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©2005-2010 AnimalTourism |
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©2005-2010 AnimalTourism |
Plenty of fun animals live close to cities, suburbs and vacation spots.
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Just over the border in other regions | |||
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Connecticut Audubon Society Eagle Festival
Each February the Connecticut Audubon Society Eagle Festival® ofrers a chance to see bald eagles on the Connecticut River. They have four daily cruises over the festival weekend. You can also see the eagles from land for free from scopes, see a live demonstration or hear lots of eagle talk.
Connecticut River Museum, 67 Main St, Essex, CT (860) 767-0660 |
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Cove Island Park Horseshoe Crab
Soundwaters, an environmental education organization on Long Island Sound, holds a horseshoe crab festival at Cove Island Park in Stamford, CT. Volunteers then set out to count the horseshoe crabs at the east and west beaches in the park and at nearby Weed Beach and Southfield/Stamford Beach. Cove Island Park, 1281 Cove Rd, Stamford, CT |
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Delaware Whale Watching
You can try to find whales off Lewes, Delaware during the season, May to September. Even the tour company seems to think it's iffy, calling these "DOLPHIN WHALE (???) WATCHING CRUISES" 302-645-8862 Fisherman's Wharf, $35, 3-hour, Anglers Road at the drawbridge, Lewes, DE |
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Pickering Beach, DE Horseshoe Crabs
Pickering Beach in Delaware often has the highest densities of horseshoe crabs in the U.S. Geological Survey's long-running census of the prehistoric crabs in Delaware Bay. In 2007 researchers counted a whopping 27 horseshoe crabs per square meter at Pickering Beach during the peak of spawning season (May-June) at high tide.
The beach is off Route 9 on conveniently named Pickering Beach Road. |
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Slaughter Beach, DE Horseshoe Crabs
Slaughter Beach in Delaware has some of the highest densities of mating horseshoe crabs in the U.S. Geological Survey's study of horseshoe crabs, Limulus polyphemus. Some claim that the town got its name from all the horseshoe crabs that die when trying to mate. Birders also visit nearby Milford Neck Wildlife Area, which attracts migrating birds who eat horseshoe crab eggs. |
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James Farm Ecological Preserve - DE
Researchers recently discovered that horseshoe crabs--long thought to be most concentrated in Deleware Bay, show up in Delaware's Inland Bays in big numbers, too. James Farm Ecological Preserve on Indian River Bay and Holts Landing had the highest populations, researcher Kathleen McCole found.
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Assateague National Park Wild Horses - MD The wild horses of Assateague are divided along the MD-VA state line. The lucky ones are in Maryland and the national park, which uses contraceptives to disrupt the lives of the horses the least. A friendly ranger told me that she's never known anyone to go on the island on their side and not see a horse. |
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Blackwater (MD) NWR Eagle Festival
More than 150 eagles nest at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge over the winter. You may see them along Wildlife Drive. They arrive in December and build nests in loblolly pines. The chicks hatch mostly in April and fledge in June.
