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Watchable Wildlife

Timing and patience are two of the most important factors to a successful wildlife watching trip. Keep these tips in mind for a rewarding experience.

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Wildlife Watching Tips

� Plan your trip according to the season, tidal phase, and time of day.

� Remember that wildlife is more active in the mornings and early evenings than in the afternoon.

� Noise travels easily across water. Keep voices down when approaching a viewing area to avoid scaring wildlife away before you arrive.

� Use binoculars and spotting scopes to bring animals “closer� to you without disturbing them.

� Bring a field guide to help identify species.

� Avoid disturbing wildlife, maintain the required 200 yard buffer from shore.

Be Part of the Solution

State and Federal laws protect seabirds and other marine life from disturbance and harassment.

� Stay 200 yards from shore.

� Steer your boat (including jet skis and kayaks) around bird flocks, not through them.

� Never feed or touch wildlife.

� Try to observe wildlife without them observing you.

� Weight fishing lines to avoid hooking seabirds.

� Recycle or dispose responsibly of fishing hooks and monofilament lines.

� Pack out your trash.

â€� Report stranded marine mammals to the  Hotline at 1-866-767-6114.

â€� Special rules apply when observing whales in inland Washington waters. Find a complete set of guidelines for marine wildlife at .