Winter Wildlife in Wyoming

Wyoming is known for its wildlife sightings in our national forests, national parks, and public lands., but what you might not know is how many birds and mammals are just a short hike or drive from right here in Casper.

From the wild turkeys lurking around town and an abundance of birds flocking near the North Platte River to small herds of pronghorn, white tail deer, and mule deer, Casper is truly one of the best places for wildlife viewing in Wyoming. If you know where to go, have patience and perseverance (and warm winter gear), there are even more opportunities to view and photograph large and small critters on and off the beaten path.

Winter wildlife viewing and photography is as easy as grabbing your phone or camera equipment and venturing into town. The best spots to view wildlife in Casper are close enough to drive to before your coffee from one of our local shops gets cold.

What to Take

There is a Swedish saying that applies to our sometimes cold, windy days: “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” In other words, if you prepare, any day, even in the winter, can be an opportunity to get outside and explore! If you’re planning to take photos, it’s essential to keep your gear functioning in the cold. Keep spare batteries and your cell phone in a warm inner pocket close to your body to reserve battery life. Tripods or monopods make things much easier and make your shots sharper. A long lens will help you get closer to the animals you want to photograph. If you don’t own one, you can rent one from Wyoming Camera Outfitters, located in downtown Casper.

The variety of wildlife in Casper, Wyoming that can be observed is astounding. Yes, there are Canadian Geese and Mallard Ducks as you might expect, as well as so many other animals, including Bald Eagles, Osprey, Merganser Ducks, Wood Ducks, Black Capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, Great Horned Owls, Ravens, Downy Woodpeckers, Doves, Rough-Legged Hawk, Clark’s Nutcrackers, Flickers, Blue Herons, Turkeys, Wrens, Goldeneye Ducks, Greenwing Teal Ducks, and more. In terms of mammals, deer and pronghorn are easy to spot, but with a bit of patience, I’ve seen muskrats, minks, red foxes, raccoons, and beaver.

Here are my recommendations for where to go for the best wildlife viewing in Casper!

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Author

Kelly Eastes

Film Casper Liaison, Content Writer & Photographer

Kelly Eastes has been involved in the film industry here in Natrona County for decades. An expert in recruiting film projects and connecting crews with local resources, he doubles as a content creator for Visit Casper as his writing talents help better tell our story to visitors and locals alike.