Madi in the Wild

Wildlife Biologist | Conservationist | Environmental Storyteller

Where conservation science meets the human story.

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Hi, I'm Madi

I'm a wildlife biologist, conservationist, and environmental storyteller reporting on conservation, wildlife, and the people working to protect them.

From tracking jaguars and collaring elephants to tagging whale sharks and working as a zookeeper, every chapter of my journey leads back to one mission: protecting wildlife and encouraging others to explore the world with curiosity and purpose...

Curious how it all started? Tap below to learn more about me!

About Madi

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Whether you’re an aspiring conservationist looking for a way in, a fellow professional with a story or project to share, interested in collaborating, or simply have a conservation or travel story of your own, I’d love to hear from you.

The work is better when we learn, explore, and share it together.

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Juvenile Large-eyed False Cobra 😍 what’s not to love!?

Field day photo dump 🐍🌿

First slide is me at the start of the day. Last slide is me after discovering my shoes didn’t have the grip I anticipated. Invest in no-slip shoes, folks👍

After a long road-trip day through the mountains of Eastern Nepal, the @ncrcnepal team greeted us with a pretty great surprise: an Eastern Trinket Snake (Elaphe cantoris).

This snake is a non-venomous colubrid found in the mountain forests of the Himalayas. Not a bad way to end the day!

#nepalherps #snakesofnepal #herpetology

A day exploring Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) with @travelnepalnow. 🇳🇵

Kathmandu Durbar Square is the historic and cultural heart of Nepal’s capital, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Perched on a hill overlooking the city, nearby Swayambhunath is one of Nepal’s most sacred temples, where Hindu and Buddhist traditions have coexisted for centuries.

The incredible architecture, rich history, and the way these places bring together people from all walks of life never fail to fascinate me.

Thank you Raz!

#nepal #kathmandu

Just a couple iPhone photos from our surveys with @ncrcnepal ✨

-Mahabharat torrent frog, Amolops mahabharatensis
-Himalayan salamander, Tylototriton verrucosus
-False cobra, Pseudoxenodon macrops
-Himalayan toad, Duttaphrynus himalayanus
-Red necked keelback, Rhabdophis sps
-Annandale’s bush frog, Raorchestes annandalii
-Worm snake, Trachischium sps
-Bent-toed gecko, Cyrtodactylus
-a very good boy

All reptiles and amphibians were handled with permitted professionals (@ncrcnepal) in accordance with Nepalese regulations and established field protocols.

#herping #nepal #surveys #herpetology #conservation

Our team is back from the field in one piece, and I’m excited to say the trip was a major success!

First, I want to thank all of our partners in Nepal @ncrcnepal for welcoming us into your work with such incredible hospitality, enthusiasm, and passion. Your love for wildlife is contagious, and I am deeply grateful for your willingness to involve us. I always leave having learned so much more from you all!

Second, a huge thank you to @katieadamsonconservationfund for supporting our partners in Nepal and for having me lead this team to partake in amphibian and reptile conservation. It was an incredible honor, and I’m so grateful for this organization and its mission.

A special shoutout as well to Brent from @wandering_scales for collaborating with us to get locally made snake hooks and herping supplies to Nepal for this expedition. They held up great in the field!

Finally, thank you to my amazing team for embracing this first-time expedition and making it such a success. Everyone’s enthusiasm, positive attitude toward the leeches, and expertise in reptile conservation made this trip unforgettable. Truly the best crew, and I’ll never forget that one dog (iykyk).

I can’t wait to see how these projects continue to grow. Cheers to an incredible field season! 🐍🐸🇳🇵

It’ll probably be a few weeks before I can sort through all of my camera photos, but I’m excited to start sharing more from the expedition soon! Check out @ncrcnepal instagram page to learn more about the incredible work they’re doing!

A few clips from our visit to Swayambhunath Stupa, also known as the “Monkey Temple,” in the Kathmandu Valley.

Visiting this place never fails to amaze me. Watching Hindu and Buddhist traditions exist side by side, in harmony with monkeys and overlooking the city of Kathmandu, is always a special experience.

