Responsible Wildlife Viewing
You can help keep wildlife, yourself and habitats safe and healthy by setting a good example. Everyone is encouraged to be responsible and respectful while viewing wildlife. Read below to learn more about recreating responsibly with black bears and elk in Pennsylvania.
- Know before you go - Plan ahead and become familiar with regulations and activities happening at the location you’re headed to. Research when and where activities like hunting are occurring.
- Be respectful of other visitors – The best times for wildlife viewing are reliant on the season and time of day, which means you’re likely to run into other wildlife viewers from time to time. Give others space and recreate responsibly.
- View from a distance – Give wildlife plenty of space. Some places, like National Parks, have distance requirements for viewing wildlife. This is important for the animal's well-being and for your safety. To view wildlife up close without disturbing it, use a zoom lens, binoculars or a spotting scope. Help keep wildlife wild by giving them space.
- Do not disturb – Be respectful of wildlife always, but especially during nesting and denning seasons. Many species of wildlife are born in the spring and it’s almost certain Pennsylvanians will encounter young wildlife at one point or another. While some young animals might appear to be abandoned, usually they are not. Their mothers are likely somewhere nearby. When encountering young wildlife, the Game Commission urges Pennsylvanians not to interfere with young wildlife or remove any wild animal from its natural setting, for the protection of humans and wildlife. It is illegal to take or possess wildlife from the wild. If you encounter wildlife (small or large), do not touch. If you are concerned, reach out at 1-833-PGC-WILD to report injured, sick, or nuisance wildlife.
- Never feed wildlife – Feeding wildlife is dangerous for wildlife and people. Sharing your food can sicken an animal, spread wildlife disease, or encourage the animal to approach humans in the future, expecting a snack. Please help us keep wildlife wild by not feeding them.
- Pack it in, pack it out – Whether a snack wrapper or scraps of food, be sure to take your trash and food waste with you to dispose of at home. This is the central messaging engrained in the Leave No Trace framework. Help us keep our wild spaces clean and pick up after yourself.
- If you see something, say something – We understand that mistakes happen. Call the Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-WILD if you come into physical contact with wildlife. Call if you see wildlife that is sick, dead, or acting strangely, including wildlife that approaches you. And when you see people who aren’t following these guidelines, let them know how they can be a responsible wildlife viewer, and contact us if necessary.
Be BearWise
BearWise® is the black bear program you can trust for sound information and smart solutions that help homeowners, businesses and communities coexist with bears. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is a proud BearWise Partner.
Learn More
Keep PA Elk Wild
Visiting Pennsylvania's Elk Country has become annual tradition and a regular trip for thousands of people from near and far. ELK SMART provides four simple and effective ways that all elk viewers can ensure the wild essence of the herd remains for generations to come.
Learn More
Where to view wildlife
Now that you know how to recreate and view wildlife safely and responsibly, here are some places in Pennsylvania where you can go catch a glimpse of some wildlife!
Middle Creek is a near 6,000 acre Wildlife Management Area managed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission primarily for waterfowl, grassland nesting birds, and wetland dependent species. Middle Creeks hosts an interactive visitor center, seasonal wildlife driving tour, and over twenty miles of hiking trails. Other opportunities are endless for the outdoor enthusiast such as wildlife viewing, special hunts, and other forms of outdoor recreation. Middle Creek is one of just six Globally Important Bird Areas in the state.
Pennsylvania’s elk herd is located in the state’s northcentral region and is home to the largest free-roaming elk herd in the northeastern United States, As many as 1,400 elk freely roam across 3,000 square miles, mostly within Elk, Cameron, Clinton, Clearfield and Centre counties. Learn more about elk history in Pennsylvania.
The Appalachians curve through Pennsylvania in long, narrow ridges that run in parallel lines, creating broad uniform valleys in several regions. The ridges and long summits like the Kittatinny Ridge and the Allegheny Front form "leading lines" for raptor migration, concentrating their numbers and giving opportunities for observations. Several hawk watch locations can be found throughout the Commonwealth where raptors can be viewed for official counts or simply for recreation.
The Game Commission owns and manages more than 1.5 million acres of state game lands throughout the Commonwealth. The primary purpose of these lands is the management of habitat for wildlife and provide opportunities for lawful hunting and trapping. Secondary recreational uses are permitted in accordance with the Game Commission’s regulations. Hunters and trappers have paid into the game lands system with the purchase of their hunting and trapping license, and from buying sporting arms and ammunition. Game Lands are also funded through the sale of game lands gas, oil, timber, and mineral rights. Several conservation organizations have funded land purchases, and hundreds of private individuals have donated parcels of land that have been added to the system.
DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks manages 124 state parks with more than 300,000 acres for these popular outdoor recreation activities and more - Find a State Park
Wildlife Viewing Resources
Field guides are a primary source of information for wildlife identification. Choosing the right guide and becoming familiar with it is key to enhancing your experience.
1. Online Resources
If you have a smartphone, you’re already carrying an untold number of free guides into the field. Online resources like the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds, and Macroinvertebrates.org often have more information than can be printed on the pages of a physical guide and may include multimedia content like sounds and videos that simply can’t be printed.2. Print Guides
- Audubon Field Guides
- Pennsylvania Birding & Wildlife Guide
- Peterson Field Guides
- National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America
- Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America
3. Nature Apps
Sharing the details of your nature sighting can be exciting and memorable. Documenting the specific what, when, and where details can help you remember your wild encounters, help fellow naturalists plan their next adventure, and help our biologists track the status of wildlife across the state.
