Mountain Lions

I was thrilled to be able to see wildlife photographer Nick Nichols at National Geographic last night, talking about his life experiences and his new exhibit at the Nat Geo offices, “Wild.”

He has indeed had a pretty wild life — apparently, he was the guy they called in when an assignment was a little too crazy for anyone else. “Get Nick,” they’d say. “He’ll do anything.”

That’s what got him caving, spending four months almost entirely underground and taking pictures of the Lechuguilla Caves. It’s also what got him rafting in Pakistan, or walking the “mega-transect” through the Congo. All of it was very dangerous, he just didn’t know any better, he said.

He also commented that we should expect mountain lions in Rock Creek Park soon.Rock Creek Park is a park that runs through the center of Washington, D.C. and several people laughed a little nervously, but he wasn’t joking; he went on to explain that he envisions a future in which wild animals and humans will have to coexist. “It can’t be the case that every time a wolf or a bear steps off protected land, they get shot,” he said. “There isn’t enough protected space.” Instead, we’ll have to come up with strategies for living together, like negative reinforcement and keeping dogs in at night, etc.

This is what I’ve been thinking about myself, so it was incredible to hear similar thoughts from someone who has spent so much time thinking about and documenting nature. I’ve just ordered his book, A Wild Life, and I can’t wait for it to be delivered.