Now is prime time to view animals in habitat

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.