I often find my inspiration for projects from my personal experience growing up in Utah. Being an advocate for animals, I have noticed Utah’s natural world start to disappear. Every year more animals are becoming endangered and soon we may live in a world where certain species may only be seen through photographs or in museums. 

 

The animals I have chosen to photograph have gone through the taxidermy process, because this is the way we will likely see them in the future. They include the black-footed ferret, grizzly bear, prairie dog, and spotted owl, among others*. Understanding how different species depend on their ecosystems and how outside environmental, agricultural, and human influences affect them are important to this project. It may take time for a species to become endangered due to a loss of habitat, but the stakes are high. Currently, over 150 endangered species in the world go extinct every day.