Snapshot NY is a citizen science project designed to help monitor wildlife populations in New York State by collecting trail camera images and associated data from citizen scientists. Snapshot NY (formerly iSeeMammals) began with a focus targeting black bears in 2016 and collected data from trail cameras, hikes, and observations of live bears and sign. It was revised in 2023 to collect only camera data but for all mammal species that can be surveyed by trail cameras.

The purpose of the project is to collect data using citizen science to study the occupancy and abundance of wildlife across New York State. The data from Snapshot NY will supplement datasets that researchers are collecting such as data from statewide camera surveys, genetic data, harvest data, and other types of population surveys. These data will go into models to estimate population size, distribution, occupancy, and population trends. This will help researchers and wildlife managers better understand how wildlife populations are changing across the state.

We hope citizen science can be a sustainable, long-term method for helping to monitor wildlife populations in New York.

Anyone can become a citizen scientist and be a part of Snapshot NY. Create a Snapshot NY account here, sign up to survey a grid cell, request a camera loan if you need one, and download the app onto your smartphone. Use the website and the smartphone app to submit data. 

Use the app when you set up a trail camera. Creating an account allows citizen scientists to keep track of submissions. You'll be on your way to being a part of wildlife research when you take Snapshot NY with you outdoors!

iSeeMammals was developed initially for a project focused on bear populations in New York State. Previously it accepted observations of bears and bear sign, a hike feature that tracked your hike and allowed entering whether you saw a bear or not, and the ability to set up a trail camera and submit individual photos of bears. The revised project, Snapshot NY, is now open to all mammals and wildlife captured by trail cameras! However, some things have changed. We now have a design that will better allow us to track mammals across the state. This is the gridded map you see when you sign up that allows you to select a cell to survey with your camera. We are now collecting all the photos that your camera has taken so we can make sure everything is accounted for including the empty photos. We are no longer taking data on hikes or individual observations of bears and bear sign.

Absolutely! Snapshot NY is interested in where people do not see wildlife too! If you spend time outdoors anywhere in New York State and have legal access to set up a trail cam on private land in a natural area, then you can be a citizen scientist for Snapshot NY. Snapshot NY is for outdoor and nature enthusiasts who are interested in seeing what wildlife is in their area! You can also help by spreading the word to your friends, neighbors, and community members.

If you don’t have access to private lands - that’s okay! You can still participate by setting up a camera at your nearest state forest or wildlife management area. Indicate in your application that you want to place a camera on public lands, and a Snapshot NY team member will be in contact with more instructions.

This work is a collaboration between Cornell University and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC, the state agency that manages wildlife in New York).

See our about page to meet the team members and our resources page to contact us.

Snapshot NY collects data on the presence and absence of mammals, through "detection/non-detection data".  Detection data refers to when an animal was detected and a photo taken by a trail camera. Non-detection refers to when the camera was functioning, but the species was not detected. 

Snapshot NY also needs to know where and when citizen scientists collect this information. This is why it is important to enter an accurate location and time for your cameras. Questions like "The height of your camera" and "What is the brand of the camera" allow researchers to look at the data in different ways. 

Location information is necessary for mapping. Data, including contact information and GPS points are kept in confidence and Snapshot NY respects the privacy of its citizen scientists.  Locations of fixed cameras will not be shared with non-researchers. For more information see our Privacy Policy.

There are a lot of different cameras on the market, and the technology keeps improving. Cameras typically range between $100- $700, especially after including accessories (batteries, SD memory cards, cable locks, metal boxes). Most lines of cameras excel at a few features, so it's important to know what you want from a camera. In our New York research, we find that Bushnell Trophy Cams are a fair compromise between price, function, and quality. Some things to take into consideration are the trigger speed, range of detection, and if you want it to have WiFi or Cell Service capabilities.

Go to the Log in Page, and you will find a "Forgot your Password?" link to retrieve your password. You can directly access that here.

We understand and respect your privacy. Therefore, while we need exact GPS locations to accurately estimate the occurrence and distribution of wildlife, results will only be reported at a coarse spatial level, such as regional. The data are held in a secure database, and used and accessed only by the researchers. Account information and GPS locations will never be shared with other parties. At times, researchers may want to share a particular citizen scientist's photo. In those cases, permission from the citizen scientist is requested. At the citizen scientist's preference, general location may be included. Please read our privacy policy here.