Wildlife and Nature Photography Spots in the Poconos

Filled with natural beauty and captivating wildlife, the Pocono Mountains are a haven for both wildlife and nature enthusiasts. The Poconos is blessed with pristine lakes, lush forests and serene landscapes. Housed in this beautiful region are diverse ecosystems and a variety of unique wildlife from magnificent mammals to impressive birds to rich aquatic life. As a matter of fact, the Poconos wildlife is one of the best wildlife zones in the whole of America.

The Poconos is a great destination to try out nature and wildlife photography. The area has plenty of lush forests, exciting waterfalls, shimmering lakes and winding rivers. These support a myriad of wildlife like black bears, white-tailed deers and bald eagles, to name a few. All these can become good subjects for your photography.

In this blog post, embark on an exciting journey into the wild with me to explore wildlife and nature photography spots in the Poconos. So, pack your bags, take your cameras out and let us dive in.

The Revival of the Mount Poconos Wildlife

The 1800s turned out to be the golden age of the Pocono Mountains wildlife. The multitude of elks walking in groups, golden eagles soaring the sky high, and panthers staring down at you from the mountain top. This is what Poconos used to look like in those old days.

Then things took a turn during the 20th century. The tranqulity of the wildlife here was destroyed because of chopping down of trees, hunting and population increase. A lot of animals died whereas some had migrated to other areas. Fortunately, the current scenario is better and it seems like the wildlife has been revived to a large extent.

Animals started returning and a sudden surge in animals in the wild has been witnessed in the Poconos recently. This development was possible through the preservation of natural habitats of the region and this is very important for the survival of future generations of wildlife. Therefore, this is the right opportunity to fulfill your dream of taking wildlife photos in the Pocono Mountains. Now let us discover the best nature and wildlife photoshoot spots in the Poconos.

State Game Lands No. 038

State Game Lands No. 038 is situated in the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s northeast region. It covers parts of Chestnuthill, Tunkhannock, Jackson, and Pocono Townships in Monroe County. Close to a million and a half acres of State Game Lands were acquired since 1920 to create this game land.

There is a Game Commission program in place for wildlife maintenance, called “Working Together for Wildlife,” to re-introduce a few wildlife like bald eagle, river otter, peregrine falcon and so on, into the area. The program also provides habitat for other birds and mammals originally from the Commonwealth. Blue bird houses are set up to provide a home for these birds.

State Game Lands No. 038 provides home to unique fauna and flora such as the white‐tailed deer, black bear, snowshoe hare, wild turkey, timber rattlesnakes, northern hardwoods and boreal conifer forests. Furtaking opportunities include beaver, raccoon, gray fox, coyote, and mink. State Game Lands require relevant hunting licenses and hunting or trapping is permitted only in open seasons. Below I have provided additional information on the State Game Lands.

Promised Land State Park

Promised Land State Park is a state park in Pike County. It is one of the top must-see state parks in the Poconos. The state purchased the land in 1902 and planted more than 370,000 trees between 1902 and 1933. The park is surrounded by Delaware State Forest. The park is inhabited by black bears, white-tailed deers, bald eagles, songbirds like American redstarts and red-eyed vireos, Timber rattlesnakes, wood frogs, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, grey foxes, wild turkeys and more.

The park has a mix of deciduous trees such as oak, maple and beech due to heavy logging of forests in the early 1900s. Removing natural products such as feathers, flowers and pine cones is illegal in the state park and forest land.

Big Pocono State Park

Big Pocono State Park was established in 1954 and is situated in Monroe County in the Jackson and Pocono townships. The park has various flora like pitch pine, scrub oak, huckleberry bushes, trees like oak, maple and hickory trees. It provides habitat to a variety of wildlife like black bears, cottontail rabbits, coyotes, red-bellied woodpeckers, turkey vulture, ruffed grouse, raccoons, and other such wildlife. Hunting of groundhogs or woodchucks is prohibited in the park. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the park. Pets must be on a leash or caged and must be under control.

