Rylee was born and raised at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah, with red rock playgrounds to the south and powder-soft ski trails to the north. Inspired by icons such as Jonathan Scott and Steve Irwin, her unwavering passion for animals found an outlet through the camera lens. Initially a pastime, photography became a mission to support conservation efforts through visual storytelling. From the majestic Alaskan brown bears to the graceful shorebirds of the Great Salt Lake, Rylee's photographs immortalize the enchanting species she encounters. An ambassador for Girls Who Click, Rylee empowers aspiring young female photographers through workshops and mentoring.

Rylee's zeal for wildlife also guided her academic pursuits. She graduated from Utah State University in 2019 with a wildlife ecology and management degree. A research enthusiast, she has delved into the study of killer whales in Washington, cougars near her alma mater and carnivore interactions in Oregon. Post-graduation, she served as a ranger in Katmai National Park, managing and collecting data on brown bears. Not only did this gorgeous state become a second home to her, but she fell in love with the bears and all of their unique personalities.

Rylee decided to make a switch to the guiding industry in 2021 as a way to stay connected to wild ecosystems and show world travelers the natural wonders she so deeply loves. Beginning with a season in Yellowstone’s wild wintery landscapes, she continued on to lead trips viewing brown bears and kayaking with humpback whales around Juneau, Alaska. A Nat Hab Expedition Leader in U.S. national parks since 2023, Rylee gets to connect travelers to these wild places once again and is stoked to lead adventures with a conservation- and sustainability-focused mindset. When she isn’t on expeditions, Rylee is pursuing a master’s in biology at Northern Michigan University, investigating factors influencing gut microbiome diversity in African herbivores. She hopes that the results from this project could shed more light on how animals adapt to changing environments on a physiological level. You can learn more about her research here.