Exploring Local Wildlife: Best Practices for Ethical Wildlife Viewing

What should you do when you want to explore the outdoors and view wildlife? Here are some helpful tips for ethical wildlife viewing to keep you safe.

There’s nothing more beautiful or exciting than an animal in its natural habitat. Wild animals are extremely fun to watch and can be great to see when you explore your local area or go on a safari. Whether you go into the ocean or venture out on a hike at your nearest state or national park, the opportunity to view wildlife is present.

Do not touch wild animals

If you’re close enough to touch a wild animal, there’s a greater chance of danger. Just because an animal looks like it could be friendly and cuddly doesn’t mean it actually is. When you get too close to wild animals, bad things can happen. There have been reported deaths in some national parks because people got too close to animals that appear calm and relatively harmless but get spooked by the presence of people and eventually become violent. Keep a safe distance, and don’t touch any wild animals.

Leave the marine animals alone

Whether you explore the sea by diving into it or view animals like sea lions sunning themselves on the shore, you need to leave these creatures alone. Animals that are relaxing in the sun look calm enough, but they can quickly become agitated by your presence. One of the best practices for ethical wildlife viewing is to leave marine animals alone. Go ahead and take some pictures, but let them enjoy their time and do what they normally do without disrupting them in their natural habitats.

Stay calm when around wild animals

If you get into the water with sea creatures, you’re literally entering their habitat and need to act accordingly. This means staying calm and quiet when in the water. If you see animals while swimming and snorkeling, you need to slow your movements and avoid splashing. On land, you need to be calm and as still as you possibly can to keep the wild animals calm. You don’t actually want them to know you’re in the area, although most animals can smell you from a great distance.

Wear camouflage clothing

It’s important to blend in with your surroundings when you’re specifically on an excursion to view wild animals. One of the most ethical wildlife viewing techniques is to wear camouflage clothing that matches the surrounding area. This helps you blend into the background to make it easier for animals to stay calm in your presence. You don’t want to cause the animals to be alarmed by your presence, and wearing clothing that blends in will help you remain unnoticed in the wild.

Watch animal behavior

You need to watch and listen to what the animals are doing. Most animals communicate distress and agitation pretty well and make it easy for you to know that you’re in danger of being attacked. Before you enter a wildlife area, it’s a good idea to learn the distress signals of various species so that you know whether or not you’ll be in danger. Have a plan to escape danger, even if that means running to your nearby vehicle when an animal gets distressed by your presence.

Do not disturb animal homes

If you happen to come across an animal’s home, and the animal isn’t there, you need to leave it alone. This is one of the most important tips for ethical wildlife viewing. Animals are protective of their homes and don’t want humans messing with them. Many times, especially in the spring, some animals will have their young in the den or nest, and that will cause the parent animals to attack you if you’re near the home. Once you realize you’ve found an animal’s home, get away carefully.

Don’t litter or throw things at animals

While it should be obvious if you take children with you to view wild animals, it’s important to cover this tip with them. You want to view the animals, not disturb them, and you don’t want to leave litter behind where the animal could get into it and become sick or twisted. Most of us have seen videos of sea turtles wrapped in nets, fishing lines, or plastic can holders. Keep your trash with you and dispose of it properly after you get out of the wildlife area.

Follow these tips for ethical wildlife viewing and stay safe while watching animals in their natural areas. Always remember these animals are wild and could attack you at any time.