The Creature Catalog

Welcome to the Creature Catalog! This is our family’s compendium of 73 threatened species we have encountered in the wild. If you’re curious about how we chose these plants and animals or, in some cases, how they chose us, we encourage you to read our criteria for selection. Happy to receive your feedback and suggestions. This essay explains why the number 73. Clicking on each species below will give you the story of our encounter and more background information on why they’re threatened, resources, and ways you can help.

1. Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) Encountered as a family on 12/18/24 in our backyard Miami, Florida. Print is available here.

2. West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) Encountered as a family on 12/21/24 in the lagoon of Virginia Key in Miami, Florida. Print is here.

3. American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) Encountered as a family on 3/15/25 in the backwaters of the Everglades National Park, Florida. Artwork here.

4. Florida Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) Encountered on 7/1/25 in Jonathan Dickinson State Park

5. Sei Whale (Balaenoptera borealis) Possibly encountered as a family on 8/11/25 in Kenai Fjords National Park

6. Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) Possibly encountered as a family on 8/11/25 in Kenai Fjords National Park

7. Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) Encountered as a family on 8/11/25 in Kenai Fjords National Park

8. Hot Water Physa (Physella wrighti) Encountered as a family on 7/26/25 and then photographed on 9/17/25

9. TBD

10. TBD

11. TBD

12. TBD

13. TBD

14. TBD

15. TBD

16. TBD

17. TBD

18. TBD

19. TBD

20. TBD

21. TBD

22. TBD

23. TBD

24. TBD

25. TBD

26. TBD

27. TBD

28. TBD

29. TBD

30. TBD

31. TBD

32. TBD

33. TBD

34. TBD

35. TBD

36. TBD

37. TBD

38. TBD

39. TBD

40. TBD

41. TBD

42. TBD

43. TBD

44. TBD

45. TBD

46. TBD

47. TBD

48. TBD

49. TBD

50. TBD

51. TBD

52. TBD

53. TBD

54. TBD

55. TBD

56. TBD

57. TBD

58. TBD

59. TBD

60. TBD

61. TBD

62. TBD

63. TBD

64. TBD

65. TBD

66. TBD

67. TBD

68. TBD

69. TBD

70. TBD

71. TBD

72. TBD

73. TBD - Maybe we’ll continue???