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Open the Outdoors
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Volunteer assisting with a loon surgery.
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Adult female white-tailed deer and fawn, Operation Deer Watch.
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Male elk, photo submitted via Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey observations.
- Research pages
Wildlife and Forestry Research - Citizen Monitoring
Citizens and scientists working together to monitor and evaluate Wisconsin's natural resources is a unique collaboration that improves the efficiency and effectiveness of monitoring efforts. The short-term advantage of citizen monitoring is that citizens are often available to be the daily 'eyes' and 'ears' for the natural resource, providing extra monitoring where the agency cannot supply staff. From a long-range perspective, citizens are personally involved and committed, becoming educated about resource issues and strong advocates for resource programs.
Wildlife and forestry researchers are currently involved with the following projects relating to citizen monitoring research:
The Wisconsin Lakes and Wildlife Citizen Science Project
This project will further develop the existing Wisconsin Loon Citizen Science Network (75 participants in 2012) to monitor long-term abundance of lake-dependent wildlife in the Northern Highland ecological landscape. Specific objectives include conducting workshops and training volunteers for the Wisconsin Loon Citizen Science Network, producing project reports, informational packets for Citizen Scientists, annual newsletter, and developing additional citizen science monitoring activities on Northern Highland lakes to monitor impacts of land-use and climate change on lake-dependent wildlife.
Project timeline: 2007 - 2014
Lead DNR scientist: Michael Meyer
Operation Deer Watch
Help monitor deer reproduction in Wisconsin. Starting in 2010 the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources asked for summer deer observations from Wisconsin outdoor enthusiasts and hunters. The department is interested in all deer sightings of bucks, does, and fawns. Data from Operation Deer Watch is used with DNR observations to help determine the fawn-to-doe ratio and ultimately deer population estimates.
Project timeline: 2010 - ongoing
Lead DNR scientist: Brian Dhuey
Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is asking for your help in monitoring the relative abundance and distribution of deer and other mammalian/avian wildlife species in the state. The wildlife we are most interested in are: deer, raccoon, skunk, porcupine, red and gray fox, turkey, ruffed grouse, coyote, bear, otter, fisher, bobcat, house cat, badger, wolf, opossum, elk, or other wildlife not normally seen in your area. Since deer hunters often spend many quiet observation hours in the woods, you can provide valuable information about species that are often very difficult to measure. Past efforts in Wisconsin and other states (Ohio, Iowa and Missouri) have provided wildlife agencies with valuable information for managing many wildlife species.
Project timeline: 2009 - ongoing
Lead DNR scientist: Brian Dhuey
