Wisconsin DNR Snapshot Wi program

[ken erickson]

I thought some folks here might find this program that is run by the Wisconsin DNR interesting.
Its called Snapshot Wisconsin.
The DNR divided the state into 9 square mile (3 miles on a side) blocks with the end goal of placing a trail cam in every block. I believe they are close to half way with approximately 1200 trail cams placed now.

The cameras are hosted by volunteers such as myself. I had to apply , tell them the intended location to make sure I was the only camera in the block that my land is in. After watching training videos and passing an online test the DNR sent me a trail camera, rechargeable batteries, sd cards and battery charger.

My obligation is to check (at least every 3 months) and maintain the camera, then upload the encrypted photos. I assume they are encrypted to make sure no land owner is skewing the results by deleting photos. After the photos are uploaded I classify them as to species , numbers of species present, male or female , with or without young etc. I will also classify photos that have humans, vehicles or are void of animals.

All this data that is being accumulated is used to set hunting quotas and make overall wildlife management polices.

I would be interested to know if anyone has similar programs in your home state.

This is a photo from today, a fisher , which is a very interesting critter. Relatively rare this far south in the state (central Wisconsin).

 

[Toyboy]

They are an interesting animal. We had one in our crab tree eating the dried apples until the crows drove it off this winter.
We're in northern Wisconsin

 

[ken erickson]

They are an interesting animal. We had one in our crab tree eating the dried apples until the crows drove it off this winter.
We're in northern Wisconsin

What part of northern Wisconsin? I spent a lot of time in my youth in the Forest county area, Crandon in particular