Wildlife news
News News

Updates on Utah's wildlife from the DWR

Each week the DWR publishes interesting and informative stories about Utah's wildlife. If you want these stories delivered to your inbox just as soon as we publish them, please sign up for our weekly email.

4 local spots where you can catch a lot of fish quickly

May is a great time to head out with your fishing pole because the ice has melted off most of the reservoirs, and the water is starting to warm up. If you are itching to get out on the water and want to catch a lot of fish, here are a few fun local spots that have large populations of fish managed for high catch rates.

Plan ahead to decontaminate boats encrusted with mussels at Lake Powell

If you own a large cabin cruiser or houseboat that has been in a slip at Lake Powell for more than a couple of weeks, you will need to do some advance planning and preparation before you can take your boat out for an afternoon on the lake, especially if it will be leaving from Page, Arizona or Big Water, Utah.

Utah Wildlife Board approves 2019 big game hunts

The Utah Wildlife Board approved the 2019 big game hunting permit numbers, as well as several new hunts during Thursday's meeting. The recommended number of hunting permits each year is based on a few factors.

DWR discontinues translocation in urban deer program

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has made the decision to discontinue the translocation of urban deer (removing deer from urban areas and relocating them to rangelands). The urban deer program will still continue in an effort to minimize deer/human conflicts, but will be a lethal-removal only program moving forward.

4 good places to watch birds in Utah this spring

Spring is here, which means wildlife migrations are in full swing. Bird-watching is a great opportunity to get outdoors and see a wide variety of wildlife — and enjoy the fun challenge of trying to identify them!

What to do if you find a baby bird on the ground

It's a beautiful spring day so you decide to go for a walk. You are strolling along the sidewalk in your neighborhood when suddenly you hear some loud chirping near your feet. You look over and see a small baby bird lying on the ground near a tree trunk. What should you do?

Gila monster named state reptile

Utah has long had a state flag, a state emblem and even a state cooking pot. (It's the Dutch oven.) Now, with Wednesday's signing of HB144, Utah officially has a state reptile: the Gila monster.

Don't let dogs chase wildlife

Utah wildlife often struggles to find food during winters that have heavy snow. By spring, many animals are vulnerable and weak. So if you are planning to take your dog on hikes this spring and summer, make sure your pet doesn't chase or harass any wildlife.

Treatment will remove illegally released goldfish

In mid-October, biologists with the Division of Wildlife Resources will use rotenone to remove goldfish that were placed illegally in Maple Lake.

Report hunting violations

With most of Utah's hunting seasons in full swing, wildlife officers are asking hunters and anglers — and others who are in the outdoors too — to watch for illegal hunting activities. That includes hunters shooting animals but not retrieving them, shooting after dark or any activity that seems suspicious.

Quick links
Lee Kay and Cache Valley Shooting Centers
» Shooting centers
Wildlife Blog: Views from DWR employees
» Wildlife Blog
Report poachers — 1-800-662-3337
» Report poachers
Wildlife dates
» Important dates
Hunter, angler mobile app
Hunter Education: Sign up for classes
» Hunter education
The Natural Resources Map & Bookstore: discover hands-on resources
» DNR Map & Bookstore