Get involved with Carnivore Project
Carnivore Project is built on community participation. People living, working, and spending time alongside mountain lions, black bears, and gray wolves help us build a clearer, long-term understanding of carnivore activity across the Sierra Nevada foothills and Northern California.
Sponsor a Camera Trap
Help purchase equipment or keep an existing camera operating in the field.
View sponsorship options →Volunteer With Us
Maintain a camera on your property or assist with a camera assigned near you.
Learn about volunteering →Submit Wildlife Data
Report a sighting or contribute images already collected by your trail camera.
Submit a report →What is a camera trap?
A camera trap is a motion-activated camera that records an animal as it passes. It allows us to monitor elusive wildlife without disturbing it and provides a more objective picture than sightings alone, which tend to occur around homes, roads, and public spaces.
Why this matters
Community-reported sightings are incredibly valuable, but they only tell part of the story. Camera traps create a continuous record of wildlife activity across the landscape.
Combining public sightings, camera-trap data, and field observations helps us better understand where carnivores are moving and where conflict-mitigation or community support may be needed.
Every image strengthens a larger dataset.
- Document confirmed wildlife detections
- Add date, time, and location context
- Compare camera detections with public reports
- Support research, outreach, and conflict-mitigation
Sponsor a camera trap
Sponsorship directly supports the equipment and ongoing costs required to document mountain lion, black bear, and gray wolf activity across Northern California.
Keep a Camera Running
$5 / monthHelp cover batteries, SD cards, image transfer, data storage, equipment checks, and routine maintenance for cameras already deployed.
Put a Camera in the Field
$120 / yearHelp fund a new camera and the batteries, mounts, and SD cards needed to make it field-ready—equivalent to $10 per month when given annually.
Become a Camera Trap Volunteer
Volunteers may maintain a camera on their own property or work with a camera assigned in their area. No prior experience is required—we provide the guidance needed to collect meaningful, research-quality data.
Building a Regional Camera Network
Our long-term goal is a coordinated camera network across the Sierra Nevada foothills and Northern California.
- A growing inventory of project-owned cameras
- Trained volunteers who maintain cameras in their communities
- Strategic placement in areas with consistent or emerging carnivore activity
Community science starts with what you observe.
You do not need to sponsor or maintain a camera to contribute. Submit wildlife sightings, share existing trail-camera images, or help other residents find reliable Carnivore Project resources.
Carnivore Project sighting reports support community-science research. They do not replace emergency, law-enforcement, or official wildlife-agency reports.