Top 10 Winter Wildlife Experiences to Enjoy Near You

Go Owling.

It’s quite simply the best time of year to observe owls – many species of these charismatic birds are at their most visible, and active. Snowy owl irruptions occur every few years, sending them far south of their arctic homes. They’ll be in farm fields, vacant lots, airport runways – anywhere there’s open space and some rodents.

Other northern owl species will occasionally show up farther south. Last year, a northern hawk owl spent the winter in a Hailey, Idaho neighborhood. It was my then two-month old son’s first bird expedition, and birders from around the region showed up to enjoy the show (which lasted for three months). Resources like eBird and local Facebook birding groups can keep you apprised of any rarities. There are a variety of bird species beyond owls that might show up on a snowy winter afternoon.

And even if the vagrants don’t show up, great-horned owls are one of the most adaptable and charismatic birds. They’re setting up their nesting territories – and hooting up the neighborhood. You can often see them at dusk, silently ghosting over a field.

Find Raptor and Grouse “Snow Angels.”

Winter is also a great time of year to spot hawks and falcons, often hunting from a telephone pole, fence post or bare tree. But can you find where one made a snow angel?

That’s right, a snow angel. When a raptor makes a kill on powdery snow, it often leaves a dramatic wing print – a sign of bloody struggle, yes, but also quite beautiful.

A related activity is to find a ruffed grouse’s “snow cave.” To protect themselves in the winter, grouse often live in a version of an igloo. Sometimes they make these igloos by plunging from the air into a snow bank…leaving behind their own versions of avian snow angels.

Stake Out a Carcass.

Winter is not a kind season for deer, and it is not unusual to find a dead one in a snow drift. But one creature’s misfortune is another’s feast. To some, it may seem macabre. But it’s also one of the great shows in nature.

Hide nearby and, depending on where you live, you can see magpies, ravens, bald eagles (yes, they’re scavengers), coyotes, opossums and more. In wilder areas, you may even catch sight of an elusive predator like a fisher or a gray wolf.

Even common species like ravens are fascinating to watch on a kill (Read Bernd Heinrich’s Ravens in Winter for a long-running and famous study on their complex behavior).

And if you don’t want to hide for hours in the cold, there’s always a camera trap. You may not catch the images wildlife biologist Jonny Armstrong does by camera trapping carcasses, but one can dream.

Search the Open Water.

As water freezes, waterfowl seeks out open water for food and protection. Warm springs, swift rivers and parts of lakes often remain open for much of the winter. And great flocks will crowd every available space: ducks and geese of many varieties, mergansers, the occasional bald eagle.

Look closely for an otter cavorting along the ice’s edge, or a muskrat collecting grass.

Seasoned wildlife photographers know a patch of open water can offer some of the best bird photography around. Hide in some reeds and enjoy the show.

Participate in a Citizen Science Project.

Spend your time outdoors and help conservation. Some of the world’s most popular citizen science projects take place in winter.

The Christmas Bird Count is arguably the largest birding event in the world – an annual census of birds in the Western Hemisphere. It has an interesting history: in the 19^th century, people bet on how many different birds they could shoot over the holiday season.

Now, fortunately, it’s transformed into a birding event, with nearly 75,000 annual participants.

And that’s just a start. The Great Backyard Bird Count (in February) and FeederWatch (throughout the winter) are ways to count birds, and bird trends, for researchers in your own backyard or city park. Invasives experts encourage birders to keep an eye out for forest pests while they have their binoculars pointed to the trees.

I’ve conducted a weekly duck count along my neighborhood river, and collected sagebrush seeds so that land managers can restore degraded habitats.

Follow the Tracks.

A snowy evening transforms a seemingly quiet woods into a treasure hunt for kids. Tracking is the perfect way to young ones excited about the outdoors. And it’s easy. A trusty field guide like the venerable Peterson’s Field Guide to Animal Tracks will reveal what creatures passed in the snow and mud.

Some areas are better than others – I’ve found that areas near watercourses to be particularly well suited to tracking. Savvy trackers will pack along a ruler – many tracks are easier to identify if you can measure them.

Want more tips for introducing kids to the art of tracking? Check out my previous blog for some pointers.

Find a Winter-white Animal.

Every budding nature enthusiast learns that some animals turn white in the winter. But have you ever found one? Spotting white on white can be a challenge, especially since some of them live in deep in the woods.

Long-tailed and short-tailed weasels (often called ermines) are the most widespread of the winter-white critters, but they are notoriously elusive. Snowshoe hares, white-tailed jackrabbits and ptarmigan species are other notable candidates, but you’ll need to strap on a pair of snowshoes and head to the high country.

Outfox a Fox.

Red foxes are one of the most common urban (and rural) predators, yet they’re often difficult to spot. With many rodents living comfortably under the snow, though, the fox must be out hunting. That means this is the best time of year to find and photograph the red fox.

And make no mistake: despite their abundance, a winter red fox with a lush, thick pelt makes for one of the most striking wildlife images you’ll take. Creep up on one quietly, and you may find it resting on a warm hillside, fluffy tail draped over its body.

The fox’s tracks are distinctive: a straight row of round pads. But photographing or observing one will take your best fieldcraft: foxes are wary and crafty, as you might expect from a predator that is able to thrive around humanity.

Fish a Winter Mayfly Hatch.

Insects in winter? You won’t see a butterfly in the snow, but go to a spring creek and you might find a hatch of mayflies. It can bring the water to life with feeding trout. It’s fun to watch, to be sure. But I’m too much of an angler not to be there with a fly rod in hand.

Yes, your gear will ice up. The rocks are slick. You’ll be cold, damp and miserable. But I have had some of my most memorable days with native trout on a cold, gray winter day, enjoying an icy canyon while others are home watching football.

Stop by the Woods on a Snowy Evening.

As you’re enjoying your favorite winter activity – whether it’s skiing or snowshoeing or sledding or just going for an evening jog – just stop for a minute and look around. Even in developed areas, at dusk wildlife is on the move.

There’s a muffled quiet to the air as the snow falls. As your eyes adjust to the gloom, you’ll see the natural world going about its business. A herd of whitetails ghosting across the suburban yard. A flock of goldeneyes whistling to open water. A pileated woodpecker rapping on a dead tree. A coyote howling across a farm field.

Tis the season to enjoy all these sights and experiences. What are your favorite winter wildlife activities?