Sierra Nevada Foothills · Northern California
Advocating for people and carnivores.
We are a volunteer, grassroots organization using community-reported data and independent research to better understand carnivore conflict and advance practical coexistence strategies throughout the Sierra Nevada foothills and Northern California.
Community Data · Independent Research
Tracking carnivore activity where people live.
From community-reported encounters to long-term patterns, Carnivore Project builds public tools and conducts independent analysis to better understand how mountain lions, black bears, and gray wolves interact with people across shared landscapes.
Tracking Carnivore Activity
We collect, review, and map community-reported mountain lion, black bear, and gray wolf encounters to build a clearer picture of wildlife activity across the landscapes people and carnivores share.
Photo submitted by Todt Clark
What to do during an encounter
Wildlife encounters require different responses depending on the species, situation, and location. Use our county-specific resources to quickly find who to call for mountain lion, black bear, and gray wolf encounters.
2025 Mountain Lion Annual Report
A full year of community-reported mountain lion encounters revealed patterns in activity, landscape use, and conflict across El Dorado County.
About Us & Our Work
Learn how Carnivore Project began, what we are working to accomplish, who leads our community-driven research, and how nonprofit funding supports our work.
Our Work
Explore the project’s history, mission, research priorities, and long-term goals for carnivore conflict mitigation and community-driven science.
Project Goals & ObjectivesOur Team
Meet the local volunteers and community members behind Carnivore Project’s research, mapping, outreach, and coexistence work.
Meet the TeamOur Funding
See how donations and nonprofit funding support research, field equipment, public maps, community programs, and accessible wildlife information.
Funding & ExpensesHow to Get Involved
Carnivore Project depends on community participation. Contribute observations, volunteer with our camera network, sponsor field equipment, or support the public resources that help people and carnivores share the landscape.
Report an Encounter
Submit a mountain lion, black bear, or gray wolf sighting, track, photograph, trail-camera capture, or other encounter for review.
Submit a Report 02 · VolunteerBecome a Camera-Trap Volunteer
Help maintain a camera on your property or at an assigned location. No previous experience is required; our team provides setup, maintenance, and data guidance.
Apply to Volunteer 03 · Support Field ResearchSponsor a Camera Trap
Help place and maintain motion-activated cameras that document carnivore activity and expand our regional wildlife-monitoring network.
Explore Camera Sponsorship 04 · Sustain the ProjectSupport Our Work
Donations support field equipment, public maps, research, community programs, conflict-mitigation resources, and accessible wildlife information.
Donate Today