Safe Viewing
A cow moose may appear docile. But if it senses that you are threatening its calf, that 700-pound animal can maim or kill a person with its sharp hooves. Even smaller mammals such as badgers can be dangerous when cornered or blocked from their burrows.
When watching wild animals that let you approach closely, resist the urge to act like you’re in a petting zoo. “A close observation is definitely a memorable experience,” says Thomas Baumeister, head of FWP’s Education Bureau. “But you need to be sure to not put an animal or yourself in jeopardy. That’s why we recommend keeping a safe distance.”
How close is safe depends on the species, the individual animal, and the situation. To keep from disturbing nesting eagles or other raptors, for example, stay at least 400 yards away.
When boating, stay out of bays where loons are nesting in spring and early summer. Yellowstone National Park prohibits anyone from approaching within 100 yards of a bear and 25 yards of other wildlife species. Glacier National Park is even more conservative, recommending you maintain a distance of at least 400 yards between you and a bear.
Other wildlife-watching safety advice:
Use high-power binoculars or a spotting scope to watch wild animals from a distance without bothering them or putting yourself or others in danger. For photography, use a telephoto lens.
Don’t feed wildlife. Feeding animals conditions them to people, which can create dangerous situations; even deer have been known to attack people who get too close. Most wild animals that attack people have to be killed by wildlife officials to prevent another incident.
Prepare for the unexpected. For example, a bear feeding peacefully on huckleberries may seem like a tranquil scene, but the situation could change in seconds. “If a bigger bear comes in and chases that bear, you may quickly find yourself in the middle of a dangerous
