Discover Great Places to Watch Wildlife in Oregon

Pronghorn antelope can be seen at a number of places in Eastern Or. - Photo by Kathy Munsel-

SALEM, Ore.—The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife today introduced a new Wildlife Viewing Map to help people learn where and when to see Oregon’s fish and wildlife species. The Google-based map is available via the ODFW website and details 235 great places to see wildlife in the state.

Through the Wildlife Viewing Map, viewers can discover where to see bald eagles, migrating snow geese and sandhill cranes as well as Oregon’s large mammals including black-tailed and mule deer and Rocky Mountain and Roosevelt elk. Tufted puffins, bighorn sheep and spawning salmon viewing sites are included.

Wildlife viewing from birdwatching to tidepooling to mammal and amphibian viewing is a popular recreational activity in the state with about 1.7 million people participating each year. Watching wildlife is also an economic driver: Resident wildlife viewers contributed more than $1 billion to Oregon’s economy in 2008, the most recent year surveyed.
The new viewing map complements and extends ODFW’s current wildlife viewing products. The weekly ODFW Recreation Report includes current statewide viewing opportunities. The Oregon Viewing Facebook page offers followers a status update on native species.

Wildlife Viewing as Economic Driver in Oregon

In 2008, the most recent year surveyed, Oregonians spent $1.02 billion on wildlife viewing, including day trips, overnight travel and equipment. (Source: Dean Runyan survey: Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife Viewing, and Shellfishing in Oregon 2008 State and County Expenditure Estimates, May 2009.) The report is available on ODFW’s website.

About Oregon’s Wildlife

About 140 terrestrial mammal species, 30 amphibian species and 30 reptile species live in Oregon. About 275 species of birds breed in the state and another 85 migrate through or spend the winter here. Gray whales migrate off shore and coastal tidepools reveal the secrets of the sea floor. Salmon return from the ocean to spawn in the streams where they hatched, providing a view of an amazing life cycle. Learn where to see them on the ODFW Viewing Map on ODFW’s website, http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/viewing/wildlife_viewing_map.asp
Oregon Wildlife Viewing on Facebook

The Oregon Conservation Strategy promotes conservation of the state’s native fish and wildlife and their habitats, providing information, identifying key issues and recommending actions.