The annual eagle festival in mid-March, much later than most. The Friends of Blackwater host demonstrations and walks to see eagles and other resident and migratory birds. In the winter 35,000 geese and 15,000 ducks stay at the refuge. Sika deer breed from October to December 2145 Key Wallace Dr. Cambridge, MD, (410) 228-2677 |
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Virginia Beach Whale Watching
From December to March you might be able to see humpback and fin whales as they migrate past Chesapeake Bay. Bottlenose dolphins are around April through October. Rudee Tours The $28 tours leave several times a day on weekends. 757-425-3400 200 Winston Salem Ave Virginia Beach Virginia 23451 |
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Flag Pond Nature Park, MD, Horseshoe Crabs
Flag Ponds Nature Park in Calvert County, Maryland attracts a large number of horseshoe crabs during their May-June spawning season. This is also one of the release sites for horseshoe crabs students raise in school in a statewide program. The park is north of Calvert Cliffs. |
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Selby Beach, MD Horseshoe Crabs
Selby Beach attracts horseshoe crabs, who lay eggs here during nighttime high tides, especially during full or new moons, in May and early June. The area was part of Maryland's survey of horseshoe crabs sites. |
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Turtle Point, MD Horseshoe Crabs
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STellwagen Bank Whale Watches
Stellwagen Bank off Cape Cod is one of the best places to see whales in the world. Whales visit this shallow area April-October to feed. Provincetown was where whale watching started (by whale biologists) and is closest to their feeding area. But, you can also get there right from downtown Boston and other places on Cape Cod. The area has humpback whale, fin whale, minke whale, northern right whale, Atlantic white-sided dolphin, harbor porpoise, pilot whale, and harbor seal. Provincetown All tours leave from Macmillan Wharf. BOSTON In Boston you're only an hour from one of the best whale watching spots in the world, Stellwagen Bank. The New England Aquarium has got this operation down to a science, bringing whales to the masses. $40/ 3 hours (617) 222-6999 Cape Cod The Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises Cape Ann Yankee Fleet,offers tours once or twice a day for $45 for adults. An annual one-day trip raise money for Center for Oceanic Research & Education.800-942-5464 Cape Ann Whale Watch has a big, fast boat with a $45 tour. Gloucester, (978) 283-5110 The Whale Center of New England has all day whale-watching trips with naturalists. The 7am-4pm trip costs $125-$140., 978-281-6351, info@whalecenter.org
North of Boston
Newburyport Whalewatch daily $45 bird and whale-watching trips in the summer. (978) 499-0832
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Coywolf Field School - Cape Cod Jon Way, a wildlife biologist who studies and advocates for the coy-wolf, lets you tag along on expeditions to watch and radio track America's new predominant canine predator. |
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Upper Worcester County - Massachussetts Moose
Moose returned to Massachusetts in the 1970s after a two year absence. In 2007 the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game estimated 850-950 moose live in the state, most in northern Worcester County. (placemark on map is not precise)
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Massachusetts Seals Cape Cod Thousands of seals live near the elbow of Cape Cod. That's the biggest group on the U.S. east coast, somewhere around 10,000--(no one's done a formal count since 1999 when it was 5,600), according to a 2008 National Marine Fisheries Service report. (Some grays live by Woods Hole, too.)
North of Boston In winter harbor seals move into the Merrimack River estuary for fish and shelter. Massachusetts Audubon runs educational programs for kids. |
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New England Aquarium Seal Trainer for a Day
The New England Aquarium offers the chance to meet and feed and play will harbor seals. Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110, 617-973-5200 |
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Wolf Hollow
Wolf Hollow allows visitors to get an upclose look a pack of pack of British Colombian timber wolves and learn about their place in nature. Presentations regularly on weekends--less in winter. 114 Essex Rd, Ipswich, MA (978) 356-0216 |
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Merrimack River Eagle Festival (MA) Eagle Festival
The Massachusetts Audubon Society hosts the Merrimack River Eagle Festival every February on the Merrimack River in Newburyport (north of Boston).
There are events at the Joppa Flats Education Center. For eagle tours, they'll hand out maps of where you can drive yourself or you can take 90-minute van tours that leave from Newburyport Chamber of Commerce, 38R Merrimac St. (reservations req) 1 Plum Island Tpke, Newburyport, MA, (978) 462-9998 |
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Shark Dives Nantucket Few people realize that right off Cape Cod there's a big population of sharks all summer. Nantucket Shark Dives, run by Bryce Rohrer, a veteran of South Africa shark cave dives, leads tours 10-40 miles off Nantucket. You'll probably see blues, maybe makos and there's always a chance of sunfish or whales. $800 for cage dives (up to four people), $1,000 for free dives (up to four divers) bryce.rohrer@gmail.com, (203)-273-1748 RI Captain Charlie Donilon and Snappa runs tours from Point Judith to see blue shark off Rhode Isand. Certified scuba divers can go in cage, others can ride the boat or "playpen," a kind of safety raft. June-September. You'll probably see blue sharks, maybe Makos. Also in the area: dolphins, whales, Portuguese Man-of-War and in June basking sharks From $220/diver. Montauk's Sea Turtle Charters tours the sand sharks off Block Island and shipwrecks $200/person.
