Cutest, Coolest, Rarest Animals From the 2014 It’s Amazing Out There Photo Contest

We asked, you shared. Last year, we debuted The Weather Channel's It's Amazing Out There Photo Contest -- over 32,000 photos were submitted. Here's a look back at some of our favorite submissions featuring nature’s loveliest creatures. (Check out last year's winners here.) And, get your photos ready for this year's contest, launching mid-June.

Here Comes the Sun

--Vaughn Keener of Savannah, Georgia

Have an incredible photo of your own? Submit yours to our It's Amazing Out There Photo Contest for a chance to win $15,000!

In My Sights

“Golden Eagle at the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park, MO.”

--Kristi Lenz of Manchester, Missouri

Peacock

“Peacock at the zoo.”

--Amy Vachon of Visalia, California

Afton’s Best Race

“A man and his best friend.”

--Juan Dawson of Palm Springs, California

Iguana Verde

“The vivid colors of iguanas are absolutely captivating, prettier than any shade of paint, and a beautiful thing to observe while visiting Grand Cayman.”

--Lauren Magee of Sebastian, Florida

Just a Snack

“Bighorn sheep lamb.”

--Leslie Zwicker of Rapid City, South Dakota

Flying Chihuahua in Nebraska

“My 10-year-old chihuahua sporting her Mutt Muffs and enjoying the view!”

--Tanja Jacobsen of Lincoln, Nebraska

Dapper Chippy

“I snuck up on this guy under our raised deck and slid my iPhone up just high enough to get the lens to get the shot… Not having the phone on 'vibrate', the phone made its shutter noise, alerting him to my presence. That actually worked out because all he did was look up and smile when he heard the ‘click’ allowing me to take this shot.”

--Thomas J. Dolaskie IV of Munising, Michigan

Great Grizzly Hope

“A top of Grouse Mountain sits the wilderness sanctuary where endangered animals can explore and play, which makes for an amazing sight to spend hours.”

--Jeffrey Hammer of Westerville, Ohio

Pink Flamingo

“A flamingo I ‘took’ when I visited Florida.”

--Jaime Moehring of Charlton, Massachusetts

Puertorican Iguana

“I was surfing in Indicator, Rincon, Puerto Rico and I told my son, ‘lets take a break and walk around the rocks to see what we find,’ and there she was watching us surfing the whole time. Nice life.”

--Luis Wicho Rodriguez of Daytona Beach, Florida

Dog Day Snow

“A rare snowfall in our town has our dog very excited.”

--Alan Boyle of Henrico, Virginia

Life Giving

“Red angus herd with calves after spring storm.”

--Neil Ward of Teton, Idaho

Newly Born Fawn

“This fawn was found while mowing the yard. It peeked its head up over the taller grass when it heard the mower.”

--Nick Easton of Westfield, Pennsylvania

Chilling

“My 1-and-1/2-year-old dsh cat, Peanut.”

--Robin Putt of Robesonia, Pennsylvania

Full Moon Albatross Mating Dance

“Two Laysan albatross in a mating dance under a full moon at twilight at the  Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge and most of its surrounding area are part of the larger Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Behind the two birds are thousands more  home nesting Gooney birds and other exotic species.”

--Luci Pemoni of Carbondale, Illinois

King of the Jungle

“This photo was taken about 10 feet from a safari truck in Kenya Africa. The lion had just woken up from a nap and looked right at us.”

--Paul Cookson of Spring Hill, Tennessee

Nice Nose Ring

“Sightseeing in Guam.”

--Alexandria Salinas of Houston, Texas

Mother Owl Cuddling With Her Baby

“I had been hearing owls for a few days in the nearby trees when I finally decided to take my camera and go look for them. I found the mother and what appears to be two of her babies. They appear to be barred owls. The mother owl is quite large, and the two smaller babies are still fuzzy and not great at flying just yet. I captured this shot while watching the mother preen the smaller one. For a few moments, the mother appeared to just close her eyes and rest her head against her baby. This was the only frame I snapped while watching them.”

--Marcus Diddle of Columbus, Ohio

Majesty in Chobe

“A majestic male impala in Chobe National Park, Botswana, surveys the plain.”

--Kerri Price of Santa Monica, California

My Baby Hummingbirds

“Hummingbirds I found nested in rose bush. This is six days after hatching.”

--Renee Velez of Santee, California

Arkansas Squirrel

“Squirrel.”

