Nature Aware

What if the wild isn't just something you watch—but something that watches you back? After a tragic event shattered his perspective and a medical diagnosis threatened his balance, author Rick Wood stepped into the Washington wilderness looking for healing. What he found was a profound awakening. Nature Aware is a thrilling, visually spectacular journey that captures the exact moment human and animal eyes meet in mutual respect. From rafting down a river flanked by over 150 bald eagles to tracking Washington's rarest, endangered rodents, Wood's gripping storytelling drops you right into the heart of the action. Inside this stunning narrative and pictorial, you'll experience: Adrenaline-Pumping Encounters: Get up close and personal with wild foxes, harbor seals, and apex orcas. Vibrant Visuals: Over 45 breathtaking, full-color photographs collected from six years in the field. A Journey of Healing: Discover how a quiet quest for health on Camano Island turned into an extraordinary wildlife odyssey. "I never set out to become a nature photographer. It just kind of happened as a by-product of sitting in one spot long enough and quiet enough to let nature come to me." More than just a book, this is an invitation to slow down, quiet the noise, and truly see the majesty waiting just outside your door. Are you ready to become Nature Aware? The book is a personal journey of insight and reflection, told through firsthand anecdotes and stunning wildlife photography. Nature Aware is the culmination of more than six years of exploration and discovery in the wild (and not-so-wild) areas of Washington State. Written by award-winning journalist and photographer Rick Wood, the first edition of this book was a critical success and bestseller. This new edition updates information about some of the conservation issues examined in the book.