News & Media

By Teresa Shumaker, Associate Director of Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy

At Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy, we are always looking for new and innovative ways to connect people to nature. One of the most exciting ways we do this is through iNaturalist, a community-driven platform that helps document and identify the incredible biodiversity within our world.

We currently operate 13 trail cameras throughout the park, capturing images of the wildlife that call this space home. From stealthy bobcats to curious raccoons, these cameras provide a unique glimpse into the hidden lives of our wild neighbors. For example, we have recently been catching more rabbits on our trail cams and coyotes, too.

So far, we have uploaded over 1,500 images to iNaturalist, contributing valuable data to help researchers and nature enthusiasts better understand our local ecosystem. 

Our conservancy oversees two iNaturalist projects:

• Trail Camera Project – A collection of images from our strategically placed cameras, documenting the movements of wildlife across the park.
• Community Observations Project – Open to all visitors! Anyone who takes a photo of flora or fauna within the park boundaries can upload their sightings, helping build a shared understanding of our natural environment.

These projects provide a deeper look into the park’s wildlife and encourage citizen science participation. By engaging with iNaturalist, visitors can contribute to scientific research, learn more about local species, and develop a greater appreciation for the natural world—all while enjoying time outdoors.

You can learn more about iNaturalist and how it is used in the park by visiting https://www.philhardbergerpark.org/inaturalist.

To see all of the citizen science projects we are engaging in, head over to https://www.philhardbergerpark.org/citizen-science.