Humpback Whale blows over by Outer Point, Douglas Island on Dec. 9. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)

Humpback Whale blows over by Outer Point, Douglas Island on Dec. 9. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Alaska

Reader-submitted photos of Southeast Alaska.

Submit your Wild Shots!

The Empire Outdoors page is looking for superb images of Alaska’s wildlife, scenery or plant life. Send your photos to editor@juneauempire.com. For all photos include the name of the photographer, a description of what is shown in the picture, when it was taken and any other pertinent information. Images will run as space allows.

[To see a collection of over 100 photos taken by readers in 2019 and 2020, click here.]

[To see Wild Shots for June 2020, click here.]

[To see Wild Shots for July and August 2020, click here]

[To see Wild Shots for late August and September 2020, click here]

[To see Wild Shots from late September and October 2020, click here]

Harlequin ducks swim by Point Louisa on Dec. 10. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gilfoto)

Harlequin ducks swim by Point Louisa on Dec. 10. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gilfoto)

A small raft of Surf Scoter off Point Louisa on Dec. 10. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill)

A small raft of Surf Scoter off Point Louisa on Dec. 10. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill)

British soldier lichen marches along while inhabiting a log in the Mendenhall Wetlands, Dec. 11. (Courtesy Photo / Deborah Rudis)

British soldier lichen marches along while inhabiting a log in the Mendenhall Wetlands, Dec. 11. (Courtesy Photo / Deborah Rudis)

This photo shows “a cool phenomenon” on Dec. 11 on a branch in the Mendenhall Wetlands. (Courtesy Photo / Deborah Rudis)

This photo shows “a cool phenomenon” on Dec. 11 on a branch in the Mendenhall Wetlands. (Courtesy Photo / Deborah Rudis)

The Chilkat Mountains glow brightly in the distance as seen from the summit of Jumbo on Nov. 24. (Courtesy Photo / Robert Sauerteig)

This photo shows “a cool phenomenon” on Dec. 11 on a branch in the Mendenhall Wetlands. (Courtesy Photo / Deborah Rudis)

This photo shows one of several trees down across the Mendenhall River Trail, not far from trail head off Back Loop Road. (Courtesy Photo / Sue Arthur)

This photo shows “a cool phenomenon” on Dec. 11 on a branch in the Mendenhall Wetlands. (Courtesy Photo / Deborah Rudis)

Eagle Creek falls on Treadwell Ditch trail on Dec. 3. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

Eagle Creek falls on Treadwell Ditch trail on Dec. 3. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

This photo shows a silhouette of a Stellers Jay ready to take flight. Twin Lakes bike path on Nov. 30. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

This photo shows a silhouette of a Stellers Jay ready to take flight. Twin Lakes bike path on Nov. 30. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

A little creek near a residential area grows in size on Nov. 30. (Courtesy Photo / Densie Carroll)

A little creek near a residential area grows in size on Nov. 30. (Courtesy Photo / Densie Carroll)

This photo shows a winter sunset with a coming storm from over Mansfield Peninsula, Admiralty Island on Dec. 4. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)

This photo shows a winter sunset with a coming storm from over Mansfield Peninsula, Admiralty Island on Dec. 4. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)

Karson Leamer and his dog, Piper, watch the sunset across Mendenhall Lake on Thanksgiving Day 2020. (Courtesy Photo / Christena Leamer)

Karson Leamer and his dog, Piper, watch the sunset across Mendenhall Lake on Thanksgiving Day 2020. (Courtesy Photo / Christena Leamer)

This photo shows the afternoon light at Spaulding Meadow on Friday, Nov. 27. (Courtesy Photo / Deborah Rudis)

This photo shows the afternoon light at Spaulding Meadow on Friday, Nov. 27. (Courtesy Photo / Deborah Rudis)

A huge burl dwarfs cowering bear bread along Brotherhood Bridge Trail on Nov. 25. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carrol)

A huge burl dwarfs cowering bear bread along Brotherhood Bridge Trail on Nov. 25. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carrol)

Footprints reveal that someone braved the snow while barefoot. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

Footprints reveal that someone braved the snow while barefoot. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

This photo shows a tree of many burls on Brotherhood Bridge Trail on Nov. 25. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

This photo shows a tree of many burls on Brotherhood Bridge Trail on Nov. 25. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

Snow flowers are seen along the Mendenhall River on Nov. 17. (Courtesy Photo / Deborah Rudis)

Snow flowers are seen along the Mendenhall River on Nov. 17. (Courtesy Photo / Deborah Rudis)

Waxwings perch in a hawthorne tree in a Lemon Creek yard in mid-November. (Courtesy Photo / Lisa Tourtellot)

Waxwings perch in a hawthorne tree in a Lemon Creek yard in mid-November. (Courtesy Photo / Lisa Tourtellot)

