The MeatEater Podcast Ep. 814: Photographing Wolf Kills, Underwater Beavers, and Other Impossible Shots
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Dec 29, 2025 Ronan Donovan, a renowned conservation photographer and wildlife biologist known for his captivating National Geographic work, shares thrilling insights about photographing elusive wildlife. He recounts the challenges of capturing underwater beaver behavior, including long, cold stakeouts on ice. Donovan also discusses his adventures with Arctic wolves, sharing tales of playful gear-stealing antics and intimate predation moments. His transition from biology to photography and focus on conservation storytelling adds depth to his incredible experiences.
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Three Winters To Photograph Beavers
- Ronan Donovan recounts being assigned to photograph beavers under ice and spending three winters refining an elaborate live-feed camera setup.
- He drilled holes, ran lights and laptops on the ice, and endured long, cold stakeouts to capture the images.
Choose Clear Flowing Sites
- Pick beaver sites with flowing clear water and upstream filters to minimize suspended sediment.
- Avoid stagnant tannin-rich ponds because sediment never settles and ruins underwater clarity.
Beavers Engineer Winter Refugia
- Beavers build deep excavated pools and massive submerged food caches that function as winter refugia.
- Their engineering creates deep water, lodges, and runway entrances that shape whole stream morphology.