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Monomoy NWR - Cape Cod
Horseshoe crab populations are in a dramatic decline around Cape Cod, down perhaps 90% in some areas in just a few decades. But researchers have shown that Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge has some of the highest densitites left. Mid-May to Mid-June, look for piles of Limulus polyphemus, especially around the full moon and high tides. |
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Pleasant Bay - Cape Cod
Pleasant Bay is one of the strongest spots for the dwindling population of horseshoe crabs on Cape Cod. Researchers have shown that the number of Limulus polyphemus showing up on the Cape May - July is down 80%.
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Allagash Region Black Bears
The remote Allagash region of Maine has lots of Maine's estimated 23,000 black bear. Because bear baiting is allowed in Maine, guides such as Loon Lodge in the summer can offer tours to bait stations and there's a pretty good chance you'll see bear. |
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Moosehead Lake
The Moosehead Lake area in central Maine boasts having three moose for every person. In May to June you can celebrate Moosehead Mainea. There are plenty of private guides in the area. And you can always drive around at dusk and dawn.
The Moosehead Lake Chamber of Commerce makes these moose-watching suggestions: • Take a scenic drive to Kokadjo, a small community north of Greenville. Stay on Lily Bay Road for approximately 20 miles and keep your eyes open for moose along the way! • If you've gotten to Kokadjo and still haven't had your fill of moose sightings, head to Lazy Tom Bog, just past Kokadjo. This bog is very popular with our local moose! • Make a day of your moose watching by driving to Rockwood, a town north of Greenville on Route 15, where you can head over to Mt. Kineo by boat shuttle for some hiking or exploring. • Turn left on Depot Street from Greenville Junction to Shirley. Go right in Shirley, through town onto the dirt road toward The Forks. This road may not be passable during winter and spring. • Take Route 15 South and look for moose between the upper and lower Shirley turn-offs in the bog area. • Book a Moose Safari with any of our Guide Services.They know where the Moose are and when to see them, some even offer a guaranteed sighting.Trips can range from a few hours to a whole day event. Moose Safaris & Guided Trips: Birches Resort • Rockwood • (800) 825-9453 Canders Guest House & Cottage • Greenville • (207) 695-0362 Historic Pittston Farm • Rockwood • (207) 280-0000 Maine Guide Fly Shop & Guide Service • Greenville • (207) 695-2266 Moxie Outdoor Adventures • The Forks • (800) 866-6943 New England Outdoor Center • Millinocket • (800) 766-7238 Northwoods Outfitters • Greenville • (207) 695-3288 Wilsons On Moosehead Lake • Greenville Jct. • (207) 695-2549 Young's Guide Service • Greenville • (207) 695-2661 |
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Maine whale watching
Bar Harbor has the most whale watches but you don't have to go that far down the coast. Some boats leave from right in Portland. "Captain Gary" pilots the 87-foot boat with his dog Morgan. First Chance says that sightings aren't guaranteed--but they'll let you ride free another time if you don't see a whale. |
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Acadia National Park Red Squirrels
Red Squirrels rattle to scold hikers at Acadia National Park. They're easy to find and will scold you from their pine trees. map > |
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Machias Island Puffins
Puffins were down to one pair in Maine before conservation efforts, including Stephen Kress' Puffin Project, stepped in to restore the population. Now 800-some birds live on four islands. The biggest population is on Machias Island. Others are on Eastern Egg Rock, Seal Island NWR and Matinicus Rock. Summer boat tours visit the birds, seldom going ashore.
Norton tours the island from, Jonesport, (207) 497-5933 Bold Coast leaves from Cutler, ME (207) 259-4484 |
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Eastern Egg Rock Puffins
Puffins were down to one pair in Maine before conservation efforts, including Stephen Kress' Puffin Project, stepped in to restore the population. Now 800-some birds live on four islands. The biggest population is on Machias Island, but the closest to where most people visit Maine is Eastern Egg Rock, which houses about 150 puffins. Summer boat tours visit the birds, but don't go ashore.
