cats, but it looks like this one has a friend. Excellent climbers and swimmers, bobcats can live up to 14 years and have the greatest range of all native North American wildcats. They are very adaptable to a wide range of habitat, making their dens among rocks and caves. Fierce hunters, they’ve been known to pounce on much bigger animals, including deer. Photo by by Alek Quintero, Bureau of Land Management.

A place of unique and mesmerizing beauty, Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming has a mystical quality that automatically connects people to this amazing place. A stone monolith looming almost 900 feet over the surrounding landscape, it is sacred to the Northern Plains Indians and other tribes, who call it “Bear’s Tipi” or “Bear’s Lodge.” Geologists and Sci-Fi fans are also drawn to it. It really does mean something. Photo by Shu Xu (www.sharetheexperience.org).

Today we’re celebrating our national bird, the bald eagle, for American Eagle Day. On June 20, 1782, the bald eagle was placed at the center of the Great Seal of the United States and remains an inspiring symbol of our country. After a dramatic recovery, bald eagles are found in every state but Hawaii, soaring high and inspiring the nation. Photo of a bald eagle in Michigan by Jim Hudgins, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Photographer Bob Wick captures a meteorite swooping high above the treetops on a clear and moonless night at the California Coastal National Monument. Here, the rocks and islets at Trinidad offer an essential place for tens of thousands of nesting seabirds. The trees that make up the silhouette of Pewetole island are Sitka spruce– fir trees that are often found further north in Oregon and Alaska but are rare in California. Photograph by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management.

Nature Photography Day is a special moment for us. We love sharing the amazing landscapes and fascinating wildlife found on public lands and waters across the country. We’re lucky to work with talented photographers and employees who capture wonderful moments and let us share them with you – our Interior community! Thanks for supporting public lands, leaving no trace and respecting wildlife. Photo of two cute raccoons at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia by  D. Machado, National Park Service.

Now is a great time to visit Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge in New York, when nesting activity for birds is at its height. A common sight is the wonderful courtship flight of the male bobolink, amid the musical songs of the eastern meadowlark, common yellowthroat, field sparrow and song sparrow. By midsummer, you’ll hear the shrill cries of many fledgling birds begging for food from their parents. Butterfly activity peaks at this time as well. Visitors can walk along the refuge’s wide fields as clouds of butterflies gather nectar from wild flowers. Against the backdrop of the majestic Shawangunk Ridge, the flowers, birds and butterflies are excellent subjects for nature-loving photographers. Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.