Tiger swallowtail on maple leaves, Michigan . . . the dramatically striped yet delicate butterfly on the deep red of the leaves in fall.

A cougar leaps through the winter landscape, focussed and powerful, alert and capable in its wilderness environment. Cougars are known to live in Michigan.

A beautiful mountain lion stalks silently through the forest shadows in the winter wilderness.

The brilliance of a yellow warbler in the hedgerow. These beautiful birds are widespread accross the Americas including Michigan.

The beautiful yet elusive marten, supreme predator of the treetops. Although the American marten lives in Michgan, it is rarely seen, spending most of its time in the tops of conifer trees.

A trumpeter swan launches into the air, you can almost hear the sound of the wind through it’s wing feathers as it powers its way upwards. These beautiful birds are one of the species found in Michigan.

The bald eagle, proud, majestic, powerful and free, the symbol of America. (sometimes seen in Michigan).

A powerful bald eagle lunges towards a fish in the water.

Turkey vulture . . . strange, wrinkled, yet amazing in its own way. These are widespread in America, including Michigan.

Skunk . . . not the most popular of animals due to its ability to defend itself, but beautiful none the less, and widespread in America including Michigan.

A stunningly beautiful photo of a great gray owl in frosted landscape. These beautiful and splendid birds are one of the owl species living in Michigan.

Loon with its chick, on the calm waters. The cry of the loon is one of the most evocative of bird sounds, suggesting still waters in vast wilderness. Loons are available on car licence plates in Michgan.

Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge, known for migrating wildfowl and rare plant species.