winter banner:

JOIN A CAMERA CREW THIS SUMMER!

Now Accepting Applications through May 10, 2021
Read on to learn about the goals of the project and what you get to do as part of a crew!

wildlife camera surveys: 
wolverine tracking project

​​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/June and October/November
​
​Camera surveys are a low-impact way to unobtrusively collect information on the presence of wildlife in our forest. Cascadia Wild operates over twenty 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.

goals


​Our camera surveys have three goals:
  • Record data on animal species detected 
  • Provide an opportunity for stewardship
  • Expand participant's knowledge of and connection to our local wildlife and environment

structure

Cameras monitor wildlife year-round! 
Picture
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 (1992), and we continue to monitor for their return to the mountain.
Cameras are maintained entirely by volunteers. Each volunteer camera crew is responsible for one camera site, or group of 2-3 nearby camera sites, throughout the season. As part of a camera crew, you will check the camera site(s) every 3-5 weeks. In the summer season (May - October), this could be 4-6 trips - less if snow conditions prevent access to the site at the beginning or end of the season, or more if the site is lower elevation. 

During your camera check, you will change out the batteries and memory card, refresh the bait, and collect any hair or scat samples. Checking a camera is usually a full-day trip. Some cameras are close to the road, others are a substantial hike in. You will be assigned to your camera site based on how far you wish to hike.

​For Summer 2021, we have modified the survey and reduced the group sizes to encourage a safe experience during the coronavirus pandemic. Each camera check requires a participating crew of at least 2 people, or a maximum of 8 people. Your overall camera crew can be larger than the people attending a given check, to better help coordinate and share the responsibilities. You may apply with friends or members of your household to be on the same camera crew. If you are applying on your own, we will pair you with another volunteer or group, for a maximum of two households on each camera crew. ​

camera crew participants

We welcome anyone to join the wildlife camera survey! However, we do have some qualifications.
Summer Camera Crew Qualifications

Camera Crew must be able to:
  • commit to conducting a camera check every 3-5 weeks throughout the season
  • be comfortable hiking on- and off-trail
  • be comfortable working in various conditions for up to six hours, which can involve: rain and/or snow; standing in one place for long periods of time; some uphill hiking
  • have experience navigating using a GPS or mapping application, map, and compass
  • demonstrate outdoor experience
  • accurately follow survey protocols
  • provide all required gear and equipment (see below)
  • properly maintain and store borrowed Cascadia Wild equipment
  • provide a secure location to store bait (it can be quite pungent - we recommend a place outside your house)
  • provide all transportation to/from Mt Hood National Forest
  • agree to Cascadia Wild's COVID-19 protocols, including: no carpooling with members outside of your household, wear masks, socially distance, and do not share equipment
  • check the site with at least one other person - each member of the group must apply and register
  • attend an online training 

​*Participants under 18 years old must be accompanied by a Parent/Guardian.
Picture
Volunteers check the settings of a trail camera
Picture
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.
Picture
Volunteers check the settings of a trail camera
Picture
A mountain lion inspects a bait tree
Winter Camera Crew Qualifications

Camera Crew must be able to:
  • commit to conducting a camera check every 3-5 weeks throughout the winter season
  • snowshoe a minimum of 2 miles (equivalent to hiking about 5 miles)
  • have experience hiking or snowshoeing on- and off-trail
  • be comfortable working in various conditions for up to six hours, which can involve: rain and/or snow; icy surfaces or deep snow; standing in one place for long periods of time setting a camera; some uphill snowshoeing
  • have experience navigating using a GPS or mapping application, map, and compass
  • demonstrate outdoor experience
  • accurately follow survey protocols
  • provide all required gear and equipment (see below)
  • properly maintain and store borrowed Cascadia Wild equipment
  • provide a secure location to store bait (it can be quite pungent - we recommend a place outside your home)
  • provide all transportation to/from Mt Hood National Forest - during winter, highway regulations require 2-wheel drive vehicles to carry chains
  • agree to Cascadia Wild's COVID-19 protocols, including: no carpooling with members outside of your household, wear masks, socially distance, and do not share equipment
  • check the site with at least one other person - each member of the group must apply and register
  • attend an online training 

​*Participants under 18 years old must be accompanied by a Parent/Guardian.
All volunteers have the option to receive the Cascadia Wildlife Weekly Newsletter, which includes all the week's best wildlife photos and news - and have access to all of the season's camera photos - exclusive 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.

