5 Ways to Connect with Wildlife (That Don’t Include Taking a Selfie)
In our selfie-driven culture, it’s only natural to want to connect with wildlife the same way we connect with the rest of the world. But taking selfies with wildlife can be dangerous for you and the animals involved. Luckily, there are lots of ways to connect safely with wildlife in northern Colorado, and you can share them all on your Instagram page.
1. Bring the Right Equipment
Binoculars and telephoto camera lenses can help you get a stellar shot while protecting wildlife and yourself. Wildlife cameras can also help capture animals when people are away, leading to great images with less risk.
If you do spot wildlife, be sure to keep your distance, even when taking photos. Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommends observing wildlife behavior from a safe distance. If the animal looks at you, stops eating, seems nervous or changes its behavior, give some space.
2. Go at the Right Time of Day
Going out near dawn or dusk can make all the difference for viewing a wide range of crepuscular wildlife, from elk to hummingbirds. Raptors such as golden eagles and prairie falcons tend to be up during the day, making them easier to view than critters that spend many of their waking hours in the dark, such as mountain lions.
3. Look for Signs of Wildlife
Wildlife can be tricky to spot because they move around so much. Luckily, animals leave evidence behind. You can play wildlife detective by looking for tracks and scat, or droppings. Elk will often scrape their antlers on aspen trees, and mule deer like to bed down in tall grass for the night.
4. Become a Plant Nerd
Similar to the signs wildlife leave behind, plants also stay put. This makes them easier to observe and photograph. Many wildlife species rely on plants to survive, so if you know an animal’s favorite food, you might spot the animal close by. For example, mule deer munch on bitter brush and like to hang around their favorite food. Bonus: Wildflowers are beautiful in their own right. Who knows, maybe wildflower selfies will become a thing!
5. Try Out a New App
There are several apps for smartphones that you can download to explore wildlife and share your experiences. A couple that stand out: iTrack Wildlife helps you identify animal tracks, and even works offline for remote areas, and iNaturalist allows you to record your nature observations, contribute to scientific research and connect with experts to help you identify what you found.
Want to learn more? Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are the wildlife experts here in Colorado, or you could join Larimer County naturalists in Fort Collins, Loveland and Estes Park for a guided hike.
