They captured the incredible diversity of backyard wildlife. See this year’s honorable mentions.
With nearly 9,000 photos submitted by thousands of photographers worldwide, there were so many photos to celebrate! In addition to the winning photos, our judges selected these 66 photos as Honorable Mentions.
Not only are these photos beautiful, but they also showcase the massive impact that habitat gardens can have on wildlife and people.
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Terrie Jacobson
Two Whitetail Deer Fawns, Buford, Georgia
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Kevin Shi
Peregrine Falon, Orange County, California
NATIVE PLANTS IN THE GARDEN
Alton Marsh
Virginia Bluebells, Frederick, Maryland
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Christine Goddard
Wild Turkey in the Garden, Sudbury, Massachusetts
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Trey Lamkins
Polyphemus Moth on a Black-Eyed Susan, Nebraska City, Nebraska
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Michele Walfred
Wasp as a Predator of a Monarch Caterpillar, Lewes, Delaware
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Bryan Putnam
Green Frog and Its Reflection, Wilmington, North Carolina
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Kevin Shi
Great Horned Owl and Owlet, San Diego, California
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Marti Phillips
Verdin on a Cactus with Insects in its Mouth, Tucson, Arizona
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Linda Souhrada
Green Anole Hunting in the Rudbeckia, Pine Mountain, Georgia
CANDID AND FUNNY MOMENTS IN THE GARDEN
Jack Renshaw
Green Heron with a Large Fish, Roswell, Georgia
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Glen Hudson
Young Armadillo in the Garden, Lee County, Texas
NATIVE PLANTS IN THE GARDEN
Shari Sprong
Milkweed on the Wind, Bridgewater, Massachusetts
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Claudia Cooper
Garter Snake in Rudbeckia Blossoms, Auburn, Washington
CANDID AND FUNNY MOMENTS IN THE GARDEN
Jenna Stirling
Sandhill Cranes Lessons in Foraging, Wildwood, Florida
NATIVE PLANTS IN THE GARDEN
Lynn O'Shaughnessy
Native Plants in the Circle Garden, Howell, Michigan
CANDID AND FUNNY MOMENTS IN THE GARDEN
Peter Hartlove
Hooded Merganser Pair, Antrim County, Michigan
NATIVE PLANTS IN THE GARDEN
Dawn Rucker
California Poppy and Verbena Lilacina, La Mesa, California
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Spencer Nickel
Black Bear Overlooking the Garden, Bailey, Colorado
SMALL SPACE GARDENS AND HABITAT
Sherry Schellenger
Native Flower Garden and an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Montross, Virginia
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Ahad Abid
Common Five-Lined Skink, Nashville, Tennessee
NATIVE PLANTS IN THE GARDEN
Brook Burling
Sundew: A Native Carnivorous Plant, Woodruff, Wisconsin
CANDID AND FUNNY MOMENTS IN THE GARDEN
Dr. S. S. Suresh
Sandhill Crane and Red-Winged Blackbird, Milford, Michigan
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Kevin Shi
Great Gray Owl, Minnesota
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Andrew Lincoln
Buttonhook Leafbeetle Jumping Spider on a Borage Flower, Napa Valley, California
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Heather Russell
Monarch Caterpillar on Common Milkweed, Black Mountain, North Carolina
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Sarah Do Nascimento
Six Spotted Fishing Spider, Conyers, Georgia
CANDID AND FUNNY MOMENTS IN THE GARDEN
Leslie Scopes Anderson
Red-Winged Blackbird on Cattails, Petaluma, California
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Kellie Carter
Raccoon and Kits, Newcastle, Oklahoma
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Mark Paul
Wilson's Snipe, Hinesburg, Vermont
NATIVE PLANTS IN THE GARDEN
Tracy Bagley
Fiddleheads, Asheville, North Carolina
CANDID AND FUNNY MOMENTS IN THE GARDEN
Becky Ross McRae
Chipmunk with a Full Mouth, Clemson, South Carolina
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Terrie Jacobson
Barred Owl in Spanish Moss, Lakeland, Florida
CANDID AND FUNNY MOMENTS IN THE GARDEN
Lisa Ann Fanning
Baltimore Oriole, Ohio
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Elaine Starr