It will be a few weeks before I can download footage from my camera, so here are a few phone clips for now! We’re heading into the field tomorrow, and I’m excited to update on what we find a few weeks :)

As always, thank you to my friend Raz at @travelnepal.now for a memorable and educational time in Kathmandu

I spent some time in Seattle at the end of our road trip. While exploring the city, a sign covered in reptiles advertising Exquisite Creatures by Christopher Marley immediately caught my eye.

After reading about the exhibit’s ethical specimen sourcing and conservation focus, I decided to go.

I’m so glad I did.

Growing up fascinated by reptiles and all the small, often overlooked creatures, I’ve always felt it was difficult to communicate the intrinsic beauty I saw in them to the average person. It’s not that people are wrong, they simply experience nature through different perspectives, especially when animals are presented in their familiar contexts. As a zookeeper, bringing people face-to-face with living wildlife is incredibly powerful, and seeing animals move, interact, and behave naturally creates meaningful connections. But they’re still largely experienced within the context we expect.

What struck me about Exquisite Creatures was how it completely shifted that perspective. Displayed as works of art, each specimen’s colors, textures, patterns, and forms took center stage. Removed from their natural environments, visitors are invited to appreciate each organism simply for what it is.

There was something deeply compelling about that.

As I walked through the exhibit, I watched people lean in, ask questions, notice details they might have otherwise missed, and they seemed genuinely captivated.

It left me wondering: What gaps are we still not filling in conservation storytelling? Not because current approaches aren’t effective, they absolutely are, but because this experience made me curious about what else is possible. Who are we missing because we’re telling the same stories in the same ways? What new audiences might we reach by presenting nature in unexpected contexts and emphasizing its intrinsic beauty?

I’ve been thinking about those questions ever since. Thank you, Exquisite Creatures, for such a thought-provoking experience. The photos don’t do it justice!

My favorite time of year has finally arrived….tamarin free-ranging season! 🐒🌿

It was Gianna and Mattesichs first day doing the free-ranging program!

For those of you who are new here, our emperor tamarins have the opportunity to free range in one of our animal yards at the zoo under the direct supervision of our keeper team. Before they head outside, we follow a detailed training and safety protocol to ensure they’re ready to navigate the natural environment and consistently make choices that keep everyone comfortable with their exploration.

It’s always incredible to watch them use their natural behaviors, while enjoying the outdoors! They started off investigating some of the dense foliage next to their enclosure. I’m excited to watch their territory expand this summer!

Coast day photo dump 🌊✨

Finding sea stars at the beach would’ve been enough to make my day, but then we spotted three bald eagles and somehow stumbled upon the most incredible place to camp for the night.

Honestly, I don’t think the day could’ve gotten any better

Spent some time in Washington State and Canada road-tripping around with some incredible people! This was my favorite day🏔️

Full day hike in the mountains, North Cascades I LOVE YOU

My first time seeing an eastern yellow-bellied racer in Colorado! Great survey @co_parc team!

Was going to post these anyways but then I realized that Picaso turned 11 at the end of May! With each year that passes by, she only gets cuter and more high maintenance! Like mother like daughter 😍😍

The tamarins are outside and lookin CUTE! Here’s your proof

🦋New blog post-link in BIO

Want to help pollinators but have no idea where to start? I felt the same way.

Recently, my coworkers and I secured a grant that will direct $20,000 from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo toward pollinator conservation! As I dove deeper into monarch and pollinator research for this project and my own conservation interests, I was reminded that some of the most meaningful conservation actions don’t happen in distant wild places—they happen in our own communities, gardens, and backyards.

That realization inspired me to write this guide.

I wanted to create a resource that compiles what I have learned into one place, helping people understand why pollinators matter and find conservation actions that fit their space, budget, and lifestyle. Whether you have acres of land, a small backyard, an apartment balcony, or simply an interest in wildlife, there are ways to make a meaningful impact.

The best part?

Pollinator conservation is one of the most accessible forms of conservation, which is why I’m so passionate about it. Small actions taken by thousands of people can create real change.

🐝 Plant a native flower. 🦋 Support monarch habitat. 🌻 Reduce pesticide use. 📱 Participate in community science.

No action is too small.

Link in bio🐝

#PollinatorConservation #ColoradoWildlife #MonarchButterfly #NativePlants #pollinators

Been enjoying the last couple weeks staying close to home and getting ready for all the summer adventures ahead! ☀️ Between travels, we’ve got all kinds of wildlife monitoring coming up; bluebirds, bumble bees, monarchs, herps, and more.

