MOSES LAKE — Living in Central Washington has a lot of perks, and one of those is the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife.  

According to the Grant County website, the county is home to dozens of fun species, including small mammals such as rabbits and foxes and larger species like white-tailed and mule deer. There are plenty of ways to explore the area and find them, with many being state-operated trails.  

Steamboat Rock Trail is located toward the northern end of the county and provides an opportunity to see a wide variety of animals. Birds you may see along the trail include gulls, raptors such as Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels and others. Smaller animals include coyotes, rabbits, squirrels and fish jumping in the water below the trail.  

If you’re in the Ephrata area, you can get a great overview of the city by hiking Beezley Hill. The trailhead is on the side of town nearest Quincy and there’s good parking at the bottom of the hill. Flowers hide under the sagebrush along the hill and many small birds can be found flying about, as well as the occasional coyote. Make sure to take water along during the summer if you hike the trail, as it is a bit of a climb.  

Head along Stratford Road north of Moses Lake and visit the trailhead at Artesian and Black Lake Trail. The cliffs provide a beautiful view and the trail winds through scrublands that hold a variety of local animals.