Proceeds from the Colorado Lottery, through Great Outdoors Colorado, help fund Colorado's Watchable Wildlife Program.

• Observe animals from a safe distance—safe for you and safe for the animals. You can get 'close' by using binoculars, a spotting scope, or a camera with a telephoto lens. If the animals you are observing have their heads up, ears pointed toward you, or appear 'jumpy' or nervous when you move, you are probably too close!* Sit or stand very quietly, without making eye contact, or move slowly away to a safer distance. Be especially sensitive to and cautious around adults with young.
• Move slowly and casually, not directly at wildlife. Allow animals to keep you in view; do not surprise them. Avoid eye contact; watch from the 'corner' of your eye.
• Never chase or harass wildlife. Harassment of wildlife is unlawful, and can be very harmful for wildlife.
• Leave your pets at home. At best their presence hinders wildlife watching; at worst they can chase, injure, or kill wildlife, or be injured or killed.

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• Using the animals’ behavior as a guide, limit the time you spend watching if animals appear to be stressed.
• Respect others who are viewing the same animals.
• Do not feed wild mammals. (See the "Don't Feed the Deer" and "Don't Tempt Them!" links to the left.) Reserve feeding for 'backyard' birds.
• Respect private property; ask for permission to access private lands before your viewing trip.
• Animals at rest need to remain at rest; don't do anything that might make them move.
• Avoid animals that behave unexpectedly or aggressively. They may be ill, injured, or have young nearby.

* Animals have a sense of what is, for them, a 'safe distance' to maintain between themselves and other animals that might pose a threat, including humans of course! If you intrude into this safe distance you alter their behavior, causing stress, unnecessary use of energy, or loss of time for them to rest or feed. Aggressive behavior might be triggered, too. Never, ever, try to approach wildlife when they are clearly trying to move away and maintain safe separation.

When Viewing at a Hatchery 

Tours for groups and schools must be arranged in advance; call as far in advance of your visit as possible to make these arrangements. This will help ensure that a sufficient supply of educational materials is on hand and that your group has a coordinated, enjoyable experience.

Hatcheries are busy working environments. To make your visit as enjoyable and as rewarding as possible, please observe these guidelines:

• Don't place your hands in the water or try to catch fish with your hands. Raceways could become contaminated, and fish sickened, by these activities; some hatcheries have nearby fishing; call ahead to find out what opportunities there are.
• Don't move fish to another raceway. Fish are separated by raceways for good reasons. And moving them can result in injury or death.
• Don't wade or play in the hatchery's water source. This can cause contamination of the water or fouling with the additional silt and debris that might be kicked up.
• Do not feed fish anything other than approved feed available from dispensers at the hatcheries. "Human" food can foul the water or sicken fish (with sicknesses that could be passed to other fish).
• If visiting with children, talk to them about these guidelines and why they are important.
• Enjoy your hatchery!