From New Harbor Hardy Boat (800)-2-PUFFIN From Boothbay Harbor Cap'n Fish (207) 633-3244 |
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Moose Alley, NH
Stop wasting your time trying to spot moose in Maine or Vermont. Along Route 3 in the northern tip of New Hampshire is known as Moose Alley. Stop in Pittsburg, NH and ask the locals for any spots they've seen moose lately. But really you stand a good chance of just seeing them on the roadside around dusk anywhere from town up to Canada, especially by First Connecticut Lake.
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Gorham, NH Moose Tours
The Village of Gorham runs three-hour moose tours and boasts a 96% success rate in seeing moose. The tours are seasonal and start in May.
Tickets at the Gorham Information Booth at 96 Main St., (603)466-3103 |
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Rye, NH Whale Watching
New Hampshire only has 16 miles of coastline, but Rye, a touristy town, have two fleets to go see whales in the Gulf of Maine. They head to Jeffrey's Ledge and the Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary. Both tour companies are recommended by the Blue Ocean Society.
Atlantic Whale Watch 800-WHALE-NH (603) 964-5220, $31, 4-4.5 hour tour Granite State Whale Watch $31, tours leave 1x-2x day, May-Oct. 800-964-5545, 603-964-5545 |
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Hibernia, NJ Bat Hibernaculum
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Cumberland County, NJ Eaglefest and Owl Walks
In February you may see bald eagles and owls in Mauricetown, NJ. The Cumberland County Winter Eagle Fest features walks around the river and night walks to see owls.
The festival also recommends Beaver Dam Boat Rentals on Rt. 553 in Downe Twp. 866-866-MORE |
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Boardwaddle Tri-State Basset Hound Rescue - NJ
Every April hundreds of bassets slowly march down Asbury Avenue, stealing the show from the traditional Do Dah Parade. The hounds are raising money for Tri-State Basset Hound Rescue. Parade starts on Asbury Av. at 6th St. Bassets turn on 12th toward the Boardwalk and head to Fenton Carey Field |
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Popcorn Park Zoo
The Popcorn Park Zoo is a little like a throwback to zoos of the 1950s. You're allowed--encouraged even--to feed the animals unbuttered, unsalted popcorn. And boy do they know you have it.
And it has the great variety of animals a zoo might--tigers, bears, monkeys, coati. But all the animals here are rescued, usually from people who mistakenly thought they'd be good pets. Forked River, NJ (609) 693-1900 map > |
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Lakota Wolf Preserve - NJ
The Lakota Wolf Preserve houses timber, tundra and arctic wolves in an area of the country where wolves are now extinct. Packs are separated into fenced areas. You can tour behind the fence or have a photography tour inside the fence. Mount Pleasant Rd, Columbia, NJ 07832, (908) 496-9244 |
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Whale Watch Cape May Cape May, at the southern tip of New Jersey, has several tour operators who take you out to the open water to see whales and bottlenose dolphins. Some are out there, they have a moneyback guarantee that you'll see some kind of whale, dolphin or porpoise. Wildwood This amusement park barrier island has the most whale watching tours in New Jersey.
