Wild Suburbia

—Mary Gillick, Program Director

Citizen science is a means of volunteering to assist scientists in gathering information about the natural world. We have spoken about phenology recently that concerns the timing of plant and animal cycles through the seasons.

Another aspect in ecological studies would be species frequency and range.  Periodically at the RNC we get calls about animal sightings so we have a general idea of what is common in the Sound Shore area. 

A project under the coordination of Teatown Lake Reservation and Westmoreland Sanctuary in Westchester County and Mianus River Gorge in Fairfield, Connecticut is studying the population of our local predators.  The study is called "Wild Suburbia - citizen science to track bobcats, coyotes, fishers, foxes and black bears."

The Wild Suburbia group has compiled data over the last few years to map the range of each species in Westchester and Fairfield counties. They have used data garnered from public sightings of animals seen in their neighborhoods.  To see the maps or report a sighting you can go to the website: http://www.inaturalist.org/projects/wild-suburbia-new-york-ct.

The worksheet prompts you to add information like time of year, day, location and species.  There is an identification guide also to help with distinguishing between the species.  For example foxes have shorter legs compared to a coyote's long thin legs.  Foxes have thick bushy tails with a white tip on the end.