Island Critter Cam

What exactly am I looking at in the images?
Wonderful question! At first the images can be perplexing. The images are taken from above inside an inverted 5-gallon bucket. Therefore, you are looking down at the inside of the bucket lid.

I see something that could be a tail, or a worm, or a snake. What do I choose?
The White-footed Mouse is very common in our research area. One way to decide if you see a mouse tail or a snake is to notice the time of day that the image is taken. We have very little snake activity in the evening on the Islands!

I see rings in the images. What are they?
Those rings you see are simply the impressions on the plastic lid of the bucket. They are not used for any image identification process. But if you are curious, the outer ring is about 4 inches in diameter.

Can anyone classify images?
Yes! Simply create a profile with Zooniverse and begin!

What if I see an animal that isn't listed in the choices?
Simply choose "Other" in the choices provided. After confirming next, you will be prompted to type in the animal's name.

What if there aren't any animals seen in the images?
This happens often due to small insects triggering the camera, precipitation, or shadows. In these instances, simply choose No animal present and confirm next.

What if I see an animal but I simply do not know what it is?
This happens to all of us! First, look through the field guide via the Field Guide tab on the right of your screen. Some example images of what the most common species would look like on the camera traps are provided. Then, provide your best guess! A good guess is better than none at all. And remember, each subject for you to classify is a series of three images. Sometimes one frame provides a better glimpse of the animal than the other two. Refer to the Tutorial to review how to view each frame or view the images as a movie.

All I see is a bunch of very small pieces of debris or insects that don't seem to move
These camera traps collect a lot of debris over time. We regularly clean them, but sometimes rain and wind and even the critters themselves will bring in pieces of leaves and dead insects. If no other animal is seen in the image, these can be classified as No animal present.

I looked through all three images, but I still only see part of an animal
This is very common. Especially with mice that have very long tails that can trigger the camera, sometimes only a part of the animal is visible. Again, use the Field Guide to the right of the screen to look at certain characteristics of common animals such as fur, feathers, or scale patterns.

How do I discuss a certain image and what I think I see in it?
When you finish classifying animals in the images, you will get an option to click "Done" or "Done & Talk". If you choose "Done & Talk" you will be taken to a message board that automatically populates the image and its information for you. Use this space to discuss an image with moderators and other users.

Can I share any of the images I see on the Island Critter Cam?
Yes! All of the images captured by our Island Critter Cam are licensed This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/. Please make sure to credit the "Island Critter Cam" and share the license when you use images.