How To Respect Wildlife

Food, Water, Shelter, and Space

Most visitors know that every living creature, large or small, needs food, water, and shelter to survive. These are the same basic necessities we rely on to make it through another weekend outdoors. But there is one more essential element that is often overlooked: space.

Wildlife can become stressed and react unpredictably when their space is invaded. Even well-meaning visitors who get too close can cause harm.

Think about how you would feel if you could never get away from a pesky sibling, an annoying neighbor, or even someone who made you feel unsafe. How would you react? Animals need space just as much as we do, and respecting that space helps protect both them and us.

Enjoy wildlife from a distance and let them thrive in their natural home.

Six Ways To Respect Wildlife

"Respect Wildlife" is a mission and way to reduce disruptive encounters with wildlife.

1) Keep Your Hands To Yourself: Leave creatures as you find them! Look, don’t touch, and step carefully.

2) Stay Back. You're Scary: If an animal starts to stare, fidget or flee, calmly back away and give them more space.

3) Pick Up and Pack Out Trash: Always carry your trash to the nearest garbage can. You can also pick up litter you find. If trash cans are overflowing, take your trash home

4) Hang Back To Enjoy The View: Keep your distance. Use your zoom lens or binoculars if you want that close-up view.

5) Keep Your Snacks To Yourself: Share food with your friends, not wildlife. Let them find and eat food that is natural for them.

6) Keep Pets On A Leash and Kids Close: Leashing your dog protects your pet and wildlife too. Teach kids to stay back, and to look, not touch.

Learn More About Watching Wildlife

There are lots of great videos, articles and thoughts about safely watching wildlife in nature. Check out this National Park Service webpage about observing the world around you.