Dubuque County Conservation Areas

Dubuque County is located in eastern Iowa of the United States along the Mississippi River. Landscapes near the river are composed of steep hills, bluffs, ravines, and woodlands. Moving westward one encounters more rolling hills and prairies or farmland.

Snapshot Dubuque Iowa is a community science project with Dubuque County Conservation, local partners, and volunteers using a network of trail cameras within conservation areas of Dubuque County. Trail cameras are triggered by the heat and movement of passing animals, thus providing a manner of wildlife monitoring. Dubuque County Conservation works with the Iowa DNR, organizations, and individuals to manage wildlife throughout Dubuque County. The state of Iowa is home to 58 species of mammal, 430 birds, and 88 reptiles and amphibians. Using trail cameras and your help, we can start to observe some of those found specifically within the county of Dubuque.

Goals of Snapshot Dubuque Iowa

1. Provide unique opportunities for public engagement with wildlife of Dubuque County.
2. Expand the science of trail camera monitoring for understanding wildlife populations, behavior, and interactions.
3. Provide data needed for management of wildlife habitat and improved wildlife survey efficiency.

Above: Students and conservation staff mount a trail camera

Why Snapshot Dubuque Iowa Needs Your Help!

A single trail camera can take thousands of photographs each month. Zooniverse users help to make all these photos meaningful by classifying the type and number of animals in each. Because we know where and when these photos were taken, we can create maps for both common and rare species across the county and visualize how animal populations change through time.

Monitoring wildlife is important because it provides insight into the population and distribution of a species. With this information, the conservation staff along with partners can make informed decisions about managing wildlife habitat in Dubuque County Conservation areas. Some of the research questions we seek to answer include the following:

• What is the percentage of species observed via the cameras overall in the county; in specific parks; by each camera; by habitat types?
• If any uncommon/rare species are observed, how can we manage for their preferred habitat types?
• How are the species observed influenced by factors such as human development, seasonal change, and predator/prey relationships?

To answer such questions the type and number of animals in each photo needs to be classified. That’s where you come in! With your help, we can classify thousands of photos and help the wildlife of Dubuque County. Check out the additional tabs for the team and FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions), as well as a brief tutorial under Classify. Thank you and have fun!