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"In wildness is the preservation of the world." - Henry David Thoreau Teklanika Nature Photography is owned and operated by Guy Runco and his lovely wife Shina duVall, natives of Colorado and proud residents of the magnificent state of Alaska. Guy has spent most of his life pursuing opportunities to learn about wildlife and wild places. He spends innumerable field hours in the wild, capturing nature at it's finest. He is particularly interested in wildlife behavior, and has learned much about our last best places and the wildlife that inhabit them. He is also interested in the management of our public places, wildlife conservation, and minimizing conflicts between humans and wildlife. Guy is a member of the Nature Photographers Network, and both he and his wife are proud members and supporters of WildEarth Guardians and Defenders of Wildlife.  photos courtesy of R. Wangsness & D. Carline What's Teklanika? The Teklanika River is a feeder stream to the Yukon River drainage and a tributary of the Nenana River in the central interior region of Alaska. On its course, the river travels north from the core Alaska Range as a braided river, becoming rapid and narrow as it traverses through the Primrose Ridge, braiding again through the Stampede Trail valley, narrowing again through the Tekla Ridge before ultimately meandering through a complex series of oxbow turns and lakes across the southern Tanana River valley. The name Teklanika derives from Athabascan words which roughly translate as "small stream full of sticks."  "Teklanika River Valley Panorama" photo courtesy of Wikipedia Wildlife Photography Code Of Ethics - Always view wildlife from a safe distance. Respect their spatial needs. If the animal interrupts its behavior (resting, feeding, etc.), then you are too close. - Never force an action. Be patient! The most beautiful photographs result from natural action. - Never come between a parent and its offspring. - Never crowd, pursue, prevent escape, make deliberate noises to distract, startle or harass wildlife. This is stressful and wastes valuable energy in needless flight. - Never feed or leave food (baiting) for wildlife. Habituation due to handouts can result in disease or even death of that animal and injury to you. - Never encroach on nests or dens as certain species will abandon their young. - Never interfere with animals engaged in breeding, nesting, or caring for young. - Learn to recognize wildlife alarm signals and never forget that these animals are NOT tame no matter how docile or cuddly they appear. - Do not damage or remove any plant, life form or natural object. Do pack out trash. - Acquaint yourself with and respect the behaviors and ecosystems of the wildlife you may encounter. By doing so, you will enrich your experience tremendously. - Finally, remember that the welfare of the subject and habitat are irrefutably more important than the photograph. |