Carnivores on Camera
Community Scientists Explore Mt. Hood
Last weekend, I high-centered my car on a snowy forest road while heading out for a final winter visit to one of our wildlife trailcams on Mt. Hood. Defenders of Wildlife and our partners at Cascadia Wild maintain a series of wildlife monitoring stations for the Wolverine Tracking Project, a community science initiative to collect information on rare carnivores, including wolverine, fisher, marten, gray wolf and Sierra Nevada red fox. Sounds great, right? But lying prone in a tire rut filled with mud and slush while trying to chip away at the solid block of snow under my car, I admit that my enthusiasm began to wane. Fortunately, just three hours (and one rescue from a mushroom hunter in a big truck, one pit stop for emergency candy, one long alternate route and one slippery hike) later, I had successfully reached our creek-side camera.
I was exhausted, hungry and caked in mud. But even so, I was eager to see what photos the camera had captured since my last visit. Since two gray wolves were confirmed in the northern part of the Cascades in Oregon earlier this year, I’ve been not-so-secretly hoping to get a glimpse of them on one of our cameras. Alas, there were no wolves. But there was a hilarious series of photos of a coyote cautiously checking out the meat bait, popping in and out of the frame from a different angle each time. And there was a gorgeous photo of a bobcat padding through the snow with its bushy winter coat on full display. Sure, it’s not exactly Sasquatch, but it’s so cool to get a glimpse into the lives of the critters that live in our backyard forests and wilderness areas. It was my job to take the camera down for the winter season, and despite the earlier hiccup, it felt great to be a part of a project that is doing so much to increase our understanding of how carnivores — both rare and common — are using the landscape.
As I drove home from the mountain, I considered two very important truths: First, my Prius (I know, I know) is not intended for the backroads, “Power Mode” notwithstanding. Second, community science is a rewarding and (mostly) fun way to get outside, learn more about wildlife, meet terrific people and contribute important data to research on the presence and distribution of rare carnivores.
Community science –also referred to as citizen science or volunteer-based science — is scientific work undertaken by members of the public, often in collaboration with or under the direction of professional scientists and scientific institutions. We choose to call it community science to emphasize that everyone is welcome to participate — no technical experience or science degree necessary — and that’s what really makes it community collaboration. For the Wolverine Tracking Project, all that’s needed is a love for wildlife, the desire to contribute to scientific research and the willingness to spend some wintry days in the forest. Volunteers receive training in the classroom and in the field before they are assigned to a team of 4–5 people to maintain a wildlife monitoring station for the season. Folks who want to take a deeper dive also have opportunities to get involved in wildlife snow tracking surveys.
Oregon’s rare carnivores and their habitats are threatened by climate change, habitat loss and fragmentation and low genetic diversity. These threats are exacerbated by significant wildlife data gaps, and consequently, bad policy that fails to protect wildlife and critical habitat. Unfortunately, the need for wildlife data is increasing while funding for research and monitoring is shrinking. This makes community science efforts like the Wolverine Tracking Project even more important as a cost-effective method to supplement research by professional scientists. By adhering to a consistent, scientifically standardized methodology for data collection, we supply critical information that will directly inform wildlife management practices. With increased information on the presence, distribution and behavior of rare carnivores, Defenders can advocate for better wildlife policy at both the state and federal level.
Community science projects also help build connections to our wildlife and wild places. These connections are crucial to generating support for rare carnivore and habitat conservation. But they are also crucial to fostering a sense of community among the wonderfully diverse group of folks who care about wildlife. I’ve witnessed this firsthand in my work on the Wolverine Tracking Project. My most recent experience aside, I look forward to each of my outings with my camera crew. I’ve made new friends — from age 2 to 72 — and shared laughter, wildlife trivia, investigations of mysterious tracks and post-trip nachos. I’ve witnessed people reacting with equal joy to a photo of an elusive marten or Sierra Nevada red fox…and to a spotted skunk. I’ve also seen people grow as activists, using their newfound experience and knowledge of Oregon’s wildlife to get involved in advocating for better wildlife policy.
As we gear up for the summer season, I’m excited to continue my own education about wildlife tracking and monitoring, and to welcome new volunteers to our passionate group of community scientists!
- Quinn
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