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Whether you wield a smartphone or a zoom lens, you’ll find photo-worthy subjects at Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge abounds with opportunities, especially along the Wildlife Drive and at the Mandy Lake Observation Platform.

Know before you go

• Personal and commercial still photography is allowed and does not require a special use permit.
• Refuge lands and trails are open from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset, daily.
• No items, including photography blinds or game cameras, may be left overnight.
• Sets and props are not permitted; tripods are not considered a prop.
• Please refer to the full list of refuge rules and policies before visiting.

Wildlife and Nature Photography Ethics

• Be sure to give wildlife space. Approaching an animal to closely may stress or threaten them. If you notice the animal becoming uncomfortable, back away.
• Do not put yourself between a parent and its young and don’t encroach on nests or dens.
• Don’t interfere with an animal’s natural behavior. Just observe. This behavior is what makes wildlife photography so much fun!
• Don’t harass, make noises, or pursue an animal. This wastes its energy and interrupts its resting and feeding behaviors.
• Don’t feed or bait wildlife on National Wildlife Refuges.
• Leave what you find. Don’t remove anything from the Refuge. You may think that rock or flower is beautiful, but leave it where you find it so someone else can enjoy it too. It is against the law to remove most natural items from the Refuge.
• Leave no trace. If you bring something into the woods take it out with you as well.
• Clean your shoes and equipment when you leave one site and move to another. Seeds can stick in cracks or in mud that you may have picked up at one site and be transported to another. It is important to remove these seed sources so you don’t accidentally spread exotic or  invasive species invasive species
  An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
  
  Learn more about invasive species . This will help keep ecosystems pristine.

Wildlife Photography Tips

• Be patient. Great wildlife shots take time. Find a place to sit and wait quietly and the wildlife may come to you.
• Do some research. If you understand the animal, plant or object you are trying to photograph it will be easier to find and photograph without disturbing its natural behavior.
• Camouflage yourself. If animals can't see or hear you, they will be more relaxed.
• Watch what is in your background. Distracting backgrounds can cause your subject to get lost in the photo.
• Figure out the best lighting. Don’t take photos into the sun unless you are hoping for a silhouette. The hours just after dawn and before dusk tend to offer photographers the best lighting.
• Invest in a telephoto lens.
• Problems focusing? If your automatic focus isn’t working for you switch over to manual focus.
• Take a lot of photos. If you have a continuous shooting option on your camera, use it.
• If an animal is facing a certain way, give them a little room on the head end so it does not look like they are walking or flying off of the photo.