wildlife camera surveys

​​Who comes out to play while the humans are away?​
Camera surveys help document wildlife throughout Mt. Hood National Forest
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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 fifteen 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

​The 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! 

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 volunteer Camera Crews.
Each Camera Crew is responsible for one camera site, or group of 2 nearby camera sites, throughout the season.

You may register either on your own and be assigned to a crew, or register with a group of friends who will make up your crew. Your crew will be assigned to a camera site based on hiking preferences (some cameras are close to a road, others are a substantial hike or snowshoe in) and any other preferences, such as where in the forest the camera is located. Camera Crews typically range from 4-10 people in size (larger groups usually include a family or friend group). However many trips each member of one crew participates in is up to availability of the members of the group, and Camera Crews are encouraged to communicate with each other to organize the camera checks.

Camera Crews check the camera site(s) every 3-5 weeks. This could be 4-6 trips for the crew - less or more depending on snow conditions and how they affect accessing a site. We ask that each member of a Camera Crew commits to checking the site 2-3 times in the season.

Checking a camera is usually a full-day trip. Equipment is picked up from the Cascadia Wild office or checked out in advance for the season. 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 submit the photos, data sheets, and return any equipment that was checked out for the day.  ​

training

Before attending the first camera check of the season, participants will attend one online training session to cover background information on the Camera Survey and the survey protocols. 
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• New and Returning Camera Crew:
  May 17, 6:30-8:30 pm
  This session is a bit longer to provide an introduction to the Wolverine Tracking Project and the Camera Survey. 
  - Sristi Kamal, Northwest Representative with our partner Defenders of Wildlife, will also be there to talk about how this survey impacts their work! 
  ​
• Returning Camera Crew:
  May 19, 6:30-8:00 pm​

We are also offering optional in-person field trainings 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.

Field Trainings at Alberta Park in NE Portland (map)

• Navigation Training:​
  • ​May 22, 1:30-2:30 pm
  • May 25, 5:30-6:30 pm
• Camera Check Procedure Training: 
  • ​May 22, 2:30-4:00 pm
  • May 25, 6:30-8:00 pm

Field Training at Mt Hood (location to be determined based on snow conditions)

• Camera Check Procedures and Navigation Training:
  • June 5, 10:00-2:00

camera crew participants

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

Winter Camera Crew Qualifications

Each member of a Camera Crew must be able to:
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• commit to conducting at least 2-3 camera checks per season
  
  
• 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 setting a camera; some uphill hiking
  
  
• have experience navigating using a mapping application, GPS, or map and compass (we will also provide training)
  
  
• demonstrate outdoor experience
  
  
• accurately follow survey protocols
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• provide all required gear and equipment (see below)
  
  
• properly maintain and store borrowed Cascadia Wild equipment
  
  
• provide transportation to/from Mt Hood National Forest
  
  
• agree to Cascadia Wild's COVID-19 protocols, including: wear masks when you are within 10 feet of another person and maintain a distance from others at all times
  
  
• check the site with at least one other member of your Camera Crew
  
  
• attend the online training 
  
  

​*Participants under 18 years old must be accompanied by a Parent/Guardian.

Volunteers check the settings of a trail camera

A mountain lion inspects a bait tree

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.

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! 
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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

Provided Equipment

Cascadia Wild will provide the following equipment for the season.

• Trail Camera - one trail camera installed at each site
  
  
• Hair snaggers - installed at select sites
  
  

Camera Crews can choose to pick up the following equipment in the Camera Kit from the office each visit, or they can check this equipment out for the season. If checking a kit out for the season, it will be the crew's responsibility to coordinate exchanging equipment between crew members between checks.
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• Camera Kit
  
  
  • Memory card(s)
    
    
  • Batteries
    
    
  • Bait: gusto or fox urine and commercial scent bait
    
    
  • Disposable gloves, on request
    
    
  • Instruction sheets and local maps of camera site​
    
    
  • Genetic Sample Collection items: paper bags, tweezers, lighter, and envelopes, and a ruler.
    
    
  • Data sheets  (if not filled out online)
    

If checking out a Camera Kit for the season, and you do not need to borrow any additional required items from Cascadia Wild (see next section), you will also need to provide: 

• Memory card reader for retrieving images off the memory cards
  
  
• Google account for uploading images to Google Drive
  
  
• Battery charger, if your camera has rechargeable batteries

Required Equipment 

It will be the Camera Crews' responsibility to provide the following required equipment:

• Personal gear such as boots, clothing, food and water, and guides
  ​
• Camera, either digital or smartphone for taking photos of genetic samples or other incidental sign

​
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, just per camera check. While we will do our best to accommodate each request, we do have limited supplies. If the requested items are not available, it will be the Camera Crews' responsibility to provide them:

• NW Forest Pass (for parking at some trailheads)
  
  
• GPS or mapping application, with the ability to upload waypoints to Google Drive as KMZ, KML, or GPX.
  
  
• Compass
  
  
• Forest Maps
  
  
• Personal safety gear
  
  
• Hammer for taking down sites with hair snaggers
  

Not sure what to bring? See our packing list for some recommendations! ​​

A Pacific marten, one of our target species, bounds to inspect a bait tree

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 Locations summer 2022

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 2022

​REady to join a camera crew?

Register via the link below.
Have friends or family you want to be on a Camera Crew with? Make sure they register too! 
You'll have a chance to let us know your site preferences in the registration form.

We are looking forward to hearing from you!

Register by May 17!

CAMERA CREW

Interested but have questions? Contact us and we'll be happy to talk with you!

A Pacific marten, also a target species of the Wolverine Tracking Project, pauses momentarily at a camera site. Camera Survey, Summer 2018.

Summer / Winter Banner