The Rise of Wildlife Watching

While the number of hunters and anglers has declined relative to the general population, public interest in wildlife watching has grown dramatically.

Since 1955, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has conducted its National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation every five years. The most recent results, published in 2023, indicate the rising popularity of wildlife watching. (The survey counted wildlife watching participation as a recreational activity in which the primary objective was viewing wild birds, mammals, reptiles, and other wildlife, and excluded secondary or incidental wildlife observation.)

In 2022:

Overall, 57.2% of Americans sixteen years or older participated in wildlife watching activities such as birding, compared to 15.4% that fished, and 5.5% that hunted (see chart below).
Wildlife watchers have a greater economic impact too. In 2022, they spent a total of $250.2 billion on wildlife viewing trips, equipment, and other related expenditures. Anglers spent a total of $99.4 billion, while hunters spent a total of $45.2 billion.

Source: USFWS National Survey on Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation