Join the Camera Crew!
Help maintain a trail camera in Mt. Hood National Forest!
wildlife camera surveys
Who comes out to play while the humans are away?
Camera surveys help document wildlife throughout Mt. Hood National Forest
Summer Season: May through October
Winter Season: November through May
Training: May and November
Camera surveys help document wildlife throughout Mt. Hood National Forest
Summer Season: May through October
Winter Season: November through May
Training: May and November
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Camera surveys are a low-impact way to unobtrusively collect information on the presence of wildlife in our forest. Cascadia Wild operates over sixteen wildlife cameras in the Mt. Hood National Forest, all maintained by Cascadia Wild volunteers who are taking part in long-term data collection that will shape research and management decisions - true community science!
Read more about the Wolverine Tracking Project. |
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The Wolverine Tracking Project started to confirm rumors of the wolverine's return to Mt. Hood. This is the last known wolverine on Mt. Hood (1980), and we continue to monitor for their return to the mountain.
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Cameras are maintained entirely by volunteer Camera Crews.
Each Camera Crew is responsible for a camera, or group of two nearby cameras, throughout the season. You may register either on your own, or with friends who you wish to be on a crew with. Camera Crews typically range from 4-10 people in size (larger groups usually include a family or friend group). Your crew will be assigned to a camera site based on your hiking/snowshoeing preferences. Some cameras are close to a road, others are a substantial hike or snowshoe in; some require driving on dirt roads, others do not. When you register, you will have a chance to tell us your preferences and we will match you to a site that fits. Cameras need to be checked every 3-5 weeks. Not every crew member has to go out on every trip; it is up to the members of the Camera Crew to communicate with each other to organize who goes out on which camera checks. There are usually 4-6 trips during the season, depending on snow conditions and other factors that affect accessing a site. We ask that each member of a Camera Crew commit to checking the site 2-3 times in the season. Checking a camera is usually a full-day trip. Equipment will need to be picked up from the Cascadia Wild office. During your camera check, you will change out the batteries and memory card, refresh the bait, and collect any hair or scat samples. Afterward, you will return the equipment and photos you collected, and submit a data sheet. |
All volunteers have the option to receive the Cascadia Wildlife Weekly Newsletter, which includes all the week's best wildlife photos and news - only for volunteers and members!
Volunteers also have access to the data collected in one season, and are eligible to receive discounts on select Cascadia Wild classes, events, and programs.
Volunteers also have access to the data collected in one season, and are eligible to receive discounts on select Cascadia Wild classes, events, and programs.
participant qualifications
Everyone is welcome to join the wildlife camera survey, however, you must meet the following qualifications.
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Winter Camera Crew Qualifications Each member of a Camera Crew must be able to:
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Volunteers check the settings of a trail camera
A mountain lion inspects a bait tree
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EQUIPMENT required
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Provided Equipment
Cascadia Wild will provide the following equipment.
Camera Crews pick up the Camera Kit from the office before they head out to visit their camera. Alternatively, the Camera Kit may also be checked out for the season if everyone in the crew agrees to it. If you check out a kit for the season, and are not coming to our office to borrow any other items, (see next section), you will also need to provide:
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Required Equipment It will be the Camera Crews' responsibility to provide the following required equipment:
The following items are also required, but can be checked out from Cascadia Wild on a first-request basis, subject to availability. These items cannot be checked out for the season.
Not sure what personal gear to bring? See our packing list for some recommendations! |
A Pacific marten, one of our target species, bounds to inspect a bait tree
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This Sierra Nevada red fox, also a target species, was one of the first foxes documented by Wolverine Tracking Project trail cameras, which confirmed their presence on Mt Hood. Camera Survey, Winter 2011-2012.
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training - winter 2023-24
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REQUIRED ONLINE TRAINING
Before attending the first camera check of the season, participants need to attend one online training session to cover background information on the Camera Survey and the survey protocols. The training for returning volunteers differs in that it will focus on what has changed from previous years, but returning volunteers may take either.
These trainings are online, and will be recorded for those who can't attend. |
OPTIONAL FIELD TRAININGS
We are also offering optional in-person field training to cover navigation practices, using a GPS, camera site procedures, and collecting genetic samples, for those that would like the additional, hands-on training or refresher. Each session will cover the same information, choose one date. Field Trainings at Alberta Park in NE Portland (map)
Field Training at Mt Hood
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Camera Locations Winter 2023-24
Locations of trail cameras are determined based on where we expect to encounter target species. Specifically, we are interested in documenting gray wolves, who are known to inhabit the eastern forest, and Sierra Nevada red foxes, who are known to inhabit the higher elevations of Mt. Hood. We also consider areas where these animals may travel through or relocate.
Camera Survey Areas Summer 2023
REady to join a camera crew?
Register by November 6
Interested but have questions? Contact us and we'll be happy to talk with you!
A photo of the breeding pair of the White River wolf pack, who are centered on the Warm Springs Reservation and along the eastern flank of Mt. Hood National Forest. We have been monitoring for gray wolves since they returned to the forest in 2017. Photo taken by Wolverine Tracking Project Camera Survey, 2018.
