Wildlife-Viewing Workshop Scheduled At Sipe Wildlife Area

This popular program is designed to help people find, observe and enjoy some of the state's many wildlife species on their own. The wildlife area is located in eastern Arizona, seven miles southeast of Eagar.

The event begins at 2:30 p.m. with an information program that focuses on wildlife viewing in Arizona, giving suggestions on how and where to find wildlife. Department personnel will also discuss natural history and behavior of one of Arizona's most recognized wildlife species, the Rocky Mountain elk.

Workshop participants will go into the field that evening on the Sipe property, applying viewing principles and techniques to find and watch some of Arizona's elk up close. 

"We've designed this workshop to provide people with sufficient information for them to have a quality, firsthand experience in the outdoors, and to be able to regularly find and watch wildlife on their own," says Bruce Sitko, spokesman in the department's Pinetop office.

Because it will be necessary to maintain a small group once in the field, the clinic is limited to 35 participants. "Also, because wildlife viewing in general does require patience and a minimum of movement and noise, we request that children under the age of 14 not attend," Sitko says.

The workshop is free, but pre-registration and a refundable deposit of $20 per person are required to ensure that spaces aren't blocked off and then not used. The deposit will be returned to those who attend, but cashed if someone doesn't show up.

Registration can be done at the Pinetop Game and Fish office at 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd., or by calling the office at (928) 367-4281 and giving a name, contact phone number, and the number of people attending to one of the customer-service representatives. Participants will be given instructions at that time for mailing in the refundable registration deposit.

"Arizona is a state rich in wildlife resources," Sitko notes. "More than 800 different species of fish and animals can be found here. We highly encourage folks to pause and discover not just the visual beauty of Arizona's settings, but also to learn to find, view and appreciate the different creatures that live in and about our state's diverse landscapes."