Utah Wildlife

What’s that noise?

I hadn’t been asleep for too long before I was awakened by a metallic grinding sound. It seemed pretty strange, considering my remote mountain location. The sound stopped after a minute, and I went back to sleep. Then, a few minutes later, I awoke to a clinking noise. I was stumped. I sat up in my sleeping bag and looked around.

Bird banding bonanza

Of all the activities I've participated in during my 20 years with the DWR, I would have to say that banding birds is my favorite. Banding often requires 24 hours of straight work, but it is such a rush, that you just don't notice the lack of sleep or food!

Fish in the forecast

Walleye fishing has become more popular in Utah, and it's easy to see why. These large fish can be tricky to catch, and they're really tasty! When I want to fish for walleye, I usually head to Starvation Reservoir. It's often less crowded than some of the other walleye fisheries, and the fishing is great throughout the summer.

Big brother, bugs and squishy shoes

Remember your first fishing trip? Whether you were young or old, successful or skunked, that initial trip makes a lasting impression. And you never forget who took you. For me, it was my brother, Joe.

Fishing survey nets results

In December 2007, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation conducted an online survey of 3,000 people who had fished or boated within the past three years. If you are not a boater or angler, these results will surprise you!

The racing mule

Topper actually stood still and sniffed the air while I saddled him up and loaded gear on the pack horse. It took a little time to get things ready for the four-mile trip to the cabin. Although Topper stood very still and assessed his new surroundings, he looked a little nervous. That should have been my first clue that this was not going to be an ordinary trip.

Top ten wildlife watching events

Whether it’s winter, summer or somewhere in between, there’s always something exciting to see in Utah. We hold a variety of Watchable Wildlife program events across the state throughout the year. Here’s a quick look at 10 of our most popular annual activities.

Night visitor

It happened again the other night: I fell asleep on the couch and woke up well after midnight. After turning off the TV, I wandered out to the frosty patio and looked around. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw something large soar through the air across my backyard.

When the lake boils…

It didn’t take long to discover that stripers could reproduce without limit in their new environment. The striper population was out of control and very hungry. It was obvious that we couldn't feed the millions of fish produced, and adding more forage was not the answer.

Are you ready to hit the water?

As a fisheries biologist and an eager fisherman, I love the changing seasons. I’m already anxiously awaiting the bass spawn on Lake Powell in May and early season kokanee/rainbow fishing on Flaming Gorge. And it’s not just me — the whole family gets excited.