Hordes Flock To Catch View

Wildlife watching is becoming big business.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the number of birdwatchers in the nation has grown from 10 million in the 1960s to more than 63 million in the early 1990s.

A growing number of people are interested in other species, boosting sales of items such as guidebooks and binoculars.

The run of two million salmon to the Adams River near Chase, British Columbia, attracts 300,000 people to an area that otherwise would get little fall tourism. Net gain for the region has been estimated at $15 million a year.

But with all the hype and payola, will prime wildlife viewing areas eventually become elitist and restricted like prime hunting spots?

Demand is so high for visiting Alaska’s McNeil River brown bear sanctuary, the state allows access only by lottery. Those lucky enough to be selected for a three-day visit shell out about $1,000 for bush planes, accommodations and permits.

Supply and demand could be a boon to some creatures. Some rural Montanans are changing their attitudes about wolves. The cost of a few dozen dead cows on the range near Yellowstone National Park could be dwarfed by the value of 3 million visitors coming each year to see a wolf in the wild.

, DataTimes