Have you ever watched a dog or cat contort itself to get at a particularly bothersome itch? Did you feel a little envious? Everyone experiences the occasional impossible-to-reach itch and it can feel like you’d do anything to get to it. Now imagine your entire body is covered by thick fur or feathers. YIKES.

This week, we’re commiserating with our furry and finely feathered friends who were captured in the act of scratching, preening, or picking at some annoyance or another by one of the photographers from our Picture This: Your Great Outdoors photo contest. Check out the winners of the 2017 photo contest on our website and follow us on Facebook to find out when the 2018 contest opens this summer.

Eastern Cottontail © Susumu Kishihara

Mallard © Kimberlee Bertolino

Red Squirrel © Janice Koskey

Tree Swallow © Tammy Vezina

Herring Gull © Elizabeth Brooke