About

Let’s discover our wildlife together! Snapshot Wisconsin is a partnership headed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The goal of the project is to monitor wildlife year-round, using a statewide network of trail cameras hosted by volunteers. The project will provide data needed for wildlife management decisions. It is also a unique opportunity for individuals, families, and students to get involved in monitoring the state’s valuable natural resources. For more information, please visit our main project page, or get started classifying photos at our Zooniverse crowdsourcing site.

Wisconsin, USA, is home to 65 species of native mammals, hundreds of other vertebrate species, and thousands of invertebrates and native plant species, living together in diverse natural communities. The WDNR manages wildlife in partnership with individuals and organizations. The first step in managing a wildlife population is to get an idea of how many individuals are present and where these individuals are. This *sounds* basic, but monitoring wildlife populations can be difficult at the statewide level. Trail camera monitoring can help by providing data over large areas and in all seasons. This blog documents many aspects of this process.