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Wildlife through Car Windows

by | Jan 23, 2025 | Nature News, Winter

Red-tailed Hawks are often seen perched on trees near roads, as they scan open areas for prey.

By Emma Roth, Nature Educator

I’ve always been a wildlife watcher. It’s something that comes naturally when you spend any amount of time in nature. At some point, it takes more effort to ignore the animals than notice them when you are out and about hiking. They can be loud, in your face, and jump out from the most unexpected places. I’m sure I’m not the only one to have been startled by the nearby snort of a deer or the sudden flapping wings of a startled turkey or grouse.

However, for as much time as I spend out in nature, enjoying the wildlife, some of my most exciting wildlife sightings have been from the comfort of inside my car. And just because I wasn’t “outside” doesn’t make those sightings any less valuable or impactful.

I’ll never forget the day I was driving home from Audubon Community Nature Center, cruising along Route 62, when suddenly a large, fluffy, long animal ran across the road in front of me. It is the only time I have seen a fisher. I only saw it for a few seconds. By the time it fully registered, it had already jumped through the bushes at the side of the road, but I was elated. Maybe I hadn’t been fully immersed in nature while sitting in my car, but I still got to see this incredible animal in the wild.

Photo Credit: Ben Hohenstatt, Flickr Driving down smaller back roads can sometimes lead to wonderful wildlife sightings, as you get deeper into the animals’ habitats.
Driving down smaller back roads can sometimes lead to wonderful wildlife sightings, as you get deeper into the animals’ habitats. Photo Credit: Ben Hohenstatt, Flickr

A similar time, I was driving down some back roads with a coworker at night. Suddenly a small black ball bumbled out of the woods and entered my headlight beams. As the car stopped, anther two black fluffy balls followed. Only a few dozen feet in front of us were some adorable bear cubs. Now, if I had been on a trail and this had happened, I would have been mildly alarmed and, in all honesty, scared.

These cubs were very close, and I knew mom was somewhere nearby. But from the safety of the car, we were able to truly appreciate the cubs’ overwhelming cuteness, and as they made their way across the road, sure enough mama bear ambled out, not giving us a second thought as she followed her babies. Like with the fisher, while I was not “in nature” I was able to really appreciate a natural moment.

While fishers and bears are incredibly exciting, there are much more common wildlife sightings too, that can be equally rewarding. Most of the hawks and eagles I have seen in my life have been from a car. Whether they are sitting on trees near the roadside or soaring over a river running next to the road. And if you drive the same routes enough, you may even start to be able to recognize individual birds, creating a unique connection. Waving at my hawk friend on Route 62 is now part of my morning ritual.

If you are driving near rivers or bodies of water, keep an eye out for Bald Eagles that may be sitting or soaring nearby.
If you are driving near rivers or bodies of water, keep an eye out for Bald Eagles that may be sitting or soaring nearby.

While these wildlife viewings were accidental, searching for wildlife intentionally through the windows of a car can often be incredibly rewarding. You can cover more territory to explore more habitats, be comfortable and therefore stay out longer, it’s not as straining, and if you do have a close encounter, it can be much less stressful for both you and the animal (unless the encounter is too close, no one likes hitting wildlife with a car).

That being said, safety is always a consideration. Remember, while you are out and about, driving is your primary focus. The best way to get the most out of your wildlife searching is simple: bring a friend! As one of you focuses on the road, the other can scan nearby areas for animals, and if one is spotted, stop the car in a safe location before basking in your find. If no friend is available, just make sure you are safely stopped at each location before your search begins.

What should you bring if you want to start wildlife car rides? As previously mentioned a friend makes the day a lot easier and fun, but that’s not the only thing you should try to bring. Guidebooks, binoculars, and most importantly, some good snacks make for a wonderful day of wildlife searching. No matter what you end up seeing, even if it’s just beautiful landscapes or plants, a day exploring nature is never wasted.

Audubon Community Nature Center builds and nurtures connections between people and nature. ACNC is located just east of Route 62 between Warren and Jamestown. The trails are open from dawn to dusk and birds of prey can be viewed anytime the trails are open. The Nature Center is open from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily except Sunday when it opens at 1:00 p.m. More information can be found online at auduboncnc.org or by calling (716) 569-2345.