NatureWatch
Vegetation, Wildlife and Fish Ecology
and Rare Species Management
Welcome to NatureWatch! Discover information on wildlife viewing
areas, the Eyes
on Wildlife program, the FishWatch program
and Celebrating
Wildflowers. Find what plants and animals are native on the
Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest and learn more about the forest's
Research Natural Areas and its newly established Logan Canyon Botanical
Area. Take the Northern
Utah NatureWatch Tour.
The
not-so-rare moose, often seen in portions of the forest in the
Wasatch and Uinta Mountains - Moose can be found roaming the
riparian areas of the forest. Be sure to keep an eye out for these
large creatures. They may look tame, but the moose are wild. Enjoy
the opportunity to view the animals in their natural habitat and
remember you are a guest in their home!
The NatureWatch program is managed and administered by the Forest
Service Wildlife, Fish, Rare Plant Program in cooperation with the
program sponsors and partners.
Projects in the field include partnerships numbering in the thousands!
The program is geared to:
- Provide nature viewing opportunities
- Encourage safe and sound viewing ethics
- Contribute to local economies
More than half of the American public enjoys observing, studying,
or photographing the vast varieties of fish, wildflowers, wildlife,
and scenery. This trend is predicted to more than double by
the year 2040. In recognition of growing this growing popularity,
the NatureWatch program is designed to allow people to experience
wildlife, fish, and flowers in their natural settings; to promote
recreational viewing opportunities, facilitate learning about
the environment, and to promote conservation efforts and wise
use of natural resources. The NatureWatch Program is for children
K-6th, and for adult recreationists, wildlife enthusiasts, hikers,
photographers, anglers, hunters - all outdoors people! |
Bonneville
Cutthroat Trout
The Bonneville Cutthroat Trout is a Forest Service sensitive
species that occurs within the Bear River watershed in Wyoming,
Idaho, and Utah. This species is re-establishing itself in
many areas of the forest and is featured in our FishWatch programs. |
Nature Watching Facts
- Nearly 80% of visitors to the Wasatch-Cache National Forest
stop to view plants, fish and wildlife sometime during thier visit
- Nationally, between 1980 and 1990 the Number of Americans Participating
in Wildlife and Fish viewing increased by 63%.
- Wildlife and fish viewing is enjoyed by over 30 million people
nationwide.
- Wildlife and fish viewing participation is growing faster than
hunting or fishing.
- Viewing is enjoyed by a diverse public - 53% are male and 47%
female, age typically falls between 25 - 44 years old, and 56%
have education beyond high school.
- The Forest Service has nearly 800 established Nature Watch viewing
sites.
- 87% of wildflower viewers in Montana visit Federal lands.
- 74% of Southeast Alaska visitors reported wildlife viewing as
an important reason for their decision to visit.
- The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival, WA, attracts 13,000 visitors,
annually.
- Since 1992, more than 100,000 people have experienced Celebrating
Wildflowers on National Forests and Grasslands.
- For 3,500 kids from Los Angeles, the bird watching garden at
Chilao Visitor's Center is a chance to learn about migratory songbirds.
Each year 120,000 visitors learn about stream ecology through the
Kokanee Salmon Education Program at Lake Tahoe, NV.
The
rare Utah or Wasatch shooting star - The Wasatch Shooting
star is a recommended sensitive species in Utah, with less than
10 populations of the plant located only in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
If you see this rare plant you may take a photo, but please don't
pick the flowers so others may also enjoy the beauty.
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