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Watching wildlife is a popular pastime in the U.S. Every year from 2006 to 2020, the number of people who participated in wildlife viewing topped 20 million, according to data from Statista. It's also very popular in Utah. A report by Pew noted that more than 65,000 people participated in wildlife viewing in 2016 just on Utah's BLM lands.
Some of the best areas in the state to view wildlife are actually close to the metro areas. If you live along the Wasatch Front, there are likely good wildlife viewing opportunities less than 30 minutes from your home.
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Maverik’s got you covered with great values on fuel, food, drinks and more. Check out maverik.com to find a location near you. Maverik — Adventure’s First Stop.And you don't need a lot of expensive equipment to take great animal photos. All the images accompanying this article were taken with a Canon Powershot camera that cost less than $500.
So if you love wildlife, grab your binoculars and a camera and head outside. Here are some places you can enjoy Utah wildlife.
Antelope Island
Millions of people travel to Yellowstone each year to see wildlife including bison. If you live along the Wasatch Front, you only have to travel to Antelope Island to capture images of the wooly plains cattle. Spring is birthing season and playful bison calves are easy to spot.
The key to good photos of bison is a telephoto or zoom lens because you need to photograph them from a distance.
In addition to bison, animals commonly seen on the island include antelope, bighorn sheep, coyotes, foxes, porcupines, bobcats and more. Some of the biggest antlered mule deer in the West live on the island.
Eagles, owls and a variety of hawks on the island make great photo subjects. Millions of birds congregate along the shores surrounding the island and the variety swells during different seasons as various species pass by on their migrations.
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Just west of Brigham City, this federal wildlife refuge provides the chance to see and photograph a wide variety of beautiful and unique birds. From the iridescent colors of white-faced ibis to snowy egrets spearing fish in shallow water, there are non-stop opportunities for interesting images.
But don't think the refuge limits you to bird photos. It's also a good place to see aquatic animals like muskrats, mink, frogs and turtles. You can even get great shots of dragonflies, butterflies and other insects, too.
A 12-mile auto route allows you to stay in your vehicle as you patrol likely areas. You'll appreciate being able to stay in your car during mosquito season.
Jordan River Parkway
Easily accessible to a large portion of the population along the Wasatch Front, the Jordan River Parkway stretches for 45 miles across Salt Lake County and it connects to trail systems extending to Utah Lake and to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail on the east.
Portions of the trail are heavily used by bikers and joggers, but there are other stretches where you'll have a hard time believing there are a million-plus people within just a few miles.
Like most areas, the best time to spot wildlife along any of the trails is early morning or evenings. You never know what you'll run into. Deer, rabbits, foxes, mink, weasels, turtles, snakes, marmots, squirrels and more all live along the trail. Birds are abundant, including colorful species like Bullock's Orioles or Western Tanagers.
Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge
Located nearly 140 miles from Salt Lake City, much of the route is bumpy gravel roads. You need to make sure your vehicle is in good condition, because help will be a long time coming if you have a problem.
The long, difficult drive is part of what makes Fish Springs a great place for photographers. You can expect to see a variety of wildlife as you traverse the West Desert. Wild horses, pronghorn antelope, coyotes, badgers, raptors and more are all relatively common in the area. You'll also find less common wildlife like lizards, rattlesnakes, and an assortment of small creatures like ground squirrels, antelope squirrels, jackrabbits and more.
Once you make it to the springs, you'll find a literal oasis in the desert. It attracts millions of migrating birds each year plus year-round resident species. And because it is such a great water source, a wide range of other animals also spend time in the area.
The mountains
Mountain ranges across the state are home to a surprising amount of big game animals. Some of the best include the LaSals near Moab, the Book Cliffs in southeastern Utah and the Uintas in the northeast.
But you don't always have to go to a remote location to find wildlife.
"You can shoot elk within 20 minutes of downtown Salt Lake City. They'll come down out of their hiding places as the sun sets to drink water. You've still got light in the sky so they are easy to spot and easy to shoot," explained expert wildlife photographer David Koch in an article for KSL.com.
Moose, elk and deer are all relatively common in the foothills and mountains along the Wasatch Front. You can find bighorn sheep in American Fork Canyon and mountain goats along most of the front.
Understanding animal habits and behaviors makes locating them easier. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources hosts public wildlife viewing events for animals each year for bald eagles, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, snow geese and more. Some of these take place along the Wasatch Front. You can subscribe to division websites, email and social media accounts to keep informed about happenings.
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