Friday, February 16, 2018

See Bald Eagles in Northeastern Utah

Free viewing event happens Feb. 24

Ouray National Wildlife Refuge -- A month of viewing bald eagles in Utah wraps up Feb. 24 with a free viewing event in northeastern Utah.

Matt Bartley, special events coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says this year, the agency expanded its former Bald Eagle Day to include several Saturdays of viewing. The Feb. 24 event is the final event for 2018.

Viewing on Feb. 24 takes place from 8 a.m. to noon near the headquarters at the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge in Randlett. The headquarters is at 19001 E. Wildlife Refuge Road.

To reach the site, travel on U.S. 40 about 14 miles west of Vernal, or about 13 miles east of Roosevelt, and turn south on state Route 88. Travel south on SR-88 for 14 miles, and then turn left into the refuge entrance. The refuge headquarters is one mile down the entrance road.

The Ouray National Wildlife Refuge and the DWR are co-sponsoring the event.

Get a close look

Bartley says spotting scopes will be available so you can get a good look at the eagles. “If you have any challenges spotting the eagles,” he says, “our biologists will help you find them. We’d also be happy to answer any questions you have.”

You can also pick up a Bald Eagle Month button. Handouts and information about bald eagles, wildlife watching and birding opportunities in Utah will also be available. The button and information are free.

Items to bring

If you attend Bald Eagle Day, dress in warm clothes and bring waterproof boots.  Also, if you want to take photos of the eagles, bring a telephoto lens.

“You need a telephoto lens to get good, close-up shots of the eagles,” Bartley says. “The eagles will be fairly close to the viewing sites, but you still need a telephoto lens to get good photos of them.”

More information

If you have questions about the Feb. 24 event, call the DWR office in Vernal at 435-781-9453.


PHOTOS  -  eight photos to accompany this story are available at   http://udwrnewsphotos.zenfolio.com/p380576038   .



Contact: Mark Hadley, DWR Relations with the Public Specialist, 801-538-4737