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Highs Beach and South Cape Shore Lab, NJ Horseshoe Crabs
High Beach has one of the highest densities of horseshoe crabs in New Jersey, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's long-running census of the prehistoric crabs in Delaware Bay. In 2007 researchers counted a 21 horseshoe crabs per square meter at Highs Beach, which is just south of Highs Beach. The crabs lay eggs May-June at high tide, especially during a full or new moon. The census needs volunteers. |
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New York Wolf Conservational Center
The New York Wolf Conservation Center promotes the preservation of wolves through education and captive breeding and release programs. The public can visit at programs several times a week, including wolf howls. The center helps with the recovery of extremely rare Mexican Gray Wolves and Red Wolves. The 7 Buck Run, South Salem, NY (914) 763-2373, map > |
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Arverne Piping Plover Nesting Area
The NYC Parks Department protects this area where Piping Plover and oystercatchers nest. |
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Berkshire Bird Paradise
Berkshire Bird Paradise is one of the country's biggest bird sanctuaries. More than 2,000 birds (100 species) live here and lots of them are the big ones everyone wants to see: bald and golden eagles; many kinds of large hawks; exotic pheasants; former pet songbirds; barnyard refugees; black swans. 43 Red Pond Road, Petersburgh, New York (518) 279-3801, Peter Dubacher, Director, map > |
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Sea Birds in New York Harbor
Double-breasted cormorants nest on Mill Rock Island, which you can see from the shore of the East River near the United Nations or on the NYC Audubon Society's boat tour to see yellow-crowned night herons on North Brother Island. Osprey, hawks and migrating birds rest and nest at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. The Brooklyn Bird Club offers field trips.map > |
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CRESLI Great South Channel Whale Cruise
The Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island offers overnight cruises to see whales and pelagic birds in the Great South Channel off Maine..map > |
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Tompkins Square Dog Run Halloween
Tompkins Square Dog Run, New York City's oldest dog run, has the city's biggest and most flamboyant dog Halloween event. Hundreds of dogs and sometimes their owners get dressed up and compete for prizes, with all proceeds going to the run maintenance. There are dueling "biggest dog Halloween" events in the country and this is one of them.
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Bats in Central Park
Bats live in the North Woods of Central Park (and plenty of other places, too, like near near turtle pond.Go there at dusk in late summer.Turtle Pond has snapping turtles and some dumped former pets.
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Horseshoe Crabs Mating at Pelham Bay Park
Horseshoe crabs mate on beaches across the East Coast in May and June at high tides. The NYC Parks Department sometimes offers tours. map > |
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Owl Tours in Central Park
Dr. Robert "Birding Bob" DeCandido, who helped reintroduce the screech owl to Central Park gives regular tours to see screech and saw-whet owls. The tours leave at dusk and visit spots in the North Woods, the Ramble or other places where Birding Bob has a good hunch the owls will be. Sometimes he brings owl recordings so the owls will call out. The tours are entertaing even when you don't get to see owls.
Birding Bob also leads tours to see all the other residents and migrants in the park. These $5 tours leave at 9 am Friday from the Conservatory Garden and 9 am Saturday from Turtle Pond. |
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Hudson River Eagle Fest
Each February eagle experts come out in a heated tent at Croton Point Park, just off route 9/9A, to help people watch wintering eagles on the Hudson River. The Hudson River Audubon Society says its a top spot to see eagles in Westchester County.
Croton-on-Hudson, NY (914) 862-5290 |
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New York Farm Sanctuaries
The Catskills Animal Sanctuary is safe haven for abused and abandoned horses and farm animals. Meet the Animals tours every Saturday and Sunday from April 1st through October 31st from 11-4
Since 1986 Farm Sanctuary has been rescuing cows, pigs, goats and birds that would end up as poultry from factory farms. They can't save them all, but the ones they do save end up as ambassadors that teach the public about how each of these animals have their own emotional and social lives.
You can tour the farms or stay cabin at the Farm Sanctuaries in New York and California. 3150 Aikens Rd., Watkins Glen, NY map »
The Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary has lots of refugees from New York City--both in the animals they've rescued and the people who volunteer for them. White ducks Mickey and Jo escaped factory farming and were found in upper Manhattan. Others have more conventional backgrounds. Leany, cuddly Madison is billed as the world's friendliest goat.
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SEALS ARound NYC In winter harbor and gray seals visit the waters of NY and NJ. You may be able to see them from the shore in Montauk or Sandy Hook or take a boat cruise.
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Bottlenose dolphin on Staten Island
Bottlenose dolphins are sometimes spotted from the Ocean Breeze Fishing Pier in late summer.
