Seeing a cougar or a moose in your neighborhood can be alarming. But not every animal sighting needs to be reported, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources said Monday.
In the winter months, deer, moose and other large animals typically move to lower elevations in order to find food, the agency said. And cougars, which prey on deer, often follow.
If you do see a wild animal in your yard or neighborhood, keep your distance, the agency advised. And don’t feed it.
“Getting too close to a wild animal can cause the animal to feel threatened,” DWR Capt. Chad Bettridge said. “If it feels threatened, it will sometimes act aggressively to protect itself.”
Beyond that, you may not need to report wildlife sightings — even if it feels like they are increasing.
That apparent increase is in part because more people have doorbell and security cameras, which often capture wildlife sightings that were not noticed before, the wildlife division advised. There also has been more development in Utah’s foothills and canyons, potentially pushing these animals farther into town.
Here is what to do if you spot a certain animal, according to the DWR:
Cougars
(Wasatch Wildlife Watch project, University of Utah) A motion-triggered camera recorded this image of a cougar in Parleys Canyon as part of University of Utah research exploring how recreation affects wildlife.
Report a cougar if it has killed something in a neighborhood or yard, shows aggressive behavior, or appears several times on your security cameras.
But if you only see — or capture footage of — a cougar once, you don’t need to report it, the wildlife division advised.
“One-time sightings of cougars are typically when the animal is moving through an area, and it has often left by the time DWR biologists and conservation officers can respond,” officials said.
Bears
Bears typically hibernate from November to March, so it’s unlikely you would see one this time of year.
But if you do, you should report it if it’s within city limits — or if it is being aggressive, getting into trash or fruit trees, or causing damage, officials said.
Moose
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Division of Wildlife Resources crews work to rescue a moose from Lambs Creek diversion pond near Mountain Dell golf course, on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020.
You should report a moose that has wandered into a lower-elevation area or is within city limits, because otherwise, they could stay in the area for a long time and potentially injure someone.
Urban environments can also be dangerous for moose, the DWR said.
Never try to “herd” a moose out of a yard or a road, officials advised — they can be very aggressive.
Deer
A deer only needs to be reported if it is in a heavily populated area and acting aggressively.
If a deer is found dead in a yard or park, or hit and killed on a neighborhood street, officials said you should report it to DWR so crews can remove the dead animal.
Birds of prey
(Jim Shuler | Utah Division of Wildlife Resources) A golden eagle, Utah's official state bird of prey.
Hawks, eagles and other birds of prey only need to be reported if they are in a roadway, have an obvious injury, or have been in the same spot for over 12 hours.
For more information, visit WildAwareUtah.org.
How to report wildlife to DWR:
The wildlife division has several offices across the state. You can call the closest one to you to report a wildlife sighting.
The agency’s main office, located in Salt Lake City, can be reached at 801-538-4700.
The wildlife division also has a northeastern regional office in Ogden, which can be reached at 801-476-2740.
The agency’s regional office for central Utah is located in Springville. Crews there can be reached at 801-491-5678.
For more office locations and contact information, visit wildlife.utah.gov/about-us/contact-dwr.html.