This photo taken on Nov. 16 near Center Court shows hoarfrost. (Courtesy Photo / Judith MacBrine)

This photo taken on Nov. 16 near Center Court shows hoarfrost. (Courtesy Photo / Judith MacBrine)

The splash from these twin falls creates a lacy, icy border as seen on N. Douglas Highway on Nov. 14. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

The splash from these twin falls creates a lacy, icy border as seen on N. Douglas Highway on Nov. 14. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

This is a photo shows the Mendenhall Wetlands as seen from the Egan Drive pull off on Nov. 16. (Courtesy Photo / Asia Ver)

This is a photo shows the Mendenhall Wetlands as seen from the Egan Drive pull off on Nov. 16. (Courtesy Photo / Asia Ver)

A Northern Goshawk takes flight near the highway on Nov. 18. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)

A Northern Goshawk takes flight near the highway on Nov. 18. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)

This photo shows the Chilkat Range as seen near Mile 20 of Glacier Highway. (Courtesy Photo / Gary Miller)

This photo shows the Chilkat Range as seen near Mile 20 of Glacier Highway. (Courtesy Photo / Gary Miller)

A plane flies over the Mendenhall Wetlands as seen from the Egan Drive pull off on Nov.16. (Courtesy Photo / Asia Ver)

A plane flies over the Mendenhall Wetlands as seen from the Egan Drive pull off on Nov.16. (Courtesy Photo / Asia Ver)

In Spaulding Meadow, a stand of Sitka spruce and the snow-capped Chilkat mountains as a backdrop create a perfect winter scene on Nov. 17. (Courtesy Photo . Denise Carroll)

In Spaulding Meadow, a stand of Sitka spruce and the snow-capped Chilkat mountains as a backdrop create a perfect winter scene on Nov. 17. (Courtesy Photo . Denise Carroll)

This Sunday, Nov. 15, photo shows a big paw print near a boot that is a foot in length. “While out tracking some other critters along the West glacier Trail and the west shore of Mendenhall lake, I came across these brown bear tracks,” writes Stacy Eldemar. “They were frozen in the previously wet and slush snowfall.” (Courtesy Photo / Stacy Eldemar)

This Sunday, Nov. 15, photo shows a big paw print near a boot that is a foot in length. “While out tracking some other critters along the West glacier Trail and the west shore of Mendenhall lake, I came across these brown bear tracks,” writes Stacy Eldemar. “They were frozen in the previously wet and slush snowfall.” (Courtesy Photo / Stacy Eldemar)

This photo shows Tolch Rock, a granite boulder deposited by Mendenhall Glacier, at the trailhead across from Skater’s Cabin parking lot. (Courtesy Photo / Sandy R. Williams)

This photo shows Tolch Rock, a granite boulder deposited by Mendenhall Glacier, at the trailhead across from Skater’s Cabin parking lot. (Courtesy Photo / Sandy R. Williams)

This birdhous near Kingfisher Pond gathers frost on Nov. 16. (Courtesy Photo / Deana Barajas)

This birdhous near Kingfisher Pond gathers frost on Nov. 16. (Courtesy Photo / Deana Barajas)

This photo shows the snow-capped Mendenhall glacier and Towers as seen from the Mendenhall wetlands on Nov. 7. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

This photo shows the snow-capped Mendenhall glacier and Towers as seen from the Mendenhall wetlands on Nov. 7. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

This photo shows the flats across the Mendenhall River from the northwest end of the airport near the golf course on Nov. 10. (Courtesy Photo / Jerry Smetzer)

This photo shows the flats across the Mendenhall River from the northwest end of the airport near the golf course on Nov. 10. (Courtesy Photo / Jerry Smetzer)

An eagle parent watches over a couple of eggs in the nest in April 2017. (Courtesy Photo / Jerry Smetzer)

An eagle parent watches over a couple of eggs in the nest in April 2017. (Courtesy Photo / Jerry Smetzer)

This is simply a picture of a mother and baby mountain goat. Picture was taken July 17. They were just on the far side of the falls to the right of the Mendenhall Glacier. (Courtesy Photo / Roger Everett)

This is simply a picture of a mother and baby mountain goat. Picture was taken July 17. They were just on the far side of the falls to the right of the Mendenhall Glacier. (Courtesy Photo / Roger Everett)

The winter coat of a cow parsnip appears as a starburst against the clear sky on the Mendenhall wetlands on Nov. 7. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

The winter coat of a cow parsnip appears as a starburst against the clear sky on the Mendenhall wetlands on Nov. 7. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

This photo shows Spaulding Meadows sun and snow on Nov. 10. (Courtesy Photo / Deborah Rudis)

This photo shows Spaulding Meadows sun and snow on Nov. 10. (Courtesy Photo / Deborah Rudis)

This photo shows the view from Glacier Highway overlooking Eagle Beach area on Nov. 7. (Courtesy Photo / Judith MacBrine)

