March SuperSnap
The March #SuperSnap goes to this buck scratching an itch in Grant County! Male white-tailed deer, also called bucks, will often be observed rubbing their head and antlers on trees in the fall for several reasons. The primary reason is to mark their territory during the mating season or “rut”, which stretches from October through December. Both male and female deer have glands in their foreheads called apocrine glands, which they will rub on trees and branches to mark their territory and communicate with other deer. Bucks are known to mark more often than female deer and the glands are most active in dominant bucks. This buck here is most likely rubbing his forehead gland on the tree in an act to mark his territory for the rutting season. Aside from targeting the apocrine glands in their foreheads, bucks will mark their territory and communicate with other deer in a number of different ways. See if you can spot other behaviors in deer that you think may be them marking their territory!
A huge thanks to Zooniverse participant @Megeth for this #SuperSnap nomination!
Continue classifying photos on Zooniverse and sharing your favorites with #SuperSnap – your submission might just be next month’s featured photo! Check out all the nominations by searching “#SuperSnap” on the Snapshot Wisconsin Talk boards.
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February SuperSnap
The February #SuperSnap goes to this fox squirrel spotted in Walworth County! There are five species of squirrels that live in Wisconsin, and the fox squirrel is the largest of them all! Their size and coloration usually make them easily distinguishable from the commonly known gray squirrel, as both are found throughout the whole state. The fox squirrel is a rusty-brown color with a yellowish-orange belly and a long buff-colored tail. These vibrant rusty tones are similar to those of the red fox, which is where the fox squirrel gets its name from!
A huge thanks to Zooniverse participant @charleysangel for this #SuperSnap nomination!
Continue classifying photos on Zooniverse and sharing your favorites with #SuperSnap – your submission might just be next month’s featured photo! Check out all the nominations by searching “#SuperSnap” on the Snapshot Wisconsin Talk boards.
Sources:
https://woodlandinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/310/2017/09/G3522.pdf
https://www3.uwsp.edu/biology/VertebrateCollection/Pages/default.aspx
January #SuperSnap
The January #SuperSnap goes to this badger striking a pose in Sauk County! Even though the American badger is Wisconsin’s state mascot, they are quite elusive creatures and rarely make appearances, so it’s always exciting to see one come across Snapshot Wisconsin trail cameras! A shot as clear as this one perfectly showcases their distinct features, like their dark “sideburns”.
Have you ever wondered why the badger is Wisconsin’s state animal? Interestingly, it all dates back to the 1800s and revolves around a rich history of lead mining in Wisconsin. Early colonizers dug tunnels throughout the hillsides of Wisconsin searching for lead. Come winter, many of them were too poor to build homes, so they lived in the mines to make it through the harsh Wisconsin winters – just like badgers! Badgers spend around 90 percent of their time underground through the winter and it can be up to 31 degrees warmer in their dens than the outside air.
A huge thanks to Zooniverse participant @birdeolso for this #SuperSnap nomination!
Continue classifying photos on Zooniverse and sharing your favorites with #SuperSnap – your submission might just be next month’s featured photo! Check out all the nominations by searching “#SuperSnap” on the Snapshot Wisconsin Talk boards.
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December #SuperSnap
The December #SuperSnap goes to the sandhill crane stretching their wings in Rock County! Have you ever noticed how the feathers of a sandhill crane can range from gray to brown in color? In the spring, the naturally gray bird will “paint” their feathers with mud to camouflage themselves in brown grasses. The sandhill crane is often confused with the great blue heron, especially in flight. When you spot a large bird in the sky, pay close attention to their neck! An outstretched neck will indicate a crane, but a great blue heron will fly with their necks folded back.
A huge thanks to Zooniverse participant @Borealguy for this #SuperSnap nomination.
Continue classifying photos on Zooniverse and sharing your favorites with #SuperSnap – your submission might just be next month’s featured photo! Check out all the nominations by searching “#SuperSnap” on the Snapshot Wisconsin Talk boards.
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Snapshot Celebrates 50 Zooniverse Seasons!
Snapshot Wisconsin is celebrating its 50th Zooniverse Season this winter! The first Zooniverse season was launched on May 17th, 2016, and has continually brought in thousands of classifiers since then. From China to Mexico, from Russia to Brazil, volunteers have helped Snapshot Wisconsin make more than 9 million classifications!
As we celebrate 50 seasons, we want to take a moment to express our gratitude to all the volunteers who make this project possible. Your work helps Snapshot Wisconsin provide valuable data and research to those making wildlife management decisions at Wisconsin DNR. To all our volunteers, whether you host a camera or help classify photos on Zooniverse, thank you!
In particular, we want to send thanks to our moderators. The success of the Snapshot Zooniverse community would not be where it is today without the generous time and effort put forth by our fantastic team of moderators: @bzeise, @Oregano, @Megeth, @momsabina, @sbreich, and @smeurett.
Our moderators do a terrific job of making the Snapshot Zooniverse community a warm and welcoming place for people across the globe. Much of their work is done by introducing newcomers to Wisconsin wildlife, of which many new classifiers may be seeing for the first time! Additionally, our moderators promote and keep our community standards, which keeps Snapshot Wisconsin Zooniverse a place for anyone and everyone to participate. We are grateful for all you do!