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Adirondack Park
The massive Adirondack State Park has had moose since 1980 and they are on the rise. The area around Indian Lake was one of the first places they appeared. Route 30 below Indian Lake is a good watching area, according to this enthusiastic local report. New York State still wants to hear about your moose sightings: MO-MooseSiting@dot.state.ny.us
Park Visitor Center 518-327-3000, Adirondacks Tourism (800) 487 - 6867 |
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Cornell Raptor Program
Cornell University's Raptor Program teaches vets how to care for raptors and has many public education seminars. There are no open hours but there are some volunteer opportunities. 178 Morrison Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853 (607)255-2865
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Pale Male 927 5th Ave
maps.google.com AnimalTourism.com New York City Famous Red-Tailed Hawk lived on the 5th Avenue balcony of this building. Palemale.com
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Pennsylvania Elk Herd
A herd of about 500 elk roams around western Pennsylvania roams. There are many official sites to see them, but you may just want to ask the locals where they've seen them lately. The elk often congregate in the Benezette churchyard.
Benezette Store & Restaurant 814-787-7456 |
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Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania
The Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania houses about 40 wolves. This non-profit has been open for decades and educates the public on daytime and nighttime tours (reservations required). 465 Speedwell Forge Rd., Lititz, PA 17543, 717-626-4617 |
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Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Pennsylvania
The Hawk Mountain Sanctuary sees 20,000 migrating hawks, eagles and falcons between mid-August and mid-December each year. It's one of the best hawk migration spots in the country. They also keep a calendar of when to expect certain species. Bald eagles peak in early September, osprey in late September. There are live bird demonstrations throughout the year.
1700 Hawk Mountain Rd, Kempton, PA 19529, (610) 756-6000map > |
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Eagle Watch at Lackawaxen, PA on the NY border
In the winter 100-200 eagles stop over in the rivers near the Delaware Water Gap. Lackawaxen, PA, is one of the best spots to see them. The Eagle Institute EAGLE WATCH! every Saturday and Sunday from January– mid-March.
This group of volunteers has made a really helpful map, which you can pick up at their office, and a list of local eagle viewing spots. Basha Kill Wildlife Management Area, near Wurtsboro, NY A breeding pair of eagles can be viewed from the main boat launch on South Road. Little Swartswood Lake at Swartswood State Park in Stillwater, NJ. A nest on this lake can be viewed from the boat dock. The little lake is a mile north of the state park. Promised Land State Park, Pike County, PA A breeding pair can be viewed safely from the wildlife observation station on Lower Lake by the Bear Wallow Boat Launch. The Eagle Institute Winter Office 176 Scenic Drive, Lackawaxen, PA. 845-557-6162 or 570-685-5960 |
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T & D's Cats of the World T&D's Cats of the World gives a permanent home to 60 big cats (lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, bobcats, servals, and jungle cats) that somebody let down by trying to keep them as a pet or amusement. During they summer they allow tours on weekend. |
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Church Bat Sanctuary at Canoe Creek State Park
Canoe Creek State Park houses 20,000 bats of six species in several sites, including an old church converted to a sanctuary and an old mine shaft that serves as a hibernaculum. Off Route 22, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648-9752, 814-695-6807 |
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Rhode Island Seals From November to April Harbor seals live in Newport Harbor. They haul out on Citing Rock, which you can see from Rose Island Light. You can visit the lighthouse, which is on its own island, for the day or even stay overnight. Solar power and heat let you stay in winter. The Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation works with Save the Bay to run seal boat tours in the winter. (401)324-6020 |
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Naragansett Rhode Island Whale Watch
