Wildlife Viewing

Elk cow with two calves running in a meadow

NPS Photo

Spring is in full swing, which means snow is melting, new grasses are growing, and the next generation of wildlife is being born in Rocky Mountain National Park.

While these fawns, chicks, pups, lambs, and calves are cute, their mothers are very protective. Give them space. Do not approach, touch or pick up young wildlife. Now through the end of June, new mothers and young wildlife will become more visible. Kindly respect all wildlife and leave young wildlife alone. A common survival strategy is to stash the young while the mother forages. Any young wildlife that is alone has not been abandoned.

Human disturbance can cause stress for wild animals and reduce females’ chances of successfully raising offspring. When viewing wildlife, ask how far you should stay away ... not how close you can get. What an amazing opportunity it is to see wildlife in Rocky!

How can you help wildlife?

- Do not feed or approach any wildlife
- Enjoy wildlife from a safe distance
- If you see wildlife that appears sick or injured, leave it alone

In addition to humans causing harm to wildlife, wildlife can pose a danger to people. Wildlife is just that, wild. All wildlife can act in unpredictable ways. Species like elk, moose, Mule deer and all species of birds can become aggressive to defend their nests and their young.

Harassing or feeding wildlife is illegal in all national parks

 

Wildlife Viewing Tips

Rocky Mountain National Park is a great place to get outside and view wildlife in their natural habitat. The park is home, year-round and seasonally, to 66 species of mammals, 280 species of birds, 7 species of native fish, and 142 species of butterflies.

Some basic knowledge of animal habits and habitats greatly enhances prospects of spotting the wild residents of RMNP. Some fun facts to know:

• Elk can be seen anytime of the year and anytime of the day. A popular time of year to view elk is during September and October, which is their fall rut or mating season. Look for elk near meadows and in places where meadows and forests meet.
  • During the summer season, elk spend much of their time at or above treeline, moving to lower elevation areas in the fall, winter and spring.
• Bighorn sheep are commonly seen near Sheep Lakes and Horseshoe Park from May through mid-August.
• Look for fish, frogs, and salamanders in slow moving streams and lakes.
• Mule deer are common and can be seen anywhere in the montane ecosystem regions of RMNP. Look for Mule deer near meadows, along roads, and on mountain hillsides.
• Bats can best be seen when feeding over lakes and ponds near dawn and dusk.
• Marmots and pikas favor rocky areas in the alpine tundra. Marmots are best seen on rocks along Trail Ridge and Old Fall River Roads.
• Pika can usually be heard before seen, listen for their sharp, distinctive bark and watch for movement. The Tundra Communities Trail is a good place to look for pika.
• White-tailed Ptarmigans live in RMNP year-round, but can be difficult to spot. For best results, hike on trail in tundra areas and keep an eye out. Ptarmigans usually blend in with their habitat and remain very still, relying on their natural camouflage for protection from predators.

Despite their good intentions, some wildlife watchers are loving park animals to death. Feeding junk food to wildlife reduces its ability to survive. When wildlife learn to panhandle by roadsides, animals fall easy prey to automobiles. As they become habituated to humans and lose their natural fear, the animals become aggressive and may be destroyed.

 

Wildlife Photography Tips

To take photos of wildlife, you may want to bring along a camera that has a zoom lens. Keep back at least 75 feet, or the length of two buses, from all wildlife. If wildlife reacts to you, you are too close! For black bears, moose, and mountain lions, keep back at least 120 feet, or the length of three buses.

Following these tips can help you take great photos while respecting wildlife.

 

Use your zoom and pull your elbows close to you or rest them on your knee or another stable surface.

• Use binoculars, a spotting scope, or a telephoto lens to view wildlife from a safe and respectful distance. If you have one, a tripod can be helpful to stabilize your camera.
• Stay quiet and still. Noise and quick movements can threaten wildlife.
• Look to the edges of the landscape (e.g. where forest trees meet a grassy area).
• When viewing wildlife from a vehicle, do not stop in the middle of the road. If you are able to safely do so and there is a pull out, pull over so traffic can safely pass.
• Use your zoom, and to steady your shot, touch your elbows to your ribcage, or rest your elbows on your knee or another stable surface.
• Watch wildlife with your eyes rather than through your viewfinder/screen as you move. It’s easy to miss things in your surroundings that could hurt or trip you when you’re only focused on what you can see on your screen or viewfinder.

 

Line up your subject along one of these four imaginary intersections for better-looking wildlife photos from a distance.

Tips for Photo Composition:

When photographing from the safe distance, skilled photographers suggest lining up the horizon of the landscape along the lower third of your frame and lining up the animal(s) to one of the four intersection points as demonstrated above.

Enjoy your time outside and have fun!