Whatcom Wildlife Tracker

Have you seen an animal track in the mud, feathers, some scat, or a wild animal by your local stream or ditch? Take a picture and join the Whatcom Wildlife Tracking iNaturalist project. Data from this project will be used to understand what wildlife are present and where! That knowledge helps us be better stewards of our watershed.

How To Contribute

Follow these six steps to join iNaturalist and contribute to the Whatcom Wildlife Tracking Project!

iNaturalist app page, option to uninstall or open, update info, user review.

Step 1: Download the iNaturalist App from Google Play or the Apple App Store.

iNaturalist app login screen with options to log in via Facebook, Google, email, or create an account.

Step 2: Create an account using Facebook, Google, or an Email Address.

Wildlife tracking app interface with join button highlighted; shows observations of animals and a prompt to join the project.

Step 3: Search Whatcom Wildlife Tracking under Projects or click to join with your web browser.

A smartphone screen showing an app interface for adding observations with options to take a photo, choose an image, and record sound.

Step 4: Click the "+" icon in the bottom right corner then use an image to add an observation.

A mobile app screen for editing an observation, showing fields for notes, date, location, and project details.

Step 5: Make a species suggestion (at least pick mammal, bird, or fish), & add any observations in notes

Wildlife tracking app showing Columbian Black-tailed Deer hoof print observation.

Step 6: Once you save your observation, it will be added to the project to help us track wildlife!

A raccoon in water with a Whatcom Wildlife Tracking project details and join button.

To join the project using your internet browser, click "Join" in the top right corner

Keeping Wildlife Wild

Feeding wildlife impacts our watershed. Increased populations of wildlife living (and pooping) around our creeks- such as raccoons, beavers or birds- can be a sources of harmful bacteria! Learn more about how to keep Wildlife Wild.

Identifying Animal Signs

Animal signs are any evidence of animals including scat (poop), feathers, tracks, fur, gnawed logs, scratches on trees, ect.

The Whatcom Wildlife Tracking Project tracks any animal signs from birds or mammals. When you record your observations of animal signs on Whatcom Wildlife Tracking Project, we ask that you attempt to make a species identification, or at least make the sign as coming from a mammal or bird. Any observation you make in iNaturalist has crowd sourced identification. This means its okay to not know what species you are seeing because other people can help ID the animal! However, if you don't mark the observation as being from a mammal or bird, it will not be part of the Whatcom Wildlife Tracking Project.

Learn more about the species near you with Washington Department of Wildlife Species Fact Sheets.