Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

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

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.