By LISA MURPHY
Many wonder exactly which critters populate the Cambria forest. Greenspace – The Cambria Land Trust has teamed with “Snapshot USA” to find out. The Smithsonian Institution and North Carolina Museum of Natural History are leading this nationwide survey, which is in its sixth year, but this will be the first year the California Central Coast is represented in the data. (snapshot-usa.org)
Following strict guidelines, Greenspace has deployed ten wildlife cameras in its forested conservation properties to capture about 4000 hours of motion-detected wildlife data. To process it, AI will remove all photos that include humans and photos without animals in them. Then it will suggest which mammal species have been recorded.
Here is where Greenspace needs human help: Using a mammal guide for the Cambria area created for this project, volunteers will confirm each AI animal designation or correct it. Volunteers are needed to make sure the identifications are accurate, like “bobcat” not “cat.” No previous experience is required, just a willingness to be trained, a spirit of curiosity, a steadfast attitude and a commitment of a minimum of 10 hours between October15 through November 15. To become a volunteer wildlife identifier for this project, email admin@greenspacecambria.org.
Another way to help is our Adopt a Camera campaign. To help fund this historic study, please consider a $350 donation to fund one of the ten research sites. Greenspace will retain the cameras for future studies. These gifts will be acknowledged when pictures are published locally.
Please call the Greenspace office with any questions about the project or the Adopt a Camera campaign. Greenspace is thrilled to bring this important national mammal survey to Cambria and appreciate help from locals in staying on the leading edge of science to track and understand this wildlife populations. info@greenspacecambria.org
