After several years of being glued to timelines and render bars (ohhh those render barssss), we finally remembered that to continue building Nature Labs, documenting nature is kind of important, you know? So, this year, we actually made an effort to get outdoors every single month with camera in hand and, remarkably, we managed to capture something photogenic each time. No deadlines yelling at us (actually that’s a lie), no batteries dying mid-take (also a lie), just us chasing light and the occasional cooperative subject. Although a lot of the fun stuff we captured was on video (always need more video for Nature Labs!), turns out still photography is still a thing too, and it’s pretty fun!
Enjoy our top images and video captures by month, and a big HAPPY NEW YEAR to you!
January
This encounter came from a moment when our wildlife eyes were still a little out of practice after months (years) of nonstop Nature Labs productions. Our first day back in the field, Jill suddenly yelled that she’d spotted a huge, majestic moose looming behind a snow pile. We quickly maneuvered back, hearts racing…only to discover that the ‘moose’ was, in fact, a coyote. How do you mix that up?! Once our expectations (and egos) settled, it turned into a perfect afternoon, watching the coyote quietly mouse for food, then curl up for a nap right beside our car.
February
Otters are one of our favourite animals, so after a long drought of sightings, this encounter felt especially sweet. On a very crispy winter morning, we discovered an otter family popping in and out of holes in a frozen lake, pausing to chew on very fresh sashimi. Watching them surface, snack, and disappear again was pure joy, as well as a gentle reminder of how special it is to witness these playful creatures in the wild.
March
This year marks two notable anniversaries: our ten year wedding anniversary and, proceeded by a week, our first photographic encounter with a marten. And guess who decided to help us mark these anniversaries with us? You guessed it, a marten.
We’ve had tremendous luck over the last decade with the marten in Mount Robson Provincial Park where we focus much of our Nature Labs work, but oddly we usually only have luck in odd years. It just so happens this was an off year and luck was very much on our side. In the field for very different reasons than photography, we chose to spend it returning to our roots, seeing what animals we could find to share the day. We always hope to find martens in February, but how about stumbling across several martens? Nope, that wasn’t on the bingo card.
Alas, Simon quite unexpectedly found himself in the middle of what appeared to be a marten love triangle. A marten to the left, a marten to the right…and one standing right in front of him. Too close for video, Simon brushed off the rust and fumbled his way back into photography. Not remotely concerned about the human, the marten never even looked at Simon, giving him ample time to catch the standing marten against the dark forest backdrop. While the third marten was in said woods, the second marten was just behind Simon’s feet, posing nicely as well, seen only by Jill. If only she was prepared and had a camera too.
Not a bad anniversary, and a delightful (forced) adventure back into photography.
April
By early April, we were already riding high on a string of unforgettable wildlife encounters. A trip into the mountains to film stand-ups for Simon’s speaking work with Speakers’ Spotlight gave us another excuse to be out in the wild – and, apparently, to provide live entertainment for the local wolf pack. Judging by what happened next, they were likely listening politely from the trees, wondering when Simon was finally going to wrap it up.
Almost immediately after Simon wrapped his stand-ups, a young wolf wandered into the middle of the road, as if it had been sent out to check on the strange humans who would not stop talking. Completely unfazed by our presence, it cocked its head with pure curiosity. But not at us.
Then we heard it: an incredible chorus of howls. Four or five different wolves, calling from all directions. We couldn’t see them, but the soundtrack alone provided a memory we will never forget.
The young wolf, meanwhile, had other priorities. For at least 30 minutes, we watched it toss sticks, bounce around, and ignore its elders entirely. Just like any dog, it wanted to play. A fun reminder that even in wolf society, teenagers don’t listen – and that the line between our worlds is thinner (and funnier) than we often assume.
Oh! And if the footage is a bit shaky, try filming in workwear, with the camera very much not set-up for wildlife filming!
May
We were in awe to witness a quiet, joyful moment with a saw-whet owl fledgling. We were able to watch two fledglings – our first saw-whet young – from a respectful distance as they slept, stretched, scratched, and went about their day, including one memorable moment when a pellet was politely produced (and caught on video). Beyond the charm of the owls themselves, the experience marked a meaningful return to still photography after several years focused on video work for Nature Labs, a gentle reminder of the joy of slowing down and simply observing. A gigantic thank you to Kerri Martin for sharing this moment with us.
June
Many of you know that foxes are Jill’s favourite, which is why we were absolutely overjoyed to discover several fox dens this spring – including one family we have been following/documenting since 2010. One den even featured kits sporting the beautiful cross colour phase. Watching these tiny foxes play, tumble, and quietly practice their survival skills never gets old. It’s a privilege. Every. Single. Time.
July
It had been a long while since we spent some quality time with the pika…probably since we tied the bow on the wildlife vignette we created about these tiny alpine water-purifying experts. Honestly, we can’t think of anyone who doesn’t find these little guys absolutely adorable (though no one loves them like our friend and champion extraordinaire Jamie Bussey). Watching them bustle about, so busy and curious, is a perfect reminder of how even the tiniest creatures can leave a big impression.
August
We were beginning to realize that we were on a serious roll with wildlife. Luck had been on our side all year and it didn’t let up in August, a month that’s usually slow for sightings. We were thrilled to encounter multiple grizzly bear families in one of our favourite haunts. Honestly, it’s always a good month when you can say you’ve watched a grizzly and its cubs wandering through the wild!
September
We had to take a six-hour drive to film a very specific intersection in Mount Robson Provincial Park, the home of Nature Labs. Sound weird? Well, we are weird. But as luck would have it, that specific intersection led to an unexpected bonus on the way home: the elk rut. Elk are amazing at the best of times and throw in the prehistoric sounds of the rut, and you get a killer time in nature. But how about adding water to the scene? Maybe magic light? Maybe a reflection? How about some rut behaviour too? Are we getting greedy? No, we’re just enjoying the best moment from our September.
If you’re interested in viewing this very specific intersection, which is obviously even better than this elk video, have a look at Chapter 2: Canada at a Crossroads, our new series for high school students!
October
Split Lip is one of the Bow Valley’s most famous grizzly bears, right up there with the Boss. Our wildlife lucky streak held strong, as we were lucky enough to have a private moment with this big bruin as he was gearing up for the winter ahead. What an impressive bear!
November
On Jill’s birthday, she insisted on testing our now well-established 2025 luck and headed into the wilds to see what we could find. We saw a big grizzly – not bad for November – but that wasn’t as epic as our encounter with two bull elk having a little post-rut fight. And if that wasn’t enough, how about a wolf pup from this year’s litter? Unbelievable! Safe to say, it was a very happy birthday for Jill!
December
After a year of chasing wildlife, we finally decided to chase some lights instead and headed out to film the northern lights. The sky put on a proper show, swirling green and purple like it was trying to audition for a cosmic dance-off. We manged a few timelapse films of the night, and a couple of images too.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our top images and videos of 2025! Here’s to getting out even more in 2026!
Behind the scenes, Nature Labs is also gearing up for a big year ahead, including the release of the final chapters of our Canada at a Crossroads series – a timely, inquiry-driven piece designed to spark critical thinking and meaningful discussion amongst high school students. We’re also collaborating with several incredible organizations on some truly exciting projects, with more to share as we head into 2026.
If you know a high school teacher looking for a (free!) helping hand in the classroom, be sure to tell them about Nature Labs and help make their 2026 engaging, immersive, and full of curiosity.