Calling all wildlife enthusiasts! American Prairie, a conservation organization building North America’s largest nature reserve on Montana’s Great Plains, today launched its groundbreaking “Cameras for Conservation” citizen science project. This initiative invites the public worldwide to become “Digital Rangers” by identifying prairie wildlife using images captured by remote wildlife cameras, directly contributing to crucial conservation efforts in this vital ecosystem.
By aligning conservation goals with economic opportunity, this newly launched public platform builds upon American Prairie’s innovative landowner partnership program called Wild Sky, which creates a win-win scenario for private landowners and the region’s wildlife. Through a partnership with local farmers and ranchers, up to 80 motion-activated wildlife cameras are deployed on private lands across central Montana. Landowners enrolled in Wild Sky earn payments for images captured of specific wildlife species, turning their presence into an economic asset and fostering human-wildlife coexistence.
Volunteers view photos through the platform Zooniverse and identify species such as grizzly bears, bighorn sheep, badgers, and bobcats. Each ID provides valuable data, helping American Prairie monitor wildlife populations, understand habitat use, and shape critical conservation strategies.
“Inviting the public into our research through Zooniverse is a game-changer,” said Jessica Eggers, Volunteer Manager for American Prairie. “Every animal identified by our citizen scientists provides a vital data point, enhancing our understanding of the prairie while connecting people everywhere to the landscape which embodies the wild heart of America. It’s a true community approach to conservation.”
How to Become a Digital Ranger:
● Visit the Project: Click here to access the platform on American Prairie’s website.
● Take the Tutorial: Quickly learn how to identify diverse prairie wildlife species.
● Start Identifying: Contribute valuable data from the comfort of your home, helping American Prairie understand and protect this critical ecosystem.
To learn more about American Prairie’s mission to build North America’s largest nature reserve and support vital conservation efforts, including the rewilding of the American West, visit AmericanPrairie.org.