A Tennessee native, Teresa took a bold leap after graduating from college by moving to Germany to work on a forestry project outside Nuremberg in Bavaria. Her experiences in this job strengthened her innate interest in the natural world and supported her belief in respectful coexistence with everything wild, forming the foundation for her future occupational pursuits as a naturalist guide across North America, Asia and Europe. It was love at first breath of island air when Teresa stepped foot on Vancouver Island, her base for leading grizzly bear tours on the coast just opposite in mainland British Columbia. Commuting regularly between Canada and the U.S., these days Teresa has her own driving lane at the border crossing and the passport control agents in Victoria simply roll their eyes.

Teresa is thrilled that her passions have evolved into a career built upon sharing the untamed world with other nature enthusiasts who agree that wilderness deserves reverence and dedicated preservation. She spends the vast majority of her year viewing bears—from the coasts of Alaska to the shoreline of Hudson Bay, she’s been a bear junkie since she got hooked in 2009. Now a permanent transplant to the Pacific Northwest, the wilds of British Columbia and Alaska are her office, and her desk looks a lot like skiff with a small outboard. Teresa has also guided walking tours of the breeding and molting beaches of southern elephant seals on Peninsula Valdes in Argentinian Patagonia, as well as educational wine-tasting tours in central California’s Paso Robles AVA region. During the bears’ denning season, you'll find her south of the border observing gray whales along the Pacific Coast as they make their annual migration from their feeding grounds in Alaska to their breeding grounds in Mexico.

Upcoming Adventures with Teresa:
Polar Bears of Churchill
The Great Alaskan Grizzly Encounter
The Great Alaskan Grizzly Photo Adventure

Praise from Nat Hab travelers:

T. Faatz
"Teresa was amazing. Bears are her love, and she is extremely knowledgeable about their habits, evolution and behaviors. She has a keen and expert eye at finding all tundra wildlife, and has knowledge and expertise about all of them. She loves to tell jokes and keep everyone happy. Most of all, her calm and reassuring demeanor was so helpful. She took care of everyone's needs without a flinch, and made sure we all had our desires and expectations met and our needs attended to."

I. Thane
"I would recommend Teresa as an Expedition Leader to anyone visiting Churchill. She treated everyone with respect and took care of all needs. Teresa went above what I expected on the first day. She changed plans so that we could go see if a mom and her cub were still in the reported area. Just off the plane, and we get to see a mom and cub—what a way to start! The rest of the trip was the same, as she always got us to the right place to see the action."

S. Brady
"Teresa was fabulous. She judged the activity level of the group and ensured that we were all having the best time. She knew what activities to plan and what to add in. It was top notch and very professional! It was how a first-class customer should be treated at all times!"

M. Richards
"Teresa was very knowledgeable and passionate about her topics. She was very attentive to the needs and desires of each guest while still considering the group as a whole. She made sure each of us had a wonderful experience!"

E. Barry
"We have traveled on many animal adventures and vacations. Teresa displayed a an exceptional knowledge of the polar bears and her professionalism is above and beyond the norm. In Teresa, I believe you have an exceptional guide. She made the adventure truly enjoyable. Kudos to your company for making this a GREAT adventure."

H. McCaffery
"Teresa was exceptional in her knowledge of bears and their habitat. She provided ongoing informative chats throughout the trip especially while in the Polar Rover. Her sense of humor along with her pleasing personality enhanced the learning experience. In addition, she was extremely helpful in altering our transport to the airport upon departure."

D. Mahan
"Teresa was fantastic. She was extremely informative about the area, culture, bears, other mammals and the history of the area. Additionally, she was a pleasure to be with—just the right balance of good humor, attention and information without overdoing it. She was incredibly well organized and everything went like clockwork. The individual notes to each of us at the end were a lovely touch."

P. Milward
“Wow! Teresa is amazing in so many ways! She really knows her stuff and added so much to our experience through her knowledge. That alone made a huge difference on our trip. However, she is also a masterful leader who handles the ins and outs of group travel effortlessly and excellently. She is also so fun to be with! Huge thanks and appreciation to her.”