This photo shows the view from Glacier Highway overlooking Eagle Beach area on Nov. 7. (Courtesy Photo / Judith MacBrine)

A lone frosty Japanese maple leaf rests on a bit of snow on Fifth Street downtown on Nov. 8. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

A lone frosty Japanese maple leaf rests on a bit of snow on Fifth Street downtown on Nov. 8. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

"The ice was fantastic on everything last week," writes Jay Crondahl. Crondahl said he noticed ice on the flower near Tahku, the whale statue at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park. (Courtesy Photo / Jay Crondahl)

A lone frosty Japanese maple leaf rests on a bit of snow on Fifth Street downtown on Nov. 8. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

This photo shows a young adult eagle near Auke Bay. (Courtesy Photo /Tamara Roberts)

This photo shows a young adult eagle near Auke Bay. (Courtesy Photo /Tamara Roberts)

Snow drapes trees along the Switzer Creek Trail in a white blanket on Nov. 4. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

Snow drapes trees along the Switzer Creek Trail in a white blanket on Nov. 4. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

“ Whose woods these are I think I know … he will not mind me stopping here to watch his woods fill up with snow,” writes Denise Carroll of this wintry scene on Switzer Creek Trail on Nov. 4. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

“ Whose woods these are I think I know … he will not mind me stopping here to watch his woods fill up with snow,” writes Denise Carroll of this wintry scene on Switzer Creek Trail on Nov. 4. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

This photo shows a juvenile blue heron recently seen at Fisherman’s Bend. (Courtesy Photo / Tamara Roberts)

This photo shows a juvenile blue heron recently seen at Fisherman’s Bend. (Courtesy Photo / Tamara Roberts)

A view of the auroras from our most recent geomagnetic storm, shot from North Douglas on Friday, Oct. 23. (Courtesy Photo / Eric Bleicher)

A view of the auroras from our most recent geomagnetic storm, shot from North Douglas on Friday, Oct. 23. (Courtesy Photo / Eric Bleicher)

This ice cave shot was taken on Oct. 24 out at Eagle Glacier. The recent cold, dry snap allowed the canyon to become passable up to the ice cave.(Courtesy Photo /Cheryl Fellman,)

This ice cave shot was taken on Oct. 24 out at Eagle Glacier. The recent cold, dry snap allowed the canyon to become passable up to the ice cave.(Courtesy Photo /Cheryl Fellman,)

Beautiful Mount Bradley, aka Mout Jumbo, at dusk overlooking Douglas and the Gastineau Channel. (Courtesy Photo / Kevin Foley)

Beautiful Mount Bradley, aka Mout Jumbo, at dusk overlooking Douglas and the Gastineau Channel. (Courtesy Photo / Kevin Foley)

A sunrise is seen at Mendenhall Glacier on Oct. 17. (Courtesy Photo / Linda Shaw)

A sunrise is seen at Mendenhall Glacier on Oct. 17. (Courtesy Photo / Linda Shaw)

A great blue heron spreads its wings out on an icy Mendenhall Lake yesterday, Oct. 18. (Courtesy Photo / Linda Shaw)

A great blue heron spreads its wings out on an icy Mendenhall Lake yesterday, Oct. 18. (Courtesy Photo / Linda Shaw)

A great blue heron is seen downtown in the shallows off Egan Drive on Oct. 27. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

A great blue heron is seen downtown in the shallows off Egan Drive on Oct. 27. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

Dewy bear bread or artist’s bracket growing on a conifer tree along the Boy Scout camp trail on Oct. 24. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

Dewy bear bread or artist’s bracket growing on a conifer tree along the Boy Scout camp trail on Oct. 24. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carroll)

“Our friend, Amal (The night visitor), came by at first light as we were having breakfast,” writes David Athearn. “He was bummed that I had taken down my bird feeders, so he left a steaming #2 in the yard and headed over the bank. Hey, its Oct. 27. Shouldn’t he be in bed?” (Courtesy Photo / David Athearn)

“Our friend, Amal (The night visitor), came by at first light as we were having breakfast,” writes David Athearn. “He was bummed that I had taken down my bird feeders, so he left a steaming #2 in the yard and headed over the bank. Hey, its Oct. 27. Shouldn’t he be in bed?” (Courtesy Photo / David Athearn)

This photo shows the paw print of a bear on the Montana Creek Trail on Nov. 4. (Courtesy Photo / Roman Motyka)

This photo shows the paw print of a bear on the Montana Creek Trail on Nov. 4. (Courtesy Photo / Roman Motyka)

A person makes their way along the Mendenhall Wetlands Trail in early November. (Courtesy Photo / Deana Barajas)

A person makes their way along the Mendenhall Wetlands Trail in early November. (Courtesy Photo / Deana Barajas)

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