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.
If you like the idea of harvesting your own locally sourced turkey — instead of fighting the crowds to buy one at your neighborhood supermarket — you can start planning now for next year's Thanksgiving feast, and apply for an opportunity to hunt turkeys in Utah next spring.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is recommending a few minor changes for bear hunting in Utah, along with other rule amendments, and is seeking the public’s feedback.
Another season of bundling up and riding a sleigh or wagon through the middle of hundreds of wild elk at the Hardware Wildlife Management Area begins Dec. 5, and will offer a variety of fun activities for visitors.
During this past fiscal year, a whopping total of 144,433 acres were improved across Utah through the Watershed Restoration Initiative.
Several projects aimed at improving boater access in Utah were recently approved for funding and should begin construction in 2026.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and other partnering agencies worked hard inspecting and decontaminating boats across the state this year. Their primary focus was preventing the spread of quagga mussels and other aquatic invasive species — including Eurasian watermilfoil — from Lake Powell and from infested reservoirs outside the state to other waterbodies in Utah.
After discovering an illegal fish introduction this year, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is again reminding Utahns that it's both harmful and illegal to move sportfish you've caught from one waterbody to another, to dump unwanted pet fish into local ponds, or to use live bait fish.
Utah's growing population and related urban expansion have increased the number of wildlife encounters across the state in recent years. However, not every encounter or animal sighting needs to be reported to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
November is the perfect time for wildlife watchers and photographers to see mule deer since they are migrating during breeding season and also moving to lower elevations in search of feed. You'll have a great opportunity to see them during an upcoming event!
While Utahns will gain an extra hour of sleep on Nov. 2 when daylight saving time ends, the time change also means that many people will have evening commutes during lower-visibility hours in the months ahead, which can increase vehicle/wildlife collisions.
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