Finding Winter Wildlife Tips

I thought now would be a good time to share these tips for locating winter wildlife.  I've had multiple messages a day for over two weeks regarding the Lynx I've been photographing for the last few years.  Most who follow my social media pages know that I don't share locations because I worry it will put them at risk.   The animals safety is my absolute priority.  The property owner and closest neighbors have the same concerns and feeling of responsibility to these beautiful animals.  

I'll be honest, it's also a bit selfish as I don't want the location ruined.  I enjoy shooting alone and don't want to share a location which has given me unprecedented access to wild lynx.  Can you blame me?  The moments I've been able to observe will stay with me forever.  The trust that has developed over that time is something I never thought I'd experience with an animal like this. It's special and it should be protected.  

Hopefully these tips help you in locating your own special opportunities and if so...I urge you to keep the information to yourself and realize what a privilege it is to be in their presence.

As Canadians we are lucky to have vastly different seasons.  Winter gives us so many wonderful opportunities to capture animals with their thick winter coats, winter camouflage and for many species a chance to watch them interact during their breeding season.  So when it gets cold, don’t hibernate…get outside and explore!  Here are a few tips I hope you find useful on your search for winter wildlife:

Tracks:  It is much easier to find wildlife when you can see where they’ve been and which direction they are moving.  Learn to identify different species by their tracks and determine if they are fresh or days old.  Are these animals moving through or spending a lot of time in that one area?   If there are lots of tracks both new and old, then you may have found a consistent spot to see them in their home territory.

Learn to listen for nature’s clues:   When squirrels start sounding their alarm calls or other wildlife is suddenly on alert there is usually a reason for their behavior.  When small birds discover a predator,  they start to emit alarm calls and fly at the threat to harass it and divert its attention.  All this behavior can help you locate owls, hawks, and different predators.

Research:   Knowing the behavior, life history, traits, and preferences of the wildlife you hope to find is so important.  The more you know, the easier they will be to find.  Know where they usually sleep, what trees they prefer to roost, their preferred prey, migration patterns and for mammals know their typical home territory (which will differ depending on the time of year and is different for males and females.)

Don’t wait for “good” weather:  Some of the best opportunities can happen in the worst weather or challenging low light.  If it’s overcast, cold, windy or a bad snowstorm – don’t let it deter you!  Be prepared for the weather and challenges. 

Stay local:  Take advantage of our situation this winter and explore new areas close to home.  People in cities around the world have been reporting seeing more wildlife during the pandemic and Canada is no exception.  Has it always been that way and we were just too busy to notice?  Some experts believe there hasn’t been a dramatic increase in the amount of wildlife in any given area but perhaps a shift in the way wild animals use their territory.  Animals seem to be moving around more during the day because of the drop in human activity during our months in lockdown.