Don’t forget! You and your family and friends can host a Snap-a-thon! Snapshot Wisconsin Snap-a-thons are friendly competitions where a group of people tag animal photos on our crowdsourcing website, Zooniverse, to gather as many points as possible. Who can participate? Anyone familiar with Wisconsin wildlife and with operating a computer can participate. No need to be a wildlife expert: Zooniverse has a built-in field guide to help with more difficult classifications. You can find Snap-a-thon instructions under the ‘activities’ tab here!
October #SuperSnap
The October #SuperSnap goes to the red fox that was seen preying on a snake in Pierce County! Foxes are fantastic hunters. In fact, they can locate a rustling sound within 1 degree of its exact location using their large, upright ears. When they locate their prey, they will creep low to the ground with their heads outstretched. Then, when they are in the perfect position, they will pounce on their unexpecting prey with their forefeet! Red foxes are omnivores, and they will consume a wide variety of plants and animals which varies with each season.
A huge thanks to Zooniverse participant @Megeth for this #SuperSnap nomination.
Continue classifying photos on Zooniverse and sharing your favorites with #SuperSnap – your submission might just be next month’s featured photo! Check out all the nominations by searching “#SuperSnap” on the Snapshot Wisconsin Talk boards.
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September #SuperSnap
The September #SuperSnap goes to the curious coyote pup seen in Eau Claire County by a Snapshot Wisconsin trail camera! To prepare for their upcoming litter of 5-7 pups, coyotes will usually repurpose abandoned badger, woodchuck, or skunk burrows for their den sites. Pups are born with short, yellow-brown fur and will be weaned from their mother by the time they are about 8-9 weeks old, at which point the den will be abandoned. They will learn to hunt by following their parents on hunting trips. By the end of the summer, the pups will be ready to go hunting on their own for some of their favorites, such as small rodents, rabbits and sometimes deer!
A huge thanks to Zooniverse participant @citsci-rancho for this #SuperSnap nomination.
Continue classifying photos on Zooniverse and sharing your favorites with #SuperSnap – your submission might just be next month’s featured photo! Check out all the nominations by searching “#SuperSnap” on the Snapshot Wisconsin Talk boards.
Sources:
June #SuperSnap
The June #SuperSnap goes to the mother black bear and her energetic cubs running through Bayfield County! While tucked away in their cozy dens for the winter, female bears will give birth to two or three cubs in January. Throughout the rest of their winter slumber, the female will only stir awake to nurse, tend, and keep the cubs warm. When spring comes around, the black bear and her cubs will emerge from their den and begin to feed on hearty foods like frogs, carrion, and insects. Although weaned by September of their first year, the black bear cubs will remain with their mother and share the wintering den one more time. The following spring, after about a year and a half of staying with their mother, the cubs are finally ready to disperse and head out on their own!
A huge thanks to Zooniverse participant @Swamp-eye for this #SuperSnap nomination.
Continue classifying photos on Zooniverse and sharing your favorites with #SuperSnap – your submission might just be next month’s featured photo! Check out all the nominations by searching “#SuperSnap” on the Snapshot Wisconsin Talk boards.
Sources:
https://www.eekwi.org/animals/mammals/black-bear
https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/hunting/bear/about-black-bears-in-michigan#dens
May #SuperSnap
The May #SuperSnap goes to the two bobcats seen in Langlade County! This carnivorous species has an assortment of spots and colors throughout their coat that helps with camouflage. In Wisconsin, snowshoe hare and cottontail rabbit are major prey items for bobcat. However, they also will seek out prey such as porcupine, woodchuck, or even very young or old white-tailed deer. Although bobcats are usually solitary creatures, young bobcats will stick together, close to their mother. Around 9-10 months of age, adolescent bobcats will begin to wander across the landscape in search of an unoccupied territory to make their home.
A huge thanks to Zooniverse participant @steferella for this #SuperSnap nomination.
Continue classifying photos on Zooniverse and sharing your favorites with #SuperSnap – your submission might just be next month’s featured photo! Check out all the nominations by searching “#SuperSnap” on the Snapshot Wisconsin Talk boards.
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Outdoor Learning: Snapshot attends MOHEE
On May 10th, Snapshot attended the Midwest Outdoor Heritage Education Expo (MOHEE) at Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee! This was one of two large events hosted by the Outdoor Heritage Education Center (OHEC) this May, aiming to connect youth to outdoor skills and recreation.
31 organizations, ranging from DNR Fire Control to Ducks Unlimited and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, came together to host activities, tables, and demonstrations for over 700 students from surrounding communities.
Snapshot Wisconsin’s table featured photos from Havenwoods’ very own Snapshot camera and challenged visitors to test their skills of observation. All were interested to see what creatures inhabit the property, such as opossums and coyotes, not even 15 minutes from multiple busy interstate highways. Snapshot staff brought a Wildlife Identification Board where students could test their identification knowledge by matching Snapshot photos to species. Additionally, a “Nature Bingo” scavenger hunt sent students into the nearby grove of trees to scout for items such as a trail camera deployed in a bear box, fungi, tree seeds, and birds! For many, it was their first time seeing a trail camera.
MOHEE is a fantastic free field trip opportunity. Traditionally hosted at the Mackenzie Center in Poynette, this year saw the first expansion to Milwaukee. Transportation funding and all-terrain wheelchairs are made available to those who need it. Learn more at https://www.outdoorheritageeducationcenter.com/mohee-youth-expo.
Interested in incorporating Snapshot Wisconsin into your classroom? Learn more and find activities here.
Snapshot Wisconsin 