Observing Wildlife Responsibly
Practical guidelines for watching animals and plants in nature without disturbing them.
Simple, widely recommended practices for observing wildlife safely and respectfully, and for sharing what you find.
- Organization
- Biosphere
- Type
- education
- Format
- guide
- Audience
- general, students, educators
- Topics
- wildlife, conservation
- Keep your distance. Use binoculars or a zoom lens instead of approaching. If an animal changes its behaviour, you are too close.
- Never feed wild animals. Human food can make them sick and teaches them to approach people.
- Stay on trails to protect plants, soil and nesting areas.
- Be quiet and patient. Noise and sudden movements cause stress.
- Respect breeding seasons and avoid nests, dens and roosts.
- Leave no trace. Take everything you bring back with you, and leave natural objects where you find them.
- Follow local rules in parks and protected areas.