Wild

Gus, the largemouth bass has become quite an attraction at this family cottage in Ontario, Canada. He was living under the family's swim raft and showing serious curiosity when they swam around the raft. He often swam around their feet as they stirred up the sediment, probably looking for anything edible that was disturbed. As he became more used to the family, he would swim closer and closer to look at their faces under the water. The family was delighted with this friendly fish and they fed him a few worms by hand. He eagerly accepted the treats and almost instantly, he began begging for more. He started nibbling at their fingers and swimming up to their goggles to look them in the eye with his best fishy face. Soon, Gus was swimming between family members and under their arms, through their legs, and all around their faces, with the trust of a family dog. He even seemed to enjoy a belly rub now and then. When Serena, the daughter in the family swam around the small island, Gus followed her, leading at times, swimming just in front of her face as she completed the fifteen minute loop around the entire shore. This is highly unusual because the lake is full of pike and very large bass that would be able to make a meal of a 2-3 pound bass like Gus. Dave made the mistake of swimming out to the raft with no shirt on and Gus was more than curious about what he saw. Without warning, Gus was suddenly latched onto Dave with great enthusiasm. Dave screamed in shock and swam away from the raft while his wife laughed uproariously from the beach.

Humpback whales are one of the most majestic and fascinating creatures on the planet. They possess an intelligence and level of understanding that is not far behind that of humans. In fact, as recently as 100,000 years ago, whales and dolphins were the most intelligent creatures alive, even surpassing our own ancestors. The humpbacks' communication is so sophisticated that we cannot decipher it ourselves. However, we do recognize that their extremely complex songs are loops of repeating sounds that may last as long as 20 minutes and can echo through the water for hundreds of miles. Scientists have included recordings of their songs on the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft that are currently traveling through space beyond our own solar system. The humpback whales are a mix of beauty and mystery like no other creatures. Whales are the biggest animals to inhabit our planet, ever. Even the long extinct dinosaurs were not as large as our whales. Their evolution into the most massive creatures to ever live defies much of what we know about science and bio mechanics. The more we learn about them, the more we realize how much we do not yet understand. And of all the whales, the humpbacks are the ones that we recognize most readily and the ones we identify with the most. Their wonderful, leaping breaches are a true spectacle, and their haunting and endearing songs captivate us completely. To have the privilege of swimming beside one and looking it in the eye is unforgettable. This humpback whale has ascended from the ocean floor to breath and to greet a bunch of thrilled swimmers. It looks them curiously in the eyes as it rolls invites them to play. This group of whale enthusiasts has slipped into the water to observe the whale from a respectful distance but the curious animal decided to come closer for a good look at them. The great beast sang to them with his powerful voice. To their extreme delight, he came within arm's length and stared straight at them with a lingering look as he slowly rolled on his side for a leisurely pass. The result was what seemed to be a request for a belly rub, much as you would expect from a large dog. As tempting as it might be to touch this whale, watchful guides are always present in the water to remind people that there are rules that must be respected. We are guests in their domain and physical contact must be avoided. For those who met this playful and curious whale, it was a moment that they will remember forever.

A drone glides effortlessly over the rolling fields of Ontario farm country. Below, golden waves of wheat ripple in the breeze, stretching to the horizon. Red barns and white silos dot the landscape like storybook miniatures. In the distance, a line of sleek wind turbines turns slowly against a brilliant blue sky, their blades slicing through the air with quiet grace. The sun casts long, warm shadows, bathing the countryside in a golden glow as the drone soars onward, capturing the harmony between rural tradition and renewable energy. The scene is like something from a movie as this footage carries you on the breeze, weaving between the turbines. The windmills are giants that tower over the trees and the fields like behemoths. Their size and power make them a sight to behold as they majestically stand in the setting sun. Whether we embrace the new technology or face it with trepidation, the turbines are a thing of beauty.