More people will spend time searching out wildlife over the course of a year than will bike, hike, camp or fish.

And as many of those viewers have found, there's no better time to seek out wildlife than when the temperatures dip and snow is on the ground. This time of year wild animals gather together and hang out in areas where they can be seen.

According to the Outdoor Industry Foundation's latest report, over the course of a year, 66 million people were involved in wildlife viewing, 60 million in cycling, 56 million in hiking, 45 million in camping and 33 million in fishing.

So, just where are some of the better viewing sites here in Utah?

Farmington Bay. The shoreline refuge offers prime habitat for a number of raptors, including northern harriers, peregrine falcons and bald eagles. Approximately 500 bald eagles winter on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, making it one of the top 10 winter habitat areas for eagles in the lower 48 states.

Utah winters are good for eagles because of the comparatively mild temperatures and the abundance of prey, such as carp and ducks on the marshes along the lake, and rabbits.

Roads within the refuge take viewers to areas where eagles are feeding and resting. On one visit, more than 30 eagles were seen perched in an old tree, and many more were flying about.

Also, hundreds of pure white tundra swans are migrating through northern Utah. Those interested in seeing and listening may want to attend the annual Tundra Swan Day on March 8.

Viewing will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area west of Farmington, and the Salt Creek management area west of Corinne.

DWR biologists and volunteer naturalists will provide spotting scopes and parabolic dishes that will allow visitors to see and listen to the swans. Admission is free.

For more information, call the DWR's Northern Region office at 801-476-2740 or the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge at 435-723-5887.

Hardware Ranch. Winter is about the only time people can get close to elk. In this case, elk come to the ranch to feed in the winter and in payment for the food, make themselves available to up-close encounters.

Every winter, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources offers sleigh rides into the midst of the elk herd. At latest count, there were more than 600 elk at the ranch, many of them large bulls still holding their large antlers.

Rides are available five days a week.

Hardware Ranch is 17 miles east of Hyrum.

In addition to the sleigh rides, the ranch also operates a visitors center. The center has interactive wildlife displays and staff who can answer questions.

Rides will run through March 17. The ranch hours are: Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $5 for those 9 and older, and $3 for those 4 to 8.

For information call 435-753-6206 or visit www.hardwareranch.com.

One of the largest concentrations of moose in Utah are in the Ogden Canyon area east of Pineview Reservoir, which is also the route to the ranch. There is also a large number of deer that hold in this area during the winter.

Antelope Island. The main player on the island is the buffalo. There are more than 500 on the island, and typically they hold in areas that make them easily seen from the road. On occasion, they can be found only a few feet off the paved road.

But along with the buffalo it's also possible to see deer, antelope and coyotes. There are also bighorn sheep on the island, but they typically stay in the high country and are difficult to spot.

One of the best times to see large numbers of buffalo up-close is in November when the Division of Parks and Recreation holds its annual Bison Roundup. Riders on horseback herd the buffalo into large corrals on the northern tip of the island. Once there they are given a physical, registered and released.

The island is located seven miles west of I-15 off exit 332. Entrance fee is $9 per vehicle with up to eight occupants. Gates open at 8 a.m. The Fielding Garr Ranch and visitors center are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information call 801-773-2941.

Delta. Every winter, thousands of snow-white snow geese fly in to rest and feed at Gunnison Bend Reservoir near Delta.

And, every year the town of Delta and the DWR hold Snow Goose Festival. This year it will run from Feb. 29 to March 2.

On and around those dates visitors can experience the sights and sounds of snow geese flying and feeding. During the festival, DWR staff and volunteers will man sites where spotting scopes and information will be dispensed.

There will also be free wildlife-related workshops, arts and crafts and photography exhibits offered during the festival.

For a list of activities, visit the Millard County Web site — www.millardcounty.com — and click on Snow Goose Festival.

For more information call the DWR at 435-865-6100 or the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce at 800-864-0345.

Little Cottonwood Canyon. Every fall and spring, on the sloping rock formations near the mouth of the canyon, it is possible to spot Rocky Mountain goats.

Since the goats are white, it's difficult to spot them when there is snow on the ground. Once the snow is gone, however, the goats stand out against the dark rock formations.

Six goats — two yearling males and four adult females — were released on the north slopes of the canyon in 1967. They moved to the southern side of the canyon and there established a stable herd.

As noted, goats can be seen in the lower elevations in the spring, fall and occasionally winter but move into the high country in the summer.

Provo. Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are visible from Rock Canyon Park in Provo — 2620 N. 1200 East (Iroquois Drive) — which is just northwest of the LDS temple.

Residents in the area say the sheep can be seen throughout the year from this location.

This was one of the more recent transplant areas for bighorn sheep, but wildlife officials say the herd is doing well. Best of all the sheep are holding in areas where they can be seen by wildlife viewers.

The areas listed are by no means the only viewing sites for wildlife but are areas where wildlife watchers are certain to catch a glimpse of some of the more majestic birds and animals.

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Deer, for example, can be seen in many mountain locations. The DWR has also set up several feeding sites in Cache, Summit, Weber and Morgan counties where deer are congregating.

And, Utah's waterfowl management areas, such as Farmington, Salt Creek and Ogden Bay, along with other like Cutler Marsh near Logan, hold some very interesting bird life.

There's no question, February and March are some of the best times of the year to get out the spotting scope, binoculars and camera and spend time watching wildlife.


E-mail: grass@desnews.com

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