wildlife camera surveys: 
wolverine tracking project

Camera surveys help document wildlife throughout Mt Hood National Forest
Summer Season: June through October
Winter Season: November through May
Training: May/June and October/November
Winter 2020-21 Application due October 31

​​Who comes out to play while the humans are away?​
​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! 

For Winter 2020-21, we have modified the survey and reduced the group size to help limit the spread of COVID-19.

Each camera crew will consist of two people in the same household or who know each other personally. Each two-person crew will be responsible for checking their camera site (or grouping of nearby sites) every 3-5 weeks throughout the season. In winter, this could be up to six or seven camera checks.  
During your visit, you will need to 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 or snowshoe in. You will be assigned to your camera site based on how far you wish to hike. 

camera crew participants

We welcome anyone to join the wildlife camera survey! However, we do have some qualifications.
Picture
Volunteers check the settings of a trail camera
Picture
A mountain lion inspects a bait tree
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: 
​
  • 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
  • Small Pliers
  • Wire cutters
  • 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
  • Wire
  • 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

  • Camera location: starting location (round-trip mileage, difficulty)
Picture
Mt Hood Group Camera Locations, Winter 2020-21
Picture
Camera Locations Overview, Winter 2020-21
Mt Hood area locations: 
  • Government Camp: Government Camp (1.5 miles, flat)
  • Glade: Government Camp (4.5 miles, steep)
    The camera is a quarter mile off-trail, further than most of the others.
  • Timberline: Timberline Lodge (1.5 miles, moderately flat but at high elevation)
    The parking lot fills up quickly on weekends, so you will need to either get there early, allow extra time to take the shuttle, or go on a weekday.
  • Yellowjacket: Snowbunny Sno Park (2 miles, moderate)
  • White River: White River East Sno Park (1.5 miles, flat)
  • Barlow Pass: Barlow Pass Sno Park (2 miles, moderate)
  • Meadows: Mt Hood Meadows (2.5 miles, moderate except for one steep section)
    The parking lot fills up quickly on weekends, so you will need to either get there early, allow extra time to take the shuttle, or go on a weekday. The trail is not used much in the winter so you may be breaking trail a good portion of the way. 
  • Clark Creek: Hood River Meadows Sno Park, (2-3 miles, flat)
  • Teacup: Teacup Lake Sno Park (2.5 miles, flat)
  • Tilly Jane: Tilly Jane Sno Park (6 miles, very steep)
    This trail is often icy and develops a side slope that makes hiking difficult. The camera is about a third of a mile beyond the Tilly Jane hut; there is a trail here in the summer, but it is seldom used in the winter and you will be breaking trail through deep snow. 
  • Cloud Cap: Tilly Jane Sno Park (2-3 miles, flat)

Outer Locations
*4WD vehicle required for all sites
*In winter, these cameras are reached via the DallesGate Creek (2 cameras): side of forest road (<1 mile hike/snowshoe total, flat)
  • There may not be snow at this location for most of the winter.
  • Road 44 (3 cameras): Billy Bob Sno Park and side of forest road, more off trail than other groups (<1 mile total, moderate) 
    There will probably be snow at these locations, but it will seldom be as deep as around Mt Hood.
  • Badger Creek: side of forest road (<0.5 mile, flat)
    There may not be snow at this location for most of the winter.

​REady to join a camera crew?

Great! Grab who you want to register with, and apply! 

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.

Even though you will be applying with another person(s) as a group, each individual person must submit their own, individual application. 

Application Deadline: October 31, 2020
Training Dates: Nov 16, 6:00-8:00 pm (new camera crew) and Nov 19, 6:30-8:00 pm (returning camera crew)

APPLY:
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. Winter 2011-2012.