Good afternoon:
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) is in year 2 of a research project exploring use of private ‘outdoor enthusiasts’ to deploy a wildlife trail camera this fall and then assist with reviewing/processing images it collects using a wildlife image processing website. We have 2 study areas – 1 between Park Rapids and Wadena and the other to the SE of Lake Mille Lacs. Each study area contains 64 3mi x 3mi survey blocks, with 1 camera to be deployed in each block. Last year, MNDNR staff deployed the cameras (about half on private land) and processed the images. This year, we are testing an ‘Adopt-A-Camera’ process and are seeking more involved participation from the public. This project, along with a previous project in NC MN several years ago, is designed to assess the feasibility of a statewide camera survey that might replace our existing surveys for furbearing mammals (foxes, wolves, bobcats, raccoons, etc.) and possibly other wildlife species.

This email is being sent to a variety of people, including individuals we met last year while deploying cameras, representatives of outdoor groups, and various educational or natural resource entities. We are asking for your assistance to help spread the word with friends, family, or colleagues you know that may own land, know somebody who does, or is willing to deploy a camera on public land in our study areas (some public parcels may require special permission, which we can help determine later if interested). And of course, you are also welcome to sign up and participate yourself.

For anyone who might be interested in participating, the 2 main things you would be asked to do are:

1. “Adopt’ and deploy a camera in one of the 3mi X 3mi survey blocks.  DNR would provide all
supplies and a postage-paid box to return the camera when the survey is complete.  Cameras
would come pre-programmed and ready to go.  You would just need permission to deploy it on a
parcel of land within the survey block you ‘adopt’.  The cameras would need to be deployed
around Sept. 1 (only a few weeks away) and be retrieved sometime soon after it has been
deployed for 6-weeks later (mid-October).
 
2. After retrieving the camera in mid to late October, you would need to upload the images to a free
3 rd  party image processing website, which will initially separate out images it thinks have no
animals and then identify and count animals that it believes are in the remaining images.  You
would then either accept or edit the initial website classifications.  As such, it requires internet
access and some basic fluency or comfort with computer use.  We will provide written or video
tutorials on how to use the website to anyone who signs up to participate.

More background, project Q&A, and the sign-up tool can be found here https://www.mndnr.gov/wildlife/sightings/adpot-camera.html . For anyone who may be willing to post or distribute a short flyer on the project, one is attached. The flyer also contains a QR code if you want to quickly get to the website from your phone.

Sign-up will be first come, first served, and some survey blocks are already ‘adopted’. If you are not interested in participating, we hope you will still forward this email to people in or near the study areas that you think might be interested. Thanks for considering this or helping to spread the word. Let me know if you have any questions.

Respectfully,

John Erb
Furbearer/Wolf Research Scientist
Minnesota DNR
Forest Wildlife Populations and Research Group
1201 E. Hwy 2
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
218-328-8875
John.erb@state.mn.us