As the basis of City Nature Challenge, snapping photos of wildlife can reveal huge amounts of data. But what about those camera shy, elusive species? Researchers around the world have been using trail cameras to gather data on population size and movement of rare and shy species for several years now. These cameras can be set up and left for months, so are completely non-invasive. They are triggered by heat and movement and can reveal the secret lives of wildlife.
For the last two years Utah’s Hogle Zoo has been maintaining trail cameras along a 20-mile stretch of the Jordan River and we have seen some incredible things. From barn owls swooping down for their prey to falcon selfies, from beavers collecting willows to red fox kits growing up we are always amazed at the diversity of life near our urban river.
You can read more about local Utah research using trail cameras here: https://sagelandcollaborative.org/wasatch-wildlife-watch
Now check out this cutie down by the river-
Thank you for taking part in this years City Nature Challenge and contributing to wildlife research.
Happy identifying!
Warmly and wildly, the Conservation Department at Utah’s Hogle Zoo & Utah's Wasatch organizing partners: NHMU Citizen Science Program, Hutchings Museum, Jordan River Commission, Salt Lake City Library, Salt Lake County Library, Salt Lake City Trails & Natural Lands Division, Stokes Nature Center, Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter, Thanksgiving Point, The Nature Conservancy in Utah, Tracy Aviary, US Fish & Wildlife Service - Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Utah Society for Environmental Education, Utah Open Lands, Utah Valley University, UV Residential.