Boats leaving from Naragansett, RI, take advantage of the warm waters of the Gulf Stream to spot Finback, Humpbacks, Minke, Pilot, False Killer, and Sei whales. Frances Fleet offers $40, 4.5 hour tours at 1 pm 401-783-4988  800 662-2824, 33 State St, RI 02882 |
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Wolf and Wild Canine Sanctuary
The Wolf and Wild Canine Sanctuary is a small non-profit sanctuary for unwanted, abandoned and illegally imported wolves. The santuary used to take in hybrids, but now concentrates on wolves. Open for visitors, just call. 175 Bliss RdWhite River Junction, VT 05001, (802) 295-5378 |
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Virginia Beach Whale Watching
From December to March you might be able to see humpback and fin whales as they migrate past Chesapeake Bay. Bottlenose dolphins are around April through October. Rudee Tours The $28 tours leave several times a day on weekends. 200 Winston Salem Ave Virginia Beach, VA (757) 425-3400 |
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Campobello Island, Bay of Fundy Whale-Watching
62 Head Harbor Rd, Campobello Island, New Brunswick (506) 752-1107 |
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Whales from West Quoddy Head Lighthouse Shore
One of the prettiest lighthouses around, West Quoddy Light is also one of the rare spots you may be able to see whales from land. (You might also try its even more gorgeous twin, the East Quoddy Light, just over the border in Canada. If you don't see any from land, a few boaters in Lubec can take you out. The Wharf, 69 Johnson Street Lubec ME , 207-733-4400 Capt. Riddle Sea Going Adventures 727 Friar Bay Road Campobello, NB Canada 506-752-2009 or 877-finback |
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Îles de la Madeleine Baby Harp Seals The Magdelen Islands off Quebec--way off Quebec, almost to Newfoundland--are where a quarter million Harp Seals from Greenland spend the winter. They give birth to fluffy white cubs in March. Yes, these are the whitecoats that are bludgeoned to death by the thousands. Some think providing an ecotourism alternative is a way to convince the locals to stop hammering the baby seals to death; be warned that HarpSeals.org, which is campaigning against the hunt, calls for a boycott to Magdelan Islands and Newfoundland. And they say the Seal Interpretive Center is a big pro-seal hunt propaganda machine. |
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As is true across the country, people in the Northeast are spending far more time and money going to see wildlife than they are hunting it. These are figures about dollars spent in each state on the various animal-related outdoor pastimes. These are the latest figures fom the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which does a survey of fishing, hunting and wildlife-related activities every five years.
In the mid-Atlantic (NY,NJ, PA), 27% of people are wildlife watchers while only 5% hunt. Four in 10 New Englanders are wildlife watchers while only 3% hunt.
| Fishing | Hunting |
Wildlife-Watching |
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| Connecticut | $230,348,000 | $68,898,000 |
$533,718,000 |
| Maine | $256,252,000 | $240,318,000 |
$817,867,000 |
| Massachusetts | $669,574,000 | $77,596,000 |
$771,062,000 |
| New Hampshire | $177,624,000 | $80,404,000 |
$266,966,000 |
| Rhode Island | $147,097,000 | $10,012,000 |
$182,953,000 |
| New Jersey | $746,274,000 | $137,149,000 |
$631,746,000 |
| New York | $928,943,000 | $682,661,000 |
$1,550,628,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,252,380,000 | $1,446,014,000 |
$1,269,927,000 |
| Vermont | $61,861,000 | $188,363,000 |
$128,222,000 |
PARTICIPANTS |
Fishing | % | Hunting | % | Wildlife Watching | % |
| U.S. TOTAL | 29,962,000 | 13 | 12,534,000 | 5 | 71,0068,000 | 31 |
| CT | 293,000 | 11 | 40,000 | 1 | 1,102,000 | 40 |
| DE | 76,000 | 11 | 22,000 | 3 | 212,000 | 32 |
| ME | 226,000 | 21 | 148,000 | 14 | 612,000 | 57 |
| MD | 482,000 | 11 | 148,000 | 3 | 1,334,000 | 31 |
| MA | 458,000 | 9 | 67,000 | 1 | 1,726,000 | 34 |
| NH | 126,000 | 12 | 51,000 | 5 | 480,000 | 46 |
| NJ | 534,000 | 8 | 86,000 | 1 | 1,537,000 | 23 |
| NY | 1,004,000 | 7 | 513,000 | 3 | 3,482,000 | 23 |
| PA | 988,000 | 10 | 920,000 | 9 | 3,638,000 | 37 |
| RI | 83,000 | 10 | 13,000 | 2 | 313,000 | 37 |
| VT | 70,000 | 14 | 58,000 | 11 | 279,000 | 55 |
Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service The National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, 2006
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Animal News in the Northeast