Jumping Spider on Milkweed, Alexandria, Virginia
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Fran Reynolds
Racoon Kit in a Backyard Tree, Indianapolis, Indiana
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Tom Fenske
Wild Turkey, Corvallis, Oregon
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Cynthia Herrick
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Severn, Maryland
NATIVE PLANTS IN THE GARDEN
Sarah Cook
Bee Balm, Missoula, Montana
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Pratyaydipta Rudra
Hummingbird, Stillwater, Oklahoma
CANDID AND FUNNY MOMENTS IN THE GARDEN
Leslie Scopes Anderson
Black-Crowned Night-Heron Chick, Santa Rosa, California
SMALL SPACE GARDENS AND HABITAT
Carol Klein
Monarch on New England Aster in a Certified Wildlife Habitat, Wendell, North Carolina
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Mark Koster
Coatimundis, Pine, Arizona
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Bryan Putnam
Brown Carolina Mantis eating a Blue Dasher Dragonfly, Wilmington, North Carolina
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Halie Cook
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake, Agua Dulce, California
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Becky Ross McRae
Groundhog on a Stump, Clemson, South Carolina
SMALL SPACE GARDENS AND HABITAT
Patricia Oldfield
Container Garden, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
CANDID AND FUNNY MOMENTS IN THE GARDEN
Sherry Schellenger
Monarch Butterfly on my Camera, Montross, Virginia
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Terrie Jacobson
Cedar Waxwing, Scarborough, Maine
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Rachelle Leonardo
Yellow Garden Spider and Its Prey, Springfield, Missouri
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Rebecca Humes
Curious Gosling, Grand Rapids, Michigan
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Angela Camp
American Red Fox, Virginia
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Marti Phillips
Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Minneapolis, Minnesota
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Lynn O'Shaughnessy
Milkweed Leaf Beetle, Howell, Michigan
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Nancy Jones
American Goldfinch on Giant Coneflower, Bentonville, Arkansas
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Julie Janusweski
Virginia Opossum, Quincy, Illinois
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Jim Crotty
Black-Chinned Hummingbird in the Snow, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
SMALL SPACE GARDENS AND HABITAT
Ellen Kelley
Garden Plaque by the Pond, Kingman, Arizona
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Becky Ross McRae
Box Turtle in Fall Leaves, Bartlett, Tennessee
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Connie Rathbun
Cardinal and Hungry Brown-Headed Cowbird Chick, Omaha, Nebraska
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Gary Meyers
Painted Lady butterfly on Purple Coneflowers, Lafayette, Louisiana
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Trey Lamkins
Yellow Garden Spider Among the Purple Coneflowers, Nebraska City, Nebraska
CANDID AND FUNNY MOMENTS IN THE GARDEN
Carol DiQuilio
Gray Fox Cub Enjoying a Chew Stick, Johnson City, Texas
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Rodney Martinez
Bumblebee, Telluride, Colorado
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Devon Stivers
Young Mourning Dove, Shelby County, Kentucky
WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN
Bryan Lees
Chickadee Feasting on Goldenrod Seeds, Lyndhurst, New Jersey
The 2026 annual Garden for Wildlife Photo Contest will open to submissions on August 4th. The Grand Prize Winner and Runner-Up receive cash prizes, and all winning photos are published online.
Amateur and professional photographers, this contest is for you. Show us your most memorable images of backyard wildlife. Your photos inspire our millions of members and supporters to care about wildlife and to act on its behalf. By submitting your work, you also support the National Wildlife Federation’s mission, ensuring wildlife and people thrive in a rapidly changing world.
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