Cascadia Wild
$27,700  East Cascades   West Cascades 

The Wolverine Tracking Project is a community science initiative that addresses two critical needs: long-term monitoring of rare carnivores to inform better conservation and management practices, and connecting people to the wildlife and wild places that make Oregon such a special place to live.

Surveys utilize cameras and wildlife tracking to collect data on five rare carnivore species. The project has provided the only evidence of Sierra Nevada red fox in our area, captured some of the first images of wolves returning, and helped confirm the first wolverine in our area in over 30 years. Work is done on the Mt Hood National Forest. This year we will expand into the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area as well, at the request of their biologist. This will allow more volunteers to be involved, will cover the potential routes of wolverine dispersal from Washington, and will reach areas that have never been surveyed for these species before.

The project provides a space for volunteers to engage with the natural environment and learn about wildlife, wild places, and the importance that all species play in keeping our forests healthy. With over 200 volunteers annually, the project has touched the lives of many people over its 20 year history.

The volunteers collect data on five Oregon Conservation Strategy species: Sierra Nevada red fox (SNRF), gray wolves, wolverine, Pacific marten and fisher. We work closely with ODFW biologists, the US Forest Service, and university researchers. Most of our work is within Conservation Opportunity Areas.

With a successful project history, we are truly connecting people with the natural world while also providing tangibly important data to wildlife conservation decision-makers. OCRF has enabled much of this with valuable cost-shared grants. With continued OCRF funding for the upcoming year, we hope to expand our impact to reach more people and monitor for rare species in areas not yet surveyed.

Project Report