During the winter months, wildlife encounters are more common. These include cougars, deer, bobcats, birds of prey, bears, and wild turkeys. It is important to know when to report sightings to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
As snow falls in the mountains, these animals move to lower elevations and urban areas to find food. If wildlife is spotted, you should keep your distance for safety, even if you don’t need to report it.
It’s important not to feed wildlife. This can disrupt their diets and attract more creatures to your yard. If they congregate in neighborhoods or near highways, more traffic accidents and conflicts can occur.
If you are injured by wildlife, seek medical attention if necessary and report the incident to the DWR.
Here is a breakdown of other scenarios in which you should report wildlife:
Cougars
Cougars are usually found in foothills and canyon areas. However, during winter, they may follow deer and other prey down into the valleys searching for food. They are most active at dawn and dusk when they hunt.
To prevent incidents with cougars, remove things that could attract wildlife, such as bird feeders, fallen fruit and pet food.
If the cougar is aggressive, has killed something in the area, or is seen multiple times, it should be reported to the DWR. For more information about how to handle cougars, visit Wild Aware Utah’s website.
Bears
Black bears are the only bear species currently found in Utah. They generally enjoy rugged terrain and forested areas at higher elevations. If they are in their natural habitats, they should only be reported if they are aggressive or causing damage.
However, if a black bear is seen in an urban area, it should always be reported. You can learn more about how to prevent bears from wandering into your yard on the Wild Aware Utah website.
These bears often hibernate from November to March, so it is unlikely to see one during the winter months.
Deer
Deer only need to be reported if they are aggressive. If you are experiencing issues with deer, you can visit the DWR website to learn ways to prevent deer in your area.
If a deer is hit and killed by a vehicle or found dead in a yard or park, report it to the DWR office so crews can dispose of it. The Utah Roadkill Reporter app is a good resource for reporting dead animals on roadways. You can learn more about it here.
Bobcats
Bobcats are elusive and rarely seen. Rare conflicts exist between them and humans. Similarly to cougars, report a bobcat sighting only if it’s aggressive and causing damage.
Turkeys
You should report turkeys when they cause damage so the DWR can move them elsewhere. Turkeys can be aggressive, so make sure to stay a safe distance away.
While it may be tempting to put bird feed on the ground for the turkeys, it is not recommended. Feeding the turkeys can cause property damage and disrupt daily travel patterns. The turkeys may congregate in big groups, which can lead to the spread of diseases.
Birds of prey
In the winter months, birds of prey, such as hawks and eagles, are often seen on roadsides. While it may seem like they are injured, it is common for these birds to delay flying after eating roadkill. You should only report these birds if they are at risk of being hit by a vehicle in the roadway, have been in the same spot for over 12 hours, or have an obvious injury.
For more wildlife-related safety tips and information, visit the Wild Aware Utah website.
Author: Maddi Munro
Editor: Chevy Blackburn
outdoors@suunews.net
