See wildlife in your neighborhood? Here’s when you should report it to Utah DWR
SALT LAKE CITY ( ABC4 ) — As Utah's population and cities grow, so does the number of wildlife encounters in the state. Not every encounter needs to be reported to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources — but here's what to know about when you should.
Mountains and canyons are the natural habitat for wildlife, so you may experience encounters in the summer while hiking or camping. But, animals can also be spotted in cities and other urban areas during the winters as snow falls and deer and moose move to lower elevations to find food. Predators, such as cougars often follow these prey animals into the valley.
As construction increases in the foothill areas and canyons, where these wildlife naturally live, and there's been an increase in doorbell and security cameras, encounters may seem like they are happening more often.
What to do if you come face-to-face with a cougar. First, don't run
If you happen to see wildlife near you, DWR said to keep your distance for the safety of yourself and the animal. DWR Big Game Coordinator Dax Magnus said that getting close to a wild animal may cause it to feel threatened.
"If it feels threatened, it will sometimes act aggressively to protect itself, which can be unsafe for you or your pets," Mangus said. "However, these encounters can also be harmful for the animal. Because it's harder for some wildlife to find food in the winter, they need to conserve their energy in order to survive. While a one-off encounter may not be fatal, repeatedly disturbing or chasing species such as moose and deer cause them to use up some of the essential fat reserves and energy they need to survive the winter."
DWR also advises against feeding wildlife, as it can draw animals to neighborhoods and harm them by giving them foods not in their diets.
"Whenever someone feeds wildlife, those animals will often return to that area in search of food," Mangus said. "These areas are often near highways and towns. Concentrating deer and other wildlife near inhabited areas can sometimes result in increased traffic accidents and other human/wildlife conflicts. Attracting deer to your property through feeding can also attract predators, like cougars that follow deer herds. And while deer and moose are not predators, they are still wild animals and can be aggressive, particularly around dogs."
If you are injured by wildlife, DWR said to seek medical attention if needed and report the incident to the DWR.
When to report wildlife sightings:
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According to DWR, cougars can be found throughout the state, often in foothills and canyon areas but also sometimes in the valleys, especially as they follow deer down to lower evaluations. You should report cougar sightings if the cougar has killed something in a neighborhood or yard, it exhibits aggressive behavior, or it appears several times on security cameras.
DWR says that if you catch a cougar on security cameras one time or see it from a distance in foothill areas, it does not need to be reported. According to DWR, one-time sightings usually occur as the cougar is moving through the area, and it usually is gone by the time DWR can respond. More information on preventing conflicts with cougars can be found on the Wild Aware Utah website.
Bears:
Utah is black bear county and like cougars, they can be found in the foothill areas, canyons, and similar habitats. DWR said if bears are found in these areas, they should only be reported if they are being aggressive of if they are getting into trash, fruit trees, or causing damage.
DWR said bears that have wandered into lower-elevation areas and are within city limits or heavily populated areas should always be reported. To prevent run-ins with bears, read more on Wild Aware Utah.
Moose:
The natural habitat for moose is in foothill areas. DWR says that a moose sighting should be reported if it has wandered into lower-elevation areas and is within city limits or heavily populated areas so it can be relocated.
According to DWR, if a moose isn't relocated, it can stay in an area for a long time, potentially injuring someone or damaging property. Urban areas, which include fences and vehicles, can be unsafe for moose. DWR says to not approach moose or attempt to "herd" them out of yards or roads, as they can be aggressive. For more ways to prevent conflicts with moose, visit the Wild Aware Utah website.
Bobcats:
DWR says bobcat sightings aren't as common as cougar sightings, but they can still happen. DWR says to only report them if the bobcat has damaged property, or attacked a person, pet, or livestock. For information on bobcats and avoiding conflicts with them, visit the Wild Aware Utah website.
Turkeys:
DWR said to report turkeys if they are harming your property so DWR can relocate them. DWR said turkeys can become aggressive, so make sure to keep a safe distance if you see one. According to DWR, wild turkeys often travel in flocks, and feeding them can lead to property damage and nuisance issues for the neighborhood — so don't feed them. In addition, feeding them can cause more birds to congregate, which can lead to an increase in diseases and impacts on seasonal migrations.
Birds of prey:
In the winter, Utahns may see hawks, eagles, and other birds of prey on the sides of the road. DWR says you may think the animals are injured, but usually, they have eaten too much roadkill and are unable to fly for a period of time. These birds only need to be reported if they are in the roadway and at risk of behind hit by a vehicle, they have been in the same spot for 12 hours, or they have an obvious injury.
To report a wildlife sighting, contact DWR through one of their offices, which information to do so can be found on its website