A good pair of binoculars is essential when it comes to wildlife viewing. You will be able to detect finer details, see colors pop out of shadows, and improve your chance of identifying what you’ve seen. There is a wide variety of models, brands, and specifications, ranging from $50-$5,000 out there, so be sure to read reviews, test out different kinds, and make sure you find a pair that works best for you. If you’re into wildlife photography, your camera and various lenses will be your best friend. Much like binoculars, different size camera lenses allow you to zoom in close to wildlife, while still maintaining safe distances. A spotting scope and tripod will also extend your viewing range considerably. Scopes typically magnify an image from 20 to 60x and can have fixed or zoom magnification lenses. The tripod helps to stabilize your view and really hone in on your species of interest.
Interested in creating wildlife habitat at your own home? Visit our Habitat Management page for resources for landowners, for home owners, and information on creating or improving habitats for wildlife.
Interested in a full list of Pennsylvania birds, along with their scientific name, abundance, and seasonal status? Head to this page by the Pennsylvania Society of Ornithology to download the list via an Excel file.
- RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT - All facets of our environment— soils, plants, animals, air, water—are interrelated in a complex system. Every living thing’s quality of life is directly dependent upon this system, so we must all do our part to protect our environment and keep it clean. Visit the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for more information on how to be a good environmental steward.
- INSTALL NEST BOXES – Placing a nest box on your property can provide safe nesting areas for many species of birds and small mammals to raise their young. Properly managed nest boxes can be critically important for species like the American kestrel or purple martins. For more information visit: Wildlife Home Plans.
- LEAVE NO TRACE – The poisoning of our environment is one of the greatest threats facing mankind. Plastic bottle caps, fishing line, and a variety of other discarded items can be deadly to wading birds and other wildlife. Practice leave no trace principles and clean up after yourselves and others while spending time outdoors. It will have a tremendously positive effect on wildlife and Pennsylvania's outdoors will look better than ever. Visit the Leave No Trace website to learn more.
- LEAVE YOUNG WILDLIFE ALONE – With spring and early summer comes an abundance of newborn wildlife; from rabbit and fox kits, to nestling songbirds, to deer fawns and elk calves. If you spot newborn or young wildlife, please do not disturb them. While some young animals might appear to be abandoned, many wildlife parents will leave their young alone and hidden to avoid attracting predators, only coming back to nurse them a few times a day. If you come across newborn or young wildlife, for your safety as well as theirs, please do not disturb.
- FEED BIRDS IN WINTER – Bird feeders can help many species during the winter by providing food when natural sources might be buried beneath snow or limited in supply. Keeping your feeders up into the spring can help support birds on their long migrations north. Putting bird seed out not only helps birds survive through the winter, but also provides you with a unique viewing opportunity. Cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches and many other species may be seen at your feeders, brightening any gloomy winter day. Visit this page to learn more about birds through the seasons.
- CREATE WILDLIFE HABITAT – Planting native trees, shrubs, and flowers provides both food and cover for many wildlife species. Native plants benefit a variety of birds, bats, bees, butterflies, beetles, and small mammals, which play an important role in sustaining healthy ecosystems. Non-native or invasive plants can have harmful ecological impacts because they outcompete native plant species and do not provide nearly as many benefits to wildlife. To be informed on which invasive plants to watch out for, visit Invasive Species of Concern for Pennsylvania. For a list of beneficial native plants and to learn how planting them in your own backyard can benefit wildlife, check out https://bit.ly/CommonBeneficialPlants
- LEARN & OBEY GAME LAWS – Familiarity with the state Game Laws will provide anyone with a general knowledge of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's responsibilities and operations. Following the regulations set by the Pennsylvania Game Commission helps everyone, hunters and non-hunters alike, work together to protect wildlife. Check out the Digest for more information.
- KEEP YOUR DISTANCE – The best way to stay safe when watching wildlife is to give animals room to move. The Pennsylvania Game Commissions recommends all wildlife viewers to follow the rule of thumb: if you can cover the entire wild animal with your thumb, you’re at a safe distance. This distance is usually 25 yards from most wildlife. For larger animals, like elk, 100 yards is the minimum. For more information on how to stay safe while viewing elk, visit our ELK SMART page.
- SECURE FOOD, GARBAGE, AND RECYCLING – Sometimes, wildlife like black bears help themselves to food that is easily accessible, including bird feeders, trash cans, and pet food left out within a bear’s reach. Once a bear finds easy access to food, they are likely to frequently come back for more. To limit human-bear interactions, be sure to bring pet food containers and bird feeders inside at night; keep trash cans and recycle bins inside, until the morning of collection day; and regularly clean and remove grease from outside grills. For more information please visit: BearWise.
- SUPPORT WILDLIFE CONSERVATION – The Pennsylvania Game Commission is responsible for managing 480 species of wild birds and mammals, and over 1.5 million acres of wildlife habitat. While the agency uses money from natural resource management on State Game Lands, hunting and trapping license fees, and federal taxes on guns, ammunition, archery equipment, there are also several ways you can help us achieve our management goals and become a conservation hero. Using the guest checkout option, you can make a donation to wildlife conservation in Pennsylvania through Hunt Fish PA. You can also purchase a Special Fund Registration Plate, where proceeds from this plate support the management of the Commonwealth's unique flora and fauna. You can also purchase a hunting license. Even if you don’t hunt or trap, this money goes directly back to wildlife conservation in Pennsylvania.