Utah Wildlife 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.
3 places you can see swans migrating through Utah in March
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Few sights in the natural world carry the same symbolic weight as the swan: a universal icon of grace and devotion. For many, catching a glimpse of these birds in the wild is a once-in-a-lifetime "bucket list" event, yet Utahns are uniquely fortunate to be located directly along one of their primary migration routes.
Attend 2 upcoming events to see waterfowl, other migratory bird species in Utah
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Utah is home to a variety of ducks and migrating geese — as well as other waterbird species — and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is hosting two separate viewing events in southern Utah this month to provide the opportunity to see and learn more about them.
Want to try hunting? Take a hunter education class or enroll in Utah’s Trial Hunting Program
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If you are interested in trying hunting for the first time this fall — or if you want to apply for a permit in the upcoming big game application period for the first time — you’ll need to either take a hunter education class or participate in Utah’s Trial Hunting Program.
USFWS approves new Utah Wildlife Action Plan to help native species
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officially approved the new Utah Wildlife Action Plan on Jan. 6, which allows for needed funding avenues and ongoing action to help the most vulnerable native fish and wildlife species in Utah.
DWR, UDOT and other partners complete 11 projects, 1 study to help wildlife and fish safely migrate across Utah in 2025
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The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah Department of Transportation, as well as other partners, are working hard to reduce wildlife/vehicle collisions around the state and to also make it easier for wildlife and fish to make their important annual migrations. In 2025, the agencies and other partners installed several different structures and completed a few studies to help wildlife and fish migrate safely in various areas throughout Utah.
DWR Dedicated Hunter volunteers complete over 1,100 projects in 2025 to benefit wildlife
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2025 saw some great work from people helping to benefit wildlife in Utah, with volunteers in the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Dedicated Hunter Program completing 1,176 projects last year.
Utah Wildlife Board approves minor changes for bear hunting in 2026, other rule updates
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The Utah Wildlife Board approved a few minor changes for bear hunting in Utah, along with other rule amendments, during a public meeting on Thursday.
Ice-fishing events and tournaments to check out in 2026
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If you want to add an extra challenge to your ice fishing this winter, a tournament may be just the thing. Plus, you can help many of Utah’s fisheries by harvesting overabundant fish and also have the opportunity to win prizes!
5 new Utah fishing records set in 2025
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Anyone who goes fishing knows how thrilling it is to catch a fish, especially if it is a large, potentially record-breaking one. And in 2025, anglers set several new fishing records in Utah.
Utah Wildlife Board meeting: Jan. 8, 2026
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Watch the Utah Wildlife Board meeting live, beginning Thursday, Jan. 8, at 9 a.m. The agenda and meeting materials are available on the public meetings page.