GET INVOLVED

Every year, volunteers head into the Mt. Hood National Forest to collect wildlife data through snow tracking, trail cameras, and scat surveys as part of the Cascadia Wild Wolverine Tracking Project. These shared observations contribute to long‑term monitoring of rare carnivores like wolverine, Sierra Nevada red fox, gray wolf, and Pacific marten.

This project invites volunteers to collect dragonfly larvae from local wetlands and waterways. The larvae are analyzed for mercury levels, helping scientists understand how pollution moves through aquatic food webs. Participants contribute directly to research connecting water quality, insect health, and ecosystem contamination, all from habitats close to home.

The Grit City Carnivore Project invites community members to help study urban carnivores like coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, and foxes in the South Puget Sound region. Using wildlife cameras and track surveys, volunteers help researchers understand how these animals move through shared landscapes. The project shows how cities and carnivores coexist, often closer than we realize.

Every February, people around the world spend four days counting birds wherever they are; backyards, parks, balconies, or trailheads. These shared observations create a global snapshot of bird populations and movement. Anyone can participate using free tools like Merlin Bird ID or eBird, making it an easy entry point into citizen science.

Each spring, cities around the world take part in a friendly competition to document local biodiversity. Participants use iNaturalist to record plants, animals, and fungi found in urban spaces, helping create a snapshot of life thriving alongside people. No expertise is required, just curiosity and a willingness to look a little closer at the nature around you.

FrogWatch USA invites volunteers to listen for frog and toad calls during the spring and summer breeding season. By recording when and where species are calling, participants help scientists track amphibian populations and wetland health over time. It’s a hands on way to tune into nighttime soundscapes and contribute meaningful data to long term conservation research.

Bumble Bee Watch allows anyone to submit photos of bumble bees to help researchers monitor species distributions and declines. Observations from backyards, gardens, and trails help build a clearer picture of where different species are thriving, and where they may be disappearing. Even a single photo can provide valuable insight.

A global citizen science project focused on reptiles and amphibians. Participants submit sightings of snakes, frogs, turtles, salamanders, and lizards to help scientists track distributions and conservation needs. Location data is protected to reduce risk to sensitive species, making it a safe and impactful way to contribute herp observations.