eMammal is a Smithsonian-led effort to collect and archive photos from camera trap research projects. In these types of projects, scientists place “camera traps” (motion-triggered cameras) across the landscape to collect photos of mammals. These photos help researchers answer questions about mammal distribution and abundance and use this information for conservation. The hope is to expand beyond the mid-Atlantic region to document mammal populations across the entire country. 

VWL began working with eMammal for their "Urban to Wild" camera trapping research project (click here to learn more). Virginia’s forest fragments are mostly privately owned, so the eMammal team, consisting of researchers from the Smithsonian, North Carolina State University, and University of Missouri, partnered with VWL to detect mammals on select VWL network properties. VWL citizen scientists placed camera traps in large and small forest patches along an urbanization gradient (wild, exurban, suburban, and urban). Cameras are deployed at each survey location (including forest fragments and in old fields) for three weeks between May and November. After three weeks, the cameras are retrieved, wildlife photos are identified, and the images and metadata are uploaded into the eMammal digital repository. The data from this effort will support research working to understand how wildlife are impacted by land use.

Click here to learn more about eMammal

Virginia Working Landscapes is a contributor to this project.