Hickory Run State Park

Hickory Run State Park was a tundra landscape fifteen thousand years ago, having permafrost soil and wildlife such as wooly mastodon, bison and other such animals. After years of changes, the state park now houses a variety of habitats and wildlife like evergreen forests, hardwood forests, riparian areas, black bears, timber rattlesnakes, spotted and Jefferson salamanders, wood frogs, gray squirrels and so on.

The park is also home to a variety of birds like wood thrush, hermit thrush, American robin, and Eastern bluebird. You can try out some good birdwatching and bird photography in this park if you are interested. Woodchucks hunting is prohibited in this park as well. Hunters are required to be extremely careful with their firearms as visitors come to the park during the hunting seasons too.

Tobyhanna State Park

Tobyhanna State Park was established in 1949 and is located in northeastern Pennsylvania in Monroe and Wayne counties. It is a rugged highland with rocky soil, evergreen forests and diverse wildlife. It also has a 170-acre Tobyhanna lake, which serves as a habitat for aquatic life.

The park has a variety of evergreen trees, sphagnum moss bogs, fascinating plants like the carnivorous pitcher plant, cotton grass and sedges. It is a habitat to black bears, wood frogs, salamanders, and birds like red-breasted nuthatch and northern waterthrush. Most areas of the park is open to hunting or trapping during established seasons. Hunting is not permitted at Tobyhanna Lake and a small area to the east of the lake.

Ethical Photography Practices

Photography of nature and wildlife is a wonderful activity but there are a few ethical practices that you need to consider. I have listed them below.

• Do not disturb animals in their natural habitat. Leave them to continue in their routines and allow enough space for them to move naturally. Minimizing any disturbance to the wildlife from our side should be our top priority. 
• You should not manipulate the natural surroundings of the animals to get a perfect shot. This can have long-term consequences to the ecosystem.
• Do not bait to get a photo of the animal. You must avoid feeding the wild animals with food that you bring from home as this is unethical.
• Maintain safe distance from the animals as you might scare them or trigger aggression if their offspring is present close by. Do not try to take a selfie with the animals either. You do not know how they would react.
• It is recommended to avoid direct flash especially in the case of small mammals as they might be sensitive to light.

Ethical photography is important to practice as part of wildlife conservation efforts as it can create awareness regarding endangered species, inspire people to take up measures to protect the threatened species and also respect the wild animals and their habitat.

Conclusion

The Poconos is a beautiful place with stunning natural landscapes and a rich wildlife. You get to capture the spectacular beauty of the Pocono Mountains through your photography interest. It is a wonderful way to enjoy an outdoor adventure by doing nature and wildlife viewing and taking a few amazing wildlife photos as well as nature photos.

You get a chance to practice your wildlife and nature photography interest in the splendid landscapes of the Pocono Mountains. You can also improve your knowledge of the natural bodies and the wildlife thriving in the Poconos wild spots. If you are a wildlife and nature enthusiast with an interest in photography, visit the Poconos and explore these wild spots for an exciting photography adventure.

If you are planning to visit the Poconos to enjoy some outdoor photography, you might want an amazing place to stay. HolidayKeepers provide one of the best accommodation options for your photography visit. If you want to know more, feel free to contact us.

FAQs

Q1: Are there any risks involved in taking wildlife photographs in the Poconos?

Wildlife photography has some risks that you need to be aware of. It has an unpredictable aspect. It is recommended to respect the wild animals and keep a proper distance from them.

Q2: Is hunting any game legal in the Pocono Mountains?

It is illegal to hunt or capture wildlife without first obtaining the required licenses for hunting. With relevant licenses, you can hunt without any legal consequences.

Q3: Is State Game Lands No.038 close by to Lake Harmony?

Yes, State Game Lands No.038 is just about 15 miles or 30 minutes drive away from Lake Harmony.

Q4: Name few animals you can run into in State Game Lands No.038.

White-tailed deer, black bear, beaver, chipmunks and bobcats are few animals you can run into in the State Game Lands No.038.

Shatrughan