WILDLIFE VIEWING & BIRDING

WATCHABLE WILDLIFE IN CASPER

From Yellowstone National Park in the northwest corner of the state to the Snowy Range Mountains in the south, it’s likely no surprise that Wyoming is home to plentiful wildlife. But here in central Wyoming, you’ll also find abundant opportunities to see watchable wildlife in and around Casper and Natrona County including pronghorn antelope, mule deer, coyotes and a variety of birds.

Pronghorn Antelope

If you’re road tripping through Wyoming, you’re almost guaranteed to see a herd of pronghorn antelope, especially as the state is home to more pronghorns than humans. Pronghorns are the fastest land mammal in North America, can sprint up to 60 mph and are commonly seen in…

Deer

Both mule deer and white-tailed deer live in and around central Wyoming and can be identified by their physical characteristics. Mule deer have short tails with a black tip, are known for their large ears and can often times be found making themselves at home in town…

Coyote

Known as the “prairie wolf”, coyotes are often seen alone or in pairs. If you’re out camping or staying in a cabin or lodge outside of Casper, you’ll likely hear their high-pitched howls, especially at dusk.

You may also spot fox, black bear and mountain lion on Casper Mountain. When wildlife watching, be sure to stay at least 100 yards away from large animals (bears) and at least 25 yards away from elk, deer and other wildlife.

And while our larger wildlife often take center stage, Casper and Natrona County have plentiful destinations for birding and bird watching where you can see eagles, Western meadowlarks (which is also Wyoming’s state bird), sandhill cranes, American dippers, loons, golden eagles, gulls, great-horned owls and wood ducks. Prime birding destinations include Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park, Little Red Creek, Reshaw Park, Cottonwood Campground and Martin Cove.