EQUIPMENT required

In order to reduce the risks associated with COVID-19, volunteers will check out a camera kit for whole season, and we are asking the crews provide more equipment than required in previous seasons.
Camera Crews must supply the following equipment: ​​
  • Personal gear such as boots, clothing, food and water, and guides
  • Personal safety gear
  • GPS or mapping application, with the ability to upload waypoints to Google Drive as KMZ, KML, or GPX
  • Compass
  • Memory Card Reader, with the ability to upload images from the memory card to Google Drive
  • Camera, either digital or smartphone
  • Genetic Sample Collection items: paper bags, tweezers, lighter, and envelopes, and a ruler.
  • Disposable gloves*
    *These can also be requested from Cascadia Wild
  • Pencil
  • Forest Maps

Each participant will also need a Google account which will be used to access the volunteer website and to upload photos to Google Drive.

​Cascadia Wild will provide the following equipment:
  • Trail Camera
  • Memory cards: 2 per camera
  • Batteries: 2 sets per camera
  • Battery charger*
    *Cascadia Wild has a limited number of chargers to loan out, if you/your group are not able to provide one.
  • Bait: gusto and commercial scent bait*
    *It will be the volunteer’s responsibility to store bait throughout the season.
  • Hair snagging belt
  • Disposable gloves, on request
  • Instruction sheets and local maps of camera site
  • Data sheets – to be filled out online
Picture
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.
Camera Crews must supply the following equipment: 
​
  • Snowshoes for each person in the group
  • Sno-Park permit, one per vehicle (info)
  • Personal gear such as boots, clothing, food and water, and guides
  • Personal safety gear
  • GPS or mapping application, with the ability to upload waypoints to Google Drive as KMZ, KML, or GPX.
  • Compass
  • Memory Card Reader, with the ability to upload images from the memory card to Google Drive.
  • Camera, either digital or smartphone
  • Genetic Sample Collection items: paper bags, tweezers, lighter, and envelopes, and a ruler.
  • Disposable gloves*
    *These can also be requested from Cascadia Wild
  • Pencil
  • Forest Maps

​Cascadia Wild will provide the following equipment:
​
  • Trail Camera
  • Memory cards: 2 per camera
  • Batteries: 2 sets per camera
  • Battery charger*
    *Cascadia Wild has a limited number of chargers to loan out, if you/your group are not able to provide one.
  • Bait: gusto and commercial scent bait*
    *It will be the volunteer’s responsibility to store bait throughout the season.
  • Canister: for gusto
  • Disposable gloves, on request
  • Instruction sheets and local maps of camera site (Field Book)
  • Data sheets – to be filled out online
Picture
A Pacific marten, one of our target species, bounds to inspect a bait tree

LOCATIONS Summer 2021

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. This season, we will be focusing on 4 general areas: Hood River, Mt. Hood North, Mt. Hood East, and Mt. Hood Southeast. 

We have approximately 20 trail cameras, most of which will be placed in the Mt. Hood North area. Camera crews will be selected to maintain a camera site depending on the general area prefered and/or their hiking preferences.

​REady to join a camera crew?
​Great!

Application Deadline: May 10, 2021
Online Training Dates:
- New Camera Crew: May 18, 6:30-8:30 pm
- Returning Camera Crew: 7:00-8:30 pm

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 in our community, we have a limited number of participants that we can accept this year. Candidates will be considered based on their ability to meet the participant requirements and what they hope to gain from this survey.
*If you are applying with others, each individual will need to fill out their own application.

We look forward to meeting you!
Picture
A Pacific marten, also a target species of the Wolverine Tracking Project, pauses momentarily at a camera site. Camera Survey, Summer 2018.