Nature Mapping Jackson Hole

We see wildlife everyday here in Jackson Hole – moose, elk, deer, bison, any number and type of birds, coyotes, bears, wolves, pronghorn. Maybe we keep a personal wildlife journal or just make a mental note.

As a community, collectively we have a wealth of information about wildlife in Jackson Hole. Until now, however, there hasn’t been a way for us to compile all that individual knowledge into a single useable form. With Nature Mapping, now there is.

    Nature Mapping

  • Helps citizens increase our knowledge of local wildlife.
  • Trains people to make and record wildlife observations in an online, community database.
  • Creates a database of wildlife observations that can be used by wildlife agencies, community planners and organizations for management and planning purposes.
  • Supports projects to document wildlife presence and movements.

Nature Mapping already has been used for a one day survey of the area moose population and for multiple surveys of wildlife in the Gros Ventre. The Teton Science School is using Nature Mapping for its Pika Project, which is enlisting people to report their observations of Pika in Jackson Hole to get baseline data about Pika population levels, location and elevation to evaluate future changes that may result from human activities. Learn more about Nature Mapping Projects.

How You Can Be Involved

We will be holding Nature Mapping trainings to teach people of all ages about the Nature Mapping program and ways to observe and report wildlife using the Nature Mapping tools including the use of reporting forms, species lists, GPS units and other observation protocols designed to ensure the reliability and credibility of wildlife observations. This is a fun and very informative two hours, after which participants will receive their Nature Mapping observer number and can begin to use the system. There is no cost for the training or to participate in the program. Please watch our website or get on our email list ((JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) for more information and notices about upcoming Nature Mapping trainings.

Nature Mapping is a joint project of the Med & Bert Raynes Wildlife Fund and the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation with funding from the Raynes Wildlife Fund, 1% for the Tetons, and others. Program partners include the Teton Science School, Grand Teton National Park, Craighead Beringia South, Wyoming Game and Fish, USFWS - National Elk Refuge, and the US Forest Service.

Learn more about Nature Mapping Projects.