Have you ever taken a picture of wildlife in Oregon and wondered if anyone might want to know where you saw it? We do!
 The Oregon Wildlife Conservation project is an iNaturalist project that allows you to share your wildlife observation data directly with biologists. This project was initiated under the State Wildlife Action Plan’s predecessor, the Oregon Conservation Strategy, and has been instrumental in increasing access to data collected by community members on species at risk in Oregon. Participation in this project helps to enhance our understanding of wildlife in our state, and your data can help improve wildlife conservation efforts in Oregon. iNaturalist is a free online tool managed by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society that helps users to identify, report, and learn more about the plants and animals they observe.
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There are over 320 Species of Greatest Conservation Need included in the State Wildlife Action Plan, including 18 amphibians, 63 birds, 35 mammals, 8 reptiles, 45 fish species (80 unique SMU/ESU/DPS/Groups), 71 invertebrates, and 80 plants and algae. There are an additional 176 species identified as Species of Greatest Information Need that we are missing key information for that is needed to accurately determine their conservation status. It is not possible for ODFW to survey all of these species, so we need your help documenting where they occur throughout the state. If you see wildlife in Oregon, take a picture and share it with us! Even if you can’t identify what species you are looking at, odds are that someone in the iNaturalist community may be able to help narrow it down.
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The information gathered by the Oregon Wildlife Conservation iNaturalist project will augment ongoing research efforts, conservation actions, and management plans for sensitive wildlife species by ODFW and our partners. Your help is crucial for the successful conservation of Oregon’s wildlife species!