As the weather warms up and you spend more time outside, don’t forget to upload the species you spot to iNaturalist (when appropriate and without revealing sensitive species locations). 🌿
Your observations help support research and conservation. Yay summer!

I was scouting out rattlesnake dens with Johnny and Brent the other day when we stumbled across this beauty!! My FIRST Prarie Rattlesnake in Colorado!!! Hopefully, we can increase that number for me this summer but for now, I’m just happy to say I finally saw one😃

We safely moved him across the road and continued our search. Once den locations are identified, we can rope off those areas to reduce the chances of unexpected encounters between people and wildlife.

A very eventful Dippin’ Dots run (shoutout Jason, Roger, Atka)!

Also, we did not capitalize on the Dr. Pepper flavor so let us know if it’s life changing or not🤝

Bacalar, Mexico 🇲🇽 My FAVORITE stop on my trip!

Nicknamed the “Lagoon of Seven Colors,” Bacalar looks unreal in person, with layers of turquoise, deep blue, and white blending together as you paddle through the water.

This lagoon is fed by hidden cenotes beneath the surface, creating one of Mexico’s most unique ecosystems. It’s also home to stromatolites, ancient, living formations that are some of the oldest life forms on Earth.

They may look like rocks, but they’re alive and incredibly fragile. So if you visit: no stepping, no touching, and stick to reef-safe sunscreen only!

I extended my stay here and enjoyed evenings out with friends in the small town, and days exploring the lagoon! 10/10 recommend!

Weekly shenanigans with “James P.” and others 🫶

Road-tripped out to the North Platte River to witness one of North America’s most impressive migratory birds, the Sandhill Crane. It was a very gloomy spectacle but well worth the visit 🌧️💙

I’ve been incredibly blessed to have encountered a variety of species all over the world. Each experience has shaped my passion for wildlife conservation in its own way.

Here are my top 10 wildlife encounters that have been defining moments in my life:

1. Being part of collaring a wild female elephant for conservation and research, done professionally with @tanzanianelephant_foundation.

2. The most unexpected surprise: African wild dog stopping to sunbathe in the road on our journey to the airport.

3. Discovering juvenile Gharial….enough said.

4.My first time seeing African elephants after hearing their trumpets for hours from afar. I was NOT expecting so many!!!

5. Getting lucky enough to spot and barely photograph a Black rhino from a helicopter

6. Randomly encountering a Boomslang after being entranced by them my entire childhood.

7. Tracking Resplendent quetzal in Guatemala.

8. Seeing Nina, the hero of the Pantanal ❤️

9. An incredible day observing wildlife in Nepal, so many rhinos!!

10. Watching a Lion pride hunt together, with hyenas hunting across the way.

I love reflecting on these moments. I become even more connected to the mission of protecting wildlife and spreading hope for the future of conservation.
Happy World Wildlife Day 💚

Went on a beautiful hike in Rio de Janeiro and ran into these little guys🐒🌿

Common marmosets are incredibly adaptable and can often be found living in and around urban areas across Brazil. They have specialized lower incisors that allow them to gouge tree bark and extract sap as a primary portion of their diet!

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@madiinthewild

Madi in the Wild

Wildlife Biologist | Conservationist | Environmental Storyteller

Hi, I'm Madi

I'm a wildlife biologist, conservationist, and environmental storyteller reporting on conservation, wildlife, and the people working to protect them.

Swimming With Giants: How Whale Shark Conservation, Research, and Tourism Intersect

A Colorado Guide to Supporting Pollinators

A Winter Guide to Crested Butte: Skiing & Small-Town Charm

Featured Posts

Lets Connect

Get Monthly Updates

Follow Me

Connect with me on Instagram

Madi in the Wild

Wildlife Biologist | Conservationist | Environmental Storyteller

Hi, I'm Madi

I'm a wildlife biologist, conservationist, and environmental storyteller reporting on conservation, wildlife, and the people working to protect them.

Swimming With Giants: How Whale Shark Conservation, Research, and Tourism Intersect

A Colorado Guide to Supporting Pollinators

A Winter Guide to Crested Butte: Skiing & Small-Town Charm

Featured Posts

Lets Connect

Get Monthly Updates

Follow Me

​

Connect with me on Instagram