Few sights are more
awe-inspiring than mass movements of animals instinctively traveling
the path forged by the millions of their kind that came before them.
Summer is prime time for wildlife viewing, the season when you'll catch
birds and animals tending their young and storing up energy before their
fall migrations to winter feeding and breeding grounds.
Here are seven jaw-dropping places in the United States to spot amazing creatures as they prepare for journeys large and small.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
Isolated and vast, the 19 million acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
is often called the last truly wild place in the United States. The
coastal plain along the Beaufort Sea, the heart of the refuge, offers
spectacular wildlife viewing. In early summer, the 123,000-strong
Porcupine caribou return here to give birth and graze the tundra. You
might also spot grizzly bears, wolves, muskoxen and even polar bears, as
well as huge populations of migratory birds.
Most of the refuge is
only accessible by plane. Unless you have extensive wilderness
experience, it's best to hire a qualified guide for both day hikes and
longer expeditions. You can find more information on authorized guides online.
San Juan Islands, Washington
Between the Washington
mainland and Vancouver Island lies the San Juan Archipelago, a chain of
178 islands. From late spring through the summer, orca sightings are
very common here: three extended family pods regularly pass through,
following salmon migrations. Although boats are required by law to keep a
200-yard distance from the spouting giants, curious orcas will
sometimes come very close.
Whether you opt for a
kayak trip or a larger boat tour, you'll want to select a tour operator
that respects the orca's habitat. The Whale Museum,
a local educational and research institution, recommends booking with
tour companies that are members of the Pacific Whale Watching
Association.
Even if you don't spot
an orca during your trip, you're likely to see a variety of marine life,
including sea lions, harbor seals, porpoise and perhaps even gray
whales. Plan a visit to the San Juan Island National Historical Park,
where you can hike through cedar forests, native prairie and along
rocky shorelines while enjoying marvelous views of the Olympic Mountains
and the Northern Cascades.
Glacier National Park, Montana
With more than 1 million acres of glaciers, forests, lakes, mountains and wetlands, visitors to Glacier National Park
have the chance to see everything from elusive wolves, grizzlies and
mountain lions to the more common mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk and
moose.
Most animals in the park
have relatively modest migration ranges, moving between higher and
lower elevations depending on the season. Elk congregate in valleys to
give birth, then head into the mountains to keep cool and to feed.
During summer, bighorn sheep can also be spotted on high mountain
slopes, often around rocky outcroppings where they perform the seemingly
death-defying feats of scrambling along ledges and cliffs.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
It goes without saying that Yellowstone
offers some of the most impressive wildlife encounters anywhere, but
there's something unique about bison, the park's largest mammal.
According to the
National Park Service, Yellowstone is the only place in the United
States where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times.
There are two main bison herds in Yellowstone that migrate within the
park. Roadside bison sightings are common in summer. As with other large
animals in the park, they'll sometimes cross the road directly in front
of cars, so drivers should take great care.
Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico
On summer evenings, tourists gather in an outdoor amphitheater at Carlsbad Caverns National Park
in southeastern New Mexico to witness an awesome spectacle: hundreds of
thousands of Brazilian (also known as Mexican) free-tailed bats taking
flight en masse at dusk to hunt insects.
The best opportunities
to see the bats are in July and August, before they head to Mexico for
the winter. If you're really ambitious, arrive before dawn and catch
them swooping and diving hundreds of feet as they re-enter their cave
after the nocturnal hunt. A full day leaves ample time to tour the
caverns before watching an evening flight.
Nesting sea turtles, Florida
Florida's coastlines are
crucial to the survival of several species of threatened and endangered
sea turtles, including the loggerhead, leatherback and green turtle.
From May through July, female turtles swim onto beaches to dig deep
holes, deposit their eggs and cover them before returning to the water.
About two months later, it will be up to the tiny babies to crawl out
and hurry toward the ocean.
Coastal counties, state
parks and wildlife refuges offer organized turtle walks to help ensure
visitors don't inadvertently harm the fragile creatures. You can learn
more about turtle walks by contacting the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge,
a 20.5-mile stretch of coastline between Melbourne Beach and Wabasso
Beach on Florida's southeast coast. Staff can also help identify other
places to witness this incredible event.
You can help protect
turtles by avoiding -- and keeping dogs away from -- areas where the
turtles nest unless you're on a guided walk. Don't dig in the sand, and
avoid using flashlights, flash cameras or other electronic devices. Baby
turtles instinctively move toward natural light reflecting off the
water and may become disoriented by artificial light.
Assateague and Chincoteague Islands
Cute ponies might not be
the first thing that comes to mind when you think about wildlife, but
on Assateague and Chincoteague, barrier islands off the coast of
Virginia and Maryland, the descendants of ponies brought by colonists in
the 1600s roam freely through salt marshes, pine forests and windswept
beaches.
Wild ponies are far from the only reason to visit. Assateague National Seashore and the neighboring Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
are a birder's paradise because of their location along the Atlantic
Flyway, a major migratory bird flight path. Hiking, boating and kayaking
are great ways to bird-watch here. Keep your eyes peeled for deer,
foxes, opossum, otters, whales and dolphins, too.
Animal attacks: A note of caution
Before you venture out
into the wilderness, do your research and know the risks. Though rare,
wild animal attacks can and do happen, and different animals require
different responses to protect yourself. For your own well-being and
that of the wildlife you encounter, always maintain a safe distance --
no matter how cute or cuddly they may seem.
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