WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Wildlife Federation is proud to announce the winners of the 49th annual National Wildlife® Photo Contest. Reflecting the glorious diversity of life on Earth — from Alaskan glaciers and Kenyan plains to serene Florida wetlands and starry Montana skies — the prestigious contest drew more than 29,700 entries from around the globe.

“Every photographer who enters our contest is someone we think of as a ‘Nature’s Witness,’ using their passion for the natural world to create beautiful images that can inspire conservation,” said Lisa Moore, editorial director and editor-in-chief of National Wildlife magazine. “Whether they’re alone in the dark shooting the Milky Way or quietly strolling through a neighborhood to capture the beauty of a butterfly, they witness the majesty — and fragility — of nature and the world we’re all committed to protect.”

By submitting their images, each photographer also supports the National Wildlife Federation’s effort to protect wildlife species and their habitats — a mission that’s more important today than ever before.

This year’s winners hail from four different nations — Canada, Greece, Namibia and the United States — and 11 U.S. states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Montana, New Jersey, New York and Wisconsin. Whether lifelong professionals or avid amateurs, all display a love of nature and an appreciation of how photography can inspire people to care about wildlife and wild lands, and to work for their protection.

In addition to the Grand Prize, the National Wildlife Federation announced first- and second-place awards in each of eight categories: Mammals, Birds, Baby Animals, Landscapes & Plants, People in Nature, Other Wildlife, Youth and Mobile — a new category for photographers capturing amazing images on mobile devices.

The National Wildlife Federation congratulates all 17 winners and thanks everyone who participated in the 2020 contest. All nature photographers, both amateur and professional, are also invited to enter the 50th annual contest, opening January 13, 2021.

The winning images below are free for use and distribution with proper attribution given to the photographers and National Wildlife® magazine. Photo credits should be displayed as “[Photographer name], 2020 National Wildlife® Photo Contest.” Please reach out to Jessica Ordóñez-Lancet at OrdonezLancetJ@nwf.org for print-sized versions.