“I've followed Aspen's photography for awhile now, and when she announced that she would be doing guides in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, I jumped at the chance. I had to wait a couple months and it was well worth the wait! We saw so many animals, from otters, to rattlesnakes, to even endangered red wolves. If you're a wildlife photographer or just enjoy wildlife viewing, a guide with Aspen is like Christmas Day.” - Steven B.

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“If you’re reading this, you now what the ARNWR has to offer. I can’t say enough positive things about Aspen’s wildlife tour- she is a very knowledgable, passionate, and kind guide who you can tell truly loves the animals native to region. Just a short trip from the OBX, Aspen offers a truly unique experience and an opportunity to spot the critically endangered American Red Wolf, among other wildlife. We need to do all we can do to help protect these magnificent and much-unjustly- maligned wolves, and the first step towards that is in knowing that they exist and seeing them first-hand.” - Danny & Anna B.

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“Aspen is a very ethical tour guide who provides the ins and outs of the refuge and how to look for wildlife. She also does what she can to provide a red wolf viewing while demonstrating the best regard for such a critically endangered species. Even when seeing red wolves didn't work out for us, we got to see numerous other animals including black bears, timber rattle snakes, otters, and alligators.” - Leah T.

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“We arranged an all-day trip to Alligator River National Wildlife Refugees and weren’t disappointed.  Aspen, our tour guide, kept our attention throughout the entire 12-hour day with so much knowledge that she shared. I loved singing along with Aspen to some good old 80's songs while searching for wildlife.

We saw Barred Owls, Bears, Hawks and even a young bobcat during our visit.! We did not find any Red Wolves, not of any fault of Aspens she kept on looking and looking in several locations so I could see an endangered Red Wolf in the wild. I think she was more disappointed than I was. This just means another trip back for me and I will be reaching back out to Aspen for my next visit! 

Aspen was very patient, with me as I asked so many questions, she is so knowledgeable about all the wildlife in the refuge. I fully recommend Aspen to anyone who is interested in finding as many wildlife species in ARNWR as possible. She is passionate about all the wildlife in not baiting them or imprinting on them, and she was always aware of the animal's behavior while we were viewing them from a safe distance. She could tell by their behaviors when it was time for us to leave. 

Aspen thank you for sharing your passion with me, I had an incredible adventure with you!” - Joyce M.

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“I was at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge 18 minutes West of Manteo, North Carolina last week. I had read reviews about it and was unsure that I'd see anything interesting, but I went there at dawn and dusk a number of days in a row and it was great. I did hire Aspen from 'Wildlife with Aspen' (https://wildlifewithaspen.com/) as a guide for a half day because I wanted to make sure I saw wildlife and learn more about the endangered red wolves in the area. She was great, and she helped me well beyond the half a day for which I paid for her services. If you were ever going to go here for a few days, I'd recommend that you hire her for the first day, as the tips she gives you will come in handy for the rest of your visit. Also, she's well connected with all of the other guides, which helps as they locate animals. I really like how passionate she is about the animals and how she balances trying to make sure her clients get their money's worth but also making sure not to intrude on the wildlife. I saw a ton of animals--probably 25+ black bears, 5+ red wolves, at least two coyotes, a large alligator, an opossum, a barred owl, a sparrow hawk, an american bittern, blue herons, turkey vultures, northern harriers, turtles, snakes, and a couple of different kinds of hawks.” - Dave S.

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“Having the opportunity to spend time with someone who not only knows the science but knows the individual animals is an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed. This is especially true when the animals you may see are so rare that only a handful of people have had the opportunity to spend time with them. Aspen combines a deep knowledge of the science along with a long term relationship with these animals to provide an unforgettable experience.” - Michelle G.

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“Aspen’s knowledge of wildlife in and around Alligator River is something photographers and wildlife enthusiasts should take advantage of. If you are looking for an ethical way to not only observe but learn about the history of red wolves in the wild, Aspen comes highly recommended!” - Amanda B.