Fear Is the Point
A few days ago my mom sent me a text after watching my latest video exposing Alaska’s aerial bear slaughter program.
“I saw your video about the slaughter. It really hits the heart! So disturbing. I’m also afraid you might be targeted!”
I know she wrote it out of love.
If you have children, you understand. You never stop worrying about them, no matter how old they become.
But her message also made me realize something important.
Fear is exactly what people in positions of power hope for.
Not necessarily fear of physical harm, but fear of speaking up. Fear of criticism. Fear of losing opportunities. Fear of being attacked online. Fear of being labeled difficult. Fear of standing alone.
History is full of people who relied on that fear.
Because when people stay quiet, power goes unchallenged.
I’ve spent much of my career working with governments around the world. I know there are many good people inside these institutions who genuinely want to do the right thing. But I also know that governments, corporations, and other powerful organizations sometimes make mistakes. Sometimes they become defensive. Sometimes they try to control the narrative rather than confront the truth.
When that happens, speaking up matters.
Will I be criticized? Probably.
Will some people try to discredit me? Almost certainly.
If I’m unfairly targeted, I’ll respond with facts, transparency, and respect. I have no interest in personal attacks. I care about evidence, honesty, and the animals that cannot speak for themselves.
What I won’t do is allow fear to dictate what I say.
Because here’s the irony.
Those who try to silence criticism often appear powerful, but they are usually afraid themselves.
They’re afraid of public scrutiny.
They’re afraid of transparency.
They’re afraid of ordinary people discovering that their voices matter.
They’re afraid because one person asking difficult questions becomes ten. Ten become a hundred. A hundred become thousands.
Real power has never belonged solely to those in office. It has always belonged to people willing to stand together.
Every major conservation victory we celebrate today happened because enough ordinary people refused to stay silent.
Whaling didn’t decline because governments woke up one morning with a change of heart.
The recovery of bald eagles didn’t happen because someone powerful suddenly decided it should.
Protected areas weren’t created because they were politically convenient.
They happened because countless individuals cared enough to speak, write, vote, donate, organize, and refuse to accept that destruction was inevitable.
The same is true today.
Whether it’s bears in Alaska, orangutans in Sumatra, gorillas in Africa, or wolves anywhere in the world, lasting change comes when enough people decide that silence is no longer an option.
That’s why I started The Wildlife Collective.
Not simply to photograph wildlife.
Not simply to lead tours.
But to help people fall in love with the natural world deeply enough that they’re willing to stand up for it.
The bears don’t have a vote.
They don’t have lawyers.
They don’t have social media accounts.
They only have us.
So yes, my mom worries. And I understand why.
But if we allow fear to keep us quiet, then fear has already won.
I’d rather use my voice.
And I hope you’ll use yours too.
Because one voice is easy to ignore.
Thousands are impossible.
Quote of the Week
The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.
— Alice Walker
Alaska Bear Camp Openings
Not far from where Alaska's aerial bear slaughter program is taking place, we host our annual Alaska Bear Camp. The contrast couldn't be greater. In one area, helicopters are being used to gun bears down from the sky; in another, people travel from around the world to watch these same animals thrive in the wild. Bear viewing generates tens of millions of dollars for Alaska's economy each year and supports hundreds of local jobs, demonstrating that living bears are worth far more than dead ones. We now have just two spots left on our August 16–20 Alaska Bear Camp. Of all the places I've been fortunate enough to visit around the world, this remains my favorite place on Earth. We'll be there during the peak of the salmon run, when we typically see 20 to 40 brown bears each day fishing for red salmon right in front of us. If you've ever dreamed of experiencing wild brown bears in Alaska, I'd love to have you join us. Please send me a message if you're interested.
Thank you for being part of The Wildlife Collective. Together, we are helping build a deeper connection between people and the natural world while supporting the conservation of wildlife and wild places. Stay tuned for more stories from the field, conservation news, photography tips, and unforgettable wildlife encounters from around the globe.
Until next time, keep exploring, keep learning, and keep falling in love with the wild.
Zac Mills
The Wildlife Collective
I've always been frightened of bears ( a nightmare I had as a child of a towering
grizzly bear chasing me, the details of which are still vivid). No matter. Bears are
magnificent creatures being hunted and killed in horrifying ways. Throughout
my long life - I'm heading into 83 - I've loved nature and ALL of its inhabitants.
The human ones? We're still struggling to put our unwarranted sense of
superiority and unchecked greed aside to live with, not in charge of this
glorious planet we call home. In these deeply troubling times, it is human to
be afraid. I have, however, long defined courage as feeling fear and acting
anyway. Thank you for your important posts. And I'm guessing your
mother is proud of you.