Many visitors to Dinosaur National Monument are often surprised by the variety of wildlife that lives here. When you spot wildlife, getting a great photo or video from the safe distance is easy if you follow some simple advice. Although mobile device cameras are convenient, you may want to bring along a camera that has a zoom lens for better zoomed-in photos of wildlife. To protect yourself and wildlife, keep at least 75 feet or two bus-lengths away from all wildlife in the park, and at least 150 feet or four bus-lengths away from more dangerous animals like black bears.
Wildlife Viewing Tips
* Time your outing when wildlife is active: dawn or dusk. These times also have some of the best lighting for photos!
* Stay quiet and still. Noise and quick movements can threaten wildlife.
* Look to the edges of the landscape (e.g. where forest trees meet a open area or along a river edge).
* Use binoculars, a spotting scope, or a telephoto lens for a safe, close-up view.
* Pull safely and completely off the road. Watch for soft soils along road edges so that you don't get stuck! Use your car as an enclosure for viewing and photographing from a distance. Not only do cars provide a layer of protection, they also provide surfaces for stabilizing your camera.
* Use your zoom, and to steady your shot, touch your elbows to your ribcage, or rest your elbows on your knee or another stable surface.
* On your mobile device, you can zoom in by placing your thumb and forefinger together on the screen and then draw them apart just as you do to zoom in on a web page.
* Watch wildlife with your eyes rather than through your viewfinder/screen as you move. It’s easy to miss things in your surroundings that could hurt or trip you when you’re only focused on what you can see on your screen or viewfinder.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
