For anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors, fall is a great season for wildlife watching. Knowing what animals are doing can make a hike, camping trip, or afternoon in the park feel a little more like an adventure.
Getting Ready for Winter
For many Nevada animals, fall is a time to prepare for colder temperatures and less available food. Animals that remain active throughout the winter may spend the fall eating more, growing thicker coats, or finding sheltered places to rest.
You may notice animals becoming more active during certain parts of the day as they take advantage of the remaining warmth and available food. Mule deer, for example, can often be spotted moving through sagebrush and wooded areas as they search for plants to eat. Elk are also more visible in some parts of Nevada during the fall, particularly during their fall rut.
Other animals take a different approach. Small mammals may spend the fall gathering and storing food, while some species find protected spaces where they can shelter during cold weather.
Changing the Menu
Fall also brings changes to what wildlife eats. As summer plants dry up and some insects become less abundant, animals have to adjust their diets.
Birds may take advantage of fall berries and seeds, while mammals search for nuts, roots, grasses, and other foods that remain available. Bears, where they occur in Nevada, spend the fall eating as much as they can before winter. Their diets can include berries, nuts, insects, plants, and other available foods.
These changes can also make wildlife easier to spot. Animals may spend more time searching for food or gathering resources, giving observant visitors more opportunities to notice them.
Some Wildlife Is On the Move
Fall is also migration season for many birds. Nevada sits along important migration routes, making wetlands, lakes, rivers, and other water sources especially valuable places for birds traveling south.
Waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, and raptors may all pass through Nevada during their seasonal journeys. Some species stay through the winter, while others continue much farther south.
Wetlands and riparian areas can be particularly rewarding places to watch birds in the fall. Places such as the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge and other Nevada wetlands provide important habitat for migrating and resident wildlife.
Where Can You Spot Nevada Wildlife?
You don't have to travel deep into the wilderness to see wildlife. Animals live in and around many of the places we visit every day.
Try looking for wildlife around:Wetlands and lakes: Great places for waterfowl, shorebirds, and other migrating birds.
Rivers and riparian areas: Look and listen for songbirds, waterfowl, beavers, and other wildlife.
Sagebrush country: Keep an eye out for mule deer, rabbits, coyotes, and birds of prey.
Forested mountain areas: These habitats can provide opportunities to see deer, elk, squirrels, woodpeckers, and other forest wildlife.
Open fields and parks: Fall can bring a variety of migrating birds, especially during early morning and evening.
Your own backyard: Native plants, trees, and water sources can attract birds and other small wildlife.
Remember that wildlife sightings are never guaranteed—and that's part of the fun. Sometimes the most exciting discovery is a set of tracks, a feather, a chewed branch, or the sound of an animal you never actually see.
Watch Wildlife Responsibly
Fall is a great time to observe wildlife, but it's important to give animals the space they need. As wildlife prepares for winter, unnecessary disturbance can cost them valuable energy.
Use binoculars or a camera with a zoom rather than approaching animals for a closer look. Keep dogs under control, stay on designated trails where appropriate, and never feed wild animals. If an animal changes its behavior because of your presence, you're probably too close.
Wildlife watching is about more than getting a great photo. It's an opportunity to slow down, pay attention, and notice the signs of life happening around us.
This fall, take some time to explore outside and see what you can find. Look closely, listen carefully, and remember that every season tells a different story about Nevada's wildlife.
