Cascadia Wild

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    • Scat Surveys >
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  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Equity Statement
    • Land Acknowledgment
    • Board of Directors
    • Supporters
    • Annual Report
  • Wolverine Tracking Project
    • About the WTP
    • Camera Surveys
    • Scat Surveys >
      • About Scat Surveys
      • Fox Scat Survey
      • Wolf Scat Survey
    • Winter Tracking >
      • Winter Tracking Surveys
      • Tracking Apprenticeship
      • Be a Tracking Leader
    • Internship
    • WTP Findings
  • Classes
    • About our Classes
    • Naturalist Training Program
    • Tracking Classes
    • Botany Classes
    • Outdoor Survival Skills Classes
  • Get Involved
    • Calendar
    • Tracking Club
    • Nature Book Club
    • Join the WTP
    • Join the Board
    • Development and Outreach Lead Position
    • Contact Us
    • Join our Mailing List
  • Donate
  • Blog
  • Shop

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 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.
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.

participant qualifications

Everyone is welcome to join the wildlife camera survey, however, you must meet the following qualifications.
Winter Camera Crew Qualifications

Each member of a Camera Crew must be able to:
​
  • Commit to conducting at least 2-3 camera checks per season
  • Be comfortable working in various outdoor conditions for up to four hours, which can involve: rain and/or snow; icy surfaces or deep snow, standing in one place for long periods of time while setting a camera; some uphill snowshoeing
  • Be able to snowshoe up to 1 mile and be comfortable snowshoeing both on- and off-trail
  • Be able to navigate off-trail using a mapping application, GPS, or map and compass (we will also provide training)
  • Provide transportation to/from Mt Hood National Forest. *Drivers must be comfortable driving in winter conditions, and highway regulations require that 2-wheel drive vehicles carry tire chains.
  • Accurately follow survey protocols
  • Provide all required gear and equipment (see below)
  • Properly maintain and store borrowed Cascadia Wild equipment​
  • Attend the online training or watch the recording

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

EQUIPMENT required

Provided Equipment

Cascadia Wild will provide the following equipment.
  • Trail Camera - one trail camera installed at each site
  • Hair snaggers and/or bait box - installed at some sites
  • Camera Kit
    • Memory card
    • Batteries
    • Bait: commercial scent bait or fox urine
    • Disposable gloves
    • Instruction sheets and local maps of camera site​
    • Genetic Sample Collection items: paper bags, tweezers, lighter, and envelopes, and a ruler.

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: 
  • Memory card reader for retrieving images off the memory cards
  • Google account for uploading images to Google Drive
  • Battery charger for AA 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
  • 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.
​
  • Snowshoes
  • Snopark permit (most sites), to park at the trailhead
  • GPS or mapping application
  • Compass
  • Forest Maps
  • Personal safety gear
  • Hammer (some sites), for moving hair snaggers during your camera check

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

training  - winter 2023-24

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.
​
  • New Camera Crew Volunteers:
    Tue, November 7, 6:30-8:30 pm

    This session is a bit longer to provide an introduction to the Wolverine Tracking Project and the Camera Survey. 

  • Returning Camera Crew Volunteers:
    Wed, November 8, 6:30-8:00 pm​

​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)
  • Camera Check Procedure Training: 
    • ​Sat, November 11, 2:00-3:00 pm
    • Sun, November 19, 2:00-3:00 pm
  • Navigation Training:​
    • ​Sat, November 11, 3:00-4:00 pm
    • Sun, November 19, 3:00-4:00 pm

Field Training at Mt Hood 
  • Camera Check Procedures and Navigation Training:
    • Sat, December 2, 10:00am-3:00pm

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.
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Camera Survey Areas Summer 2023

​REady to join a camera crew?

Register by November 6
Please check back next year!
Interested but have questions? Contact us and we'll be happy to talk with you!
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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.
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A Pacific marten, also a target species of the Wolverine Tracking Project, pauses momentarily at a camera site. Camera Survey, Summer 2018.
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 16!
Summer / Winter Banner
Volunteer Login:
Camera Crew
Fox Team
Wolf Team

Tracking Team​
​5431 NE 20th Ave Portland OR 97211
info@cascadiawild.org
503-235-9533
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