Arizona Wildlife Viewing
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What is wildlife viewing?
Wildlife viewing is the activity of watching and enjoying wildlife species in their natural environment. The activity may be as simple as observing a backyard bird feeder, or as adventurous as a moonlit hike through a canyon to watch nocturnal animals scurry about under the cover of dark.
Wildlife viewing opportunities are everywhere and include a variety of animals, some as common as a hummingbird at a backyard feeder, some passing through only briefly on their seasonal migrations, and others so rare that dedicated wildlife watchers spend hours just to catch a glimpse.
Watching wildlife is a lifelong learning experience. It can begin at any age and everyone can participate.
Arizona provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the nation, with more than 800 animal species and 50 million public acres of natural land to explore. So, you are bound to witness some spectacular sights in Arizona’s varied landscapes if you know where and when to look, what to look for, and how to look for wildlife in any given habitat.
Tips for viewing wildlife
Where to go in Arizona
Visiting Flagstaff?
Download the Conserve & Protect Flagstaff Wildlife Watching Map
Maintaining and installing wildlife streaming cameras is expensive. If you like what you see, and/or would like to contribute to wildlife and conservation education and experiences for people around the state of Arizona, please consider making a donation to the Wildlife Viewing Program. Your donations stay within the program to create a better educated and informed populace.
Upcoming wildlife viewing events
What is the Wildlife Viewing Program?
The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Wildlife Viewing Program (WV) provides innovative experiential, family-oriented wildlife viewing activities centered in the outdoors to engage people with wildlife through experienced subject matter experts. This program provides a safe and engaging avenue for novice and experienced wildlife enthusiasts to learn about Arizona’s diverse fauna. The WV Program provides unprecedented access to and expertise about Arizona’s wildlife through various different events and activities. These include, but are not limited to the following:
Bat nettings
Bighorn sheep tours
Bison tours
Wildlife photography tours
Virtual speaker series
In addition to wildlife viewing events, the WV Program maintains wildlife cams throughout the state, reaching audiences in 40 states & 38 countries. These cams include bats at Cluff Ranch, bald eagles at Lake Pleasant, sandhill cranes at White Water Draw, great-horned owls at White Water Draw, and pupfish at Mesa Community College. Learn more about the wildlife cams
The Wildlife Viewing Program is committed to achieving wildlife conservation by engaging the public in wildlife watching activities and wildlife cams that increase awareness of and appreciation for wildlife conservation and building partnerships and public support for the Department’s unique role in wildlife management. These practices ensure the continued existence of Arizona’s diverse wildlife and habitats by promoting sustainable wildlife viewing practices and satisfying opportunities.
Why watch wildlife?
- It can provide a fun and inexpensive activity for the entire family to enjoy together.
- It is a relaxing experience that provides a connection to nature.
- Observers can gain a better understanding of how wildlife acts in their natural environment, including how they forage for food, where they live and their interactions with other wildlife.
- Seeing wildlife can leave a viewer with a positive, unforgettable, and personal experience that they will recall for years to come.
- Wildlife viewing provided more than $1.4 billion annually, to Arizona and its communities.
- It benefits wildlife through a heightened public awareness of the value of wildlife and habitat, and the need to conserve irreplaceable assets.
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