Sharing the Trail: Wildlife Sightings (Slideshow)

Spotting a bird, mountain goat or bear along the trail always adds excitement to a hike. Check out some a small sampling of images captured by the hiking photographers who participated in our Northwest Exposure Photo Contest in 2014.

Get inspired to take a wildlife hike and get our tips for photographing wildlife.

Click on the photo below to launch the slideshow, and heck out more collections in our photo gallery.

A horned lark feeds her family at Hurricane Hill, Olympic National Park. Photo by Mary Campbell (Northwest Exposure Photo Contest 2014)

Keep wildlife wild: how to behave around wildlife:

• Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
• Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
• Secure your food. Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
• Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
• Keep your distance from wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young.