Reception and Book Signing with National Geographic Explorer and Big Cat Photographer Steve Winter at the Grove House in Mariposa on August 22, 2024
August 11, 2024 – Mariposa, CA – The National Wildlife Federation will be hosting awarding-winning wildlife photojournalist and National Geographic Explorer, Steve Winter, 
for a reception and book signing on Thursday, August 22 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Grove House in Mariposa. The event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and all proceeds benefit the non-profit National Wildlife Federation.
Steve Winter Credit: Sharon Guynup
His visit to the area is part of Wildlife Crossings Across America, a series of epic road trips that explore wildlife crossings and connectivity projects across the United States. These road-trips are intended to generate awareness for the perilous pathways of wildlife, showcase solutions that can save the lives of animals and raise awareness of the need for wildlife crossings. Led by Midpines resident Beth Pratt, California Regional Executive Director for the National Wildlife Federation, and Director of The Wildlife Crossing Fund, the team will be making over 30 stops across California from August 19 to August 28. One of the stops will feature the Mariposa Creek Parkway and the Sierra Foothill Conservancy.
Steve Winter has been a wildlife photojournalist for National Geographic Magazine for over two decades, producing stories on some of the world’s most elusive and iconic animals—and specializing in big cats. His documentary films on jaguars, leopards, tigers, and tree-climbing lions have aired on Nat Geo WILD and Disney+. He is a National Geographic Explorer and his work has been recognized with numerous international awards: he’s been named BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year and received top honors from World Press Photo. With his partner Sharon Guynup, he coauthored Tigers Forever and The Ultimate Book of Big Cats. His also took the now famous photo of P-22, the mountain lion who lived in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park for a decade, under the Hollywood sign.
Steve’s photo of P-22 was instrumental in rallying support for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing outside Los Angeles, now under construction, and he has joined forces with Beth to advocate for more wildlife crossing across the country. The road trip team also includes National Geographic Explorer, environmental journalist and author Sharon Guynup, and Renee Callahan and Marta Brocki, of ARC “Animal Road Crossing” Solutions. Studies show that roadways and major highways disrupt ecosystems, wreak havoc on wildlife and create serious hazards for drivers. There are an estimated one- to two- million collisions between cars and large animals every year in the United States, with an annual cost of over $9 billion. Research shows that they not only protect wildlife and the ecosystems where they are constructed, but green infrastructure and landscape connectivity structures also create jobs and boost local economies.
The Wildlife Crossings Across America road trip is a collaborative effort of the National Wildlife Federation’s #SaveLACougars Campaign, ARC Solutions, Big Cat Voices and The Wildlife Crossing Fund. The Wildlife Crossing Fund is a movement that aims to raise a half-billion dollars from private philanthropy and leverage public dollars: the goal is to accelerate construction of wildlife crossings across California, the United States, and beyond, reconnecting lands for our collective future. The Fund’s founding Partners are the Annenberg Foundation, the National Wildlife Federation, the California Natural Resources Agency, Dayna Bochco, and ARC Solutions.
The National Wildlife Federation is America's largest conservation organization with over 6 million supporters nationwide, uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
To learn more about the #SaveTheCougars campaign to build the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing visit https://savelacougars.org.
Mountain lion P22 below the Hollywood Sign Credit: Steve Winter
Source: Beth Pratt, National Wildlife Federation
