When you should report a wildlife sighting/encounter

Salt Lake City — Utah's growing population and related expansion have increased the number of wildlife encounters across the state in recent years. However, not every encounter or animal sighting needs to be reported to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

Wildlife encounters during the summer often occur when people are hiking or camping in the mountains or canyons, which are natural wildlife habitat areas. However, these encounters are also common in cities and other urban areas during the winter. As snow falls in the mountains, deer, moose and other big game species move to lower elevations looking for food. Cougars, which prey mostly on deer, often follow the deer into the valleys.

While it may seem like these types of sightings are increasing, it is actually a combination of a few things: increased building in the foothill areas and canyons — where wildlife are naturally located — and an increase in the number of doorbell and security cameras on people's homes, which capture more wildlife sightings that previously went undetected.

If you do see wildlife in your neighborhood or yard, you should always keep your distance for your own safety and for the safety of the animal.

"Getting too close to a wild animal can cause the animal to feel threatened," DWR Law Enforcement Section Chief Wyatt Bubak said. "If it feels threatened, it will sometimes act aggressively to protect itself. Plus, because it's harder for some wildlife to find food in the winter, they need to conserve energy in order to survive. Constantly harassing 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."

Another important way to avoid conflicts and to prevent harming wildlife is to make sure never to feed them. While it is not illegal to feed wildlife — except for in certain cities that have enacted no feeding ordinances — there are several reasons that it is highly discouraged, including public safety concerns; the spread of chronic wasting disease among deer, elk and moose; and potential harm to the wildlife from introducing foods not in their diets, particularly during winter months.

"Whenever someone feeds wildlife, those animals will frequently return to that area in search of food," Bubak 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."

So what kind of wildlife sightings or encounters should you report?

Here is a simple breakdown of some scenarios that should be reported to the DWR:

Cougars

Cougars can be found throughout Utah, usually in the foothill and canyon areas, but also sometimes down in the valleys — especially during the winter months when they follow food-seeking deer to lower elevations. You should report a cougar sighting if:

• It has killed something in a neighborhood or yard.
• It exhibits aggressive behavior.
• It appears several times on your security cameras.

If you capture footage of a cougar on security cameras one time or see one from a distance in foothill areas, you do not need to report it. One-time sightings of cougars are typically when the animal is moving through an area, and it has often left by the time DWR biologists and conservation officers can respond.

Bears

Black bears are the only species of bear currently found in Utah. They can also be found in the foothill areas, canyons and other similar habitats throughout Utah. If bears are in these areas, they should only be reported if they are being aggressive or if they are getting into trash, fruit trees or causing damage. You should report a bear that has wandered into lower-elevation areas and is within city limits or in heavily-populated areas. Bears typically go into hibernation from roughly November to March, so you likely won't see one during the winter.

Moose

Moose are also commonly found in the foothill areas since that is their natural habitat. You should report a moose that has wandered into lower-elevation areas and is within city limits or heavily-populated areas, so the DWR can relocate the animal. If moose aren't relocated, they can stay in an area for a long time and potentially injure someone or damage property. Urban environments, which include fences and vehicles, can be unsafe for moose. Avoid approaching moose or attempting to "herd" them out of yards or roads. Moose can be very aggressive, especially around dogs.

Deer

You should only report a deer sighting in a neighborhood if the animal is acting aggressively. Buck deer can often be aggressive during their breeding season, which takes place in November. If a deer is hit and killed by a vehicle in a neighborhood or is found dead in a yard or park, call your nearest DWR office to report it, so crews can remove the dead animal.

The DWR also launched the Urban Deer Program in 2014 as a way to give cities the ability to deal with ever-increasing deer/human conflicts in expanding urban areas. Learn more about the program on the DWR website.

Birds of prey

During the winter, Utahns may often see hawks, eagles and other birds of prey on the sides of the road. While it may seem like these animals have been injured, typically, they have gorged themselves on roadkill and are unable to fly for a period. These birds don't need to be reported unless they are in the roadway (and at risk of being hit by a vehicle), they have been in the same spot for over 12 hours or they have an obvious injury.

Wolves

Gray wolves were delisted from the Endangered Species Act on Jan. 4, 2021. Under this nationwide delisting, wolves are now managed under a statewide management plan. Although there are no known wolf packs in Utah currently, they do occasionally disperse into the state. You should report any potential wolf sightings as soon as possible so the DWR can document their presence in order to guide their management.

If you are ever injured during a wildlife encounter, report it immediately to the nearest DWR office.

For more wildlife-related safety tips and information, visit the Wild Aware Utah website.