--Tyler Hickman of Edwardsville, Kansas

Baby Giraffe and Mother = Love

“Mother and baby giraffe showing affection.”

--Jill Metzger of Aiken, South Carolina

Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida

“We took our kids to Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida on vacation.”

--Karen Dufour Ritter of Escanaba, Michigan

Street Rooster

“He was walking the streets of Ybor City in Tampa; had to take it and he was so cocky.”

--Luis Wicho Rodriguez of Daytona Beach, Florida

In Action

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“Tiger caught in action.”

--Sangeeta Iyer of Glendale, California

Bay Colt in the Snow

“A young two year old thoroughbred in the snow. He was focused on a horse in a field across the street and did not pay attention to me. It appears the snow makes the fence disappear into nowhere.”

--Jacob Van der Oort of Frankfort, Kentucky

The Father and the Sun

“Early summer 2013 I discovered a fox pack in the forest only half-hour drive from my work.”

--Alex Gelfman of Lod, Israel

Cabra y Cabrito

“Mama and son in Puerto Rico countryside!”

--Luis Wicho Rodriguez of Daytona Beach, Florida

Blue or Burrrr

“This blue jay even looked cold that morning.”

--Kimberly Abrams of Corfu, New York

Bear Appetite

“A grizzly gets ready to feed at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone.”

--Anjou Krelovich of Herndon, Virginia

Longhorn Afternoon

“This is a Texas Longhorn herd located in Westlake, Texas.”

--Lawrence Smolinski of Flower Mound, Texas

I’m Watching You

“While visiting Niagara Falls, we spotted this little fella at the nature preserve.”

--Jeannie Little of Gilbert, Minnesota

Colorado Mountain Goats

“On the Summit of Mt. Kelso, my climbing partner suggested I take a shot of what was behind me. I turned around and there they were.”

--Kirk Miller of Golden, Colorado

Green Heron Babies

“Kayaking through the Eau Gallie Creek, I came upon a nest in the trees. Frozen in stillness they watched me.”

--Liz Allen of Melbourne, Florida

Nature Wildlife

“This photo was taken  on safari with a beautiful morning with the sun just rising.”

--Paul Cookson of Spring Hill, Tennessee

Curious Cows

“Curious cows watch our activity as we explore an abandoned school.”

--Chrisi Spooner of Kansas City, Missouri

Watching the Humans Go By

“A young wolf watches traffic along road through Yellowstone National Park.”

--Anjou Krelovich of Herndon, Virginia

Nature at Its Best

“A kitten and rabbit laying happily together showing how cute nature can be.”

--Joseph Link of New Baden, Illinois

Eagle on the Hunt

“Eagle soaring looking for food.”

--Mike Krueger of Wildwood, Missouri  

In the Quiet Montana Forest

“This buck sits quietly as cars pass, perhaps thinking he wasn't being noticed?”

--Christina Schaeffer-Lickfold of Havre, Montana

Puddle Jumper

“Our female golden retriever puppy, ‘Addison’ running thru a large rain puddle after a massive rain storm.”

--Ann Parchman of Garland, Texas

Life Above the Ashes

“While photographing some of the recent fire damage in the Carlsbad, CA I noticed a hawk soaring above a scorched (but not totally burned) tree. I saw her land in a nest, and shortly after she flew away I saw this little one looking around.”

--Annie Durkin of San Diego, California

Ready for the Day

“Trail horses await their passengers at the Circle K Ranch near Yellowstone National Park.”

--Anjou Krelovich of Herndon, Virginia

Life Is Good

“Taken on a private Island off Aruba.”

--Robert Victor of Marine City, Michigan

A Family Affair

“Neighborhood residents out for a stroll.”

--Tyanna Burton of Flagstaff, Arizona

Gulf Coast Pelican

“Pelican at orange beach, Recreation Park, Alabama.”

--Marlyn Cintron of Pensacola, Florida

Sweet Nectar

“Butterfly on coneflower.”

--Shirley Kershner of Greybull, Wyoming

Hawk in the Front Yard

“This hawk landed in my parents front yard and so I crept quietly and slowly out there and took photos.”

--Alexandria Coss of Springport, Michigan

Animals Emotions

“We are all creatures created from the nature. We all have emotions, feelings, we want to give love and we need love. Animals are the best friends to the people, so we should treat them right, and make them happy, because there are times when only they can make us happy. I captured this photo, while I was playing with my cat Sheri in my yard, while she was kind of smiling as you can see from the photo.”

--Angel Gruevski of Skopje, Macedonia