Volunteers should be at least 8 years old and anyone under 18 needs to have adult supervision, Weiler said. In addition to Oak Creek, wildlife watchers might want to take a drive up nearby Highway 821, off Interstate 82, where bighorn sheep, deer, raptors and even cougar can been seen on the rugged slopes of the Yakima River Canyon. And, while your car can carry you to nature, winter wildlife watching can be even more rewarding if you get off the beaten path on cross-county skis, snowshoes or on foot. Finally, no matter how you get there, viewing animals in the wild demands additional respect and responsibility. Wild animals need all their resources to survive winter, so visitors should not push them to flee unnecessarily.
Biologists urge wildlife watchers to keep their distance.
Ken Hoopengarner has been the Herald's outdoor writer for 18 years.