Responsible Wildlife Viewing
You can help keep wildlife, yourself and habitats safe and healthy by setting a good example. Everyone is encouraged to be responsible and respectful while viewing wildlife. Read below to learn more about recreating responsibly with black bears and elk in Pennsylvania.
- Know before you go - Plan ahead and become familiar with regulations and activities happening at the location you’re headed to. Research when and where activities like hunting are occurring.
- Be respectful of other visitors – The best times for wildlife viewing are reliant on the season and time of day, which means you’re likely to run into other wildlife viewers from time to time. Give others space and recreate responsibly.
- View from a distance – Give wildlife plenty of space. Some places, like National Parks, have distance requirements for viewing wildlife. This is important for the animal's well-being and for your safety. To view wildlife up close without disturbing it, use a zoom lens, binoculars or a spotting scope. Help keep wildlife wild by giving them space.
- Do not disturb – Be respectful of wildlife always, but especially during nesting and denning seasons. Many species of wildlife are born in the spring and it’s almost certain Pennsylvanians will encounter young wildlife at one point or another. While some young animals might appear to be abandoned, usually they are not. Their mothers are likely somewhere nearby. When encountering young wildlife, the Game Commission urges Pennsylvanians not to interfere with young wildlife or remove any wild animal from its natural setting, for the protection of humans and wildlife. It is illegal to take or possess wildlife from the wild. If you encounter wildlife (small or large), do not touch. If you are concerned, reach out at 1-833-PGC-WILD to report injured, sick, or nuisance wildlife.
- Never feed wildlife – Feeding wildlife is dangerous for wildlife and people. Sharing your food can sicken an animal, spread wildlife disease, or encourage the animal to approach humans in the future, expecting a snack. Please help us keep wildlife wild by not feeding them.
- Pack it in, pack it out – Whether a snack wrapper or scraps of food, be sure to take your trash and food waste with you to dispose of at home. This is the central messaging engrained in the Leave No Trace framework. Help us keep our wild spaces clean and pick up after yourself.
- If you see something, say something – We understand that mistakes happen. Call the Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-WILD if you come into physical contact with wildlife. Call if you see wildlife that is sick, dead, or acting strangely, including wildlife that approaches you. And when you see people who aren’t following these guidelines, let them know how they can be a responsible wildlife viewer, and contact us if necessary.
Be BearWise
BearWise® is the black bear program you can trust for sound information and smart solutions that help homeowners, businesses and communities coexist with bears. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is a proud BearWise Partner.
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Keep PA Elk Wild
Visiting Pennsylvania's Elk Country has become annual tradition and a regular trip for thousands of people from near and far. ELK SMART provides four simple and effective ways that all elk viewers can ensure the wild essence of the herd remains for generations to come.
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Where to view wildlife
Now that you know how to recreate and view wildlife safely and responsibly, here are some places in Pennsylvania where you can go catch a glimpse of some wildlife!
