WASHINGTON, D.C. — National Wildlife® magazine has announced the winners of its 2025 National Wildlife Photo Contest. The annual contest, now in its 54^th year, received nearly 30,000 submissions from more than 3,200 photographers across the United States and around the world. The stunning images highlight the diversity and majesty of wildlife, plants, and landscapes from across the globe.

The winning photographers hail from Wyoming to Pennsylvania nationwide and countries from Italy to Bahrain.

“In reviewing this year’s photo contest entries, our judges noted a couple of unmistakable themes. First, there are astonishing glimpses of nature’s sheer strength, from an onrush of lava in Iceland to a shimmering burn set to contain a wildfire in Pennsylvania. And then there are surprises that defy the everyday: a night bus of nautical hitchhikers, a fox straight out of a fairy tale. That ability to amaze—that’s also the power of nature,” wrote Jennifer Wehunt, editorial director of National Wildlife magazine, in the article accompanying the photos.

Photographers who enter the contest range from award-winning professionals to avid amateurs to young budding naturalists and help inspire people to care about wildlife and wild lands. By submitting their work, each photographer also supports the National Wildlife Federation’s efforts to protect wildlife species and their habitats—a mission that’s more important today than ever before.

In addition to the grand prize, the National Wildlife Federation announced first- and second-place awards in each of eight categories: Mammals, Birds, Baby Animals, Landscapes & Plants, People in Nature, Other Wildlife, Young Nature Photographers, and Mobile. A single winner was also chosen in the Portfolio category. Photographers can enter next year's contest beginning January 14, 2026.