The year we launched Snapshot NY!

Looking back

What a year! It’s been nothing short of exciting for the Snapshot NY project! Snapshot NY officially launched at the end of June, and what followed over the next few weeks exceeded even our most optimistic expectations! By July, fewer than two months after launch, approximately 760 grid cells had already been approved across the state. Of those, 220 grid cells were supported with loaned trail cameras, helping remove equipment barriers and making participation possible for an even broader group of citizen scientists. The speed at which Snapshot NY took off speaks volumes about the enthusiasm New Yorkers have for wildlife and their willingness to contribute to meaningful conservation science.

This early momentum was especially encouraging given the scope of the project. Snapshot NY spans all ecosystems across New York State, from forests and wetlands to agricultural lands and suburban landscapes, and relies on the dedication of volunteers to deploy and maintain cameras on both public and private lands. At its core, Snapshot NY is built on people. Landowners, outdoor enthusiasts, educators, students, and wildlife lovers stepped up almost immediately to claim grid cells, set cameras, and begin collecting data. Many participants were deploying trail cameras for the first time, while others brought years of experience and their own trail cameras to the project! Together, these efforts laid the foundation for a robust, spatially representative wildlife monitoring network. The loaner camera program played a critical role in this success. By providing cameras to participants who did not already have access to equipment, Snapshot NY was able to expand participation and ensure broader geographic coverage during the project’s first year.

At the height of the project over the summer we had close to 900 people participating! We attended outreach events including The NYS Fair, The Master Naturalist training, Five Rivers Fall Fest, and more! We presented Snapshot NY to various DEC staff, at public webinars and college classes, and shared the project with members of the USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.

We filmed a training video, developed a newsletter, started a photo contest, and shared many many cool captures from volunteers. Fast forward to December - we now have leveled out at ~750 participant's with ~770 grid cells, loaned out 350 cameras, and have collected nearly 5 million images!! We are hoping next year is even bigger and better!

Species we have seen thus far!

Black bear, bobcat, Eastern coyote, Eastern chipmunk, Eastern cottontail, Eastern gray squirrel, fisher, flying squirrel sp., gray fox, North American beaver, North American porcupine, North American red squirrel, North American river otter, raccoon, red fox, striped skunk, Virginia opossum, weasel sp., white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and last but not least, woodchuck!

0_MXtmenv7EnwzsNNb77Dy_R9_NE_66_8July2025_R9_NE_66_8Jul2025 (1756).JPG

40_Sh1uZI3nMirYw9YbBhku_MY STAND_100STLTH_STC_0100.JPG

129_Lr5MKp31VDnUGls0ua2Z_SS1013_860322066894715-100-4-09122025192348-V-W1002094.JPG

0_QzlL5dvovjKbXapimbcW_R7_S-18_26June2025_102RECNX_RCNX0185.JPG

129_lwyGPyqQaDGMLqpNdky2_SS113_860322066894715-0-4-10272025192852-V-W1002788.JPG

2587_5OxznmXMQON5J4JBBvCz_4_4Sept_18Sept25_DSCF0151.JPG

446_w3wvKBwBI20Uz0C1KWY0_7-22 to 9-3_IMG_0637.JPG

791_bi6zCjyvEjD5EALOIl4e_DK 1-01-25_SYFW0004.JPG

Don’t forget you can check out our gallery to see what others have uploaded! Who knows, you might see yours there too!

Looking ahead

The coming year will focus on building from this strong foundation and turning participation into long-term impact. One of our top priorities is processing the growing image dataset using DeepFaune New England, an automated wildlife image classification tool, followed by careful review to classify species accurately and efficiently. This step will allow us to begin transforming millions of images into usable ecological insights. We also plan to expand outreach into every corner of New York State, ensuring that more communities, landscapes, and voices are represented. Along the way, we will continue refining and perfecting Snapshot NY protocols based on what we learned during our first season, making participation clearer, smoother, and more rewarding for both new and returning volunteers.

In the year ahead, Snapshot NY staff will be attending more events, connecting with landowners, organizations, educators, and community groups, and recruiting new volunteers to help fill remaining gaps on the map. At the same time, we are especially hopeful to see many of our original participants continue their involvement. Long-term participation is critical—the value of citizen science data increases dramatically the longer people stay engaged, allowing us to detect trends and changes in wildlife communities over time. We are also exploring ways to celebrate the people who make this project possible, including the possibility of an in-person volunteer appreciation event. To mark this important milestone, participants who reach one year of involvement can also look forward to a Snapshot NY participation gift as a small token of our gratitude.

Finally, we are excited about the prospect of sharing initial summary statistics and early findings later next year, offering the first statewide snapshots of mammal activity captured through this collaborative effort.

As we reflect on this first season, we are incredibly grateful for everyone who helped make Snapshot NY a success. The rapid growth during the project’s first weeks set the stage for continued expansion, richer datasets, and deeper engagement in the years to come. Whether you deployed a camera, helped spread the word, or are just learning about Snapshot NY now—thank you for being part of this journey. We’re excited to build on this strong start and continue capturing snapshots of New York’s wildlife together.

Happy New Year!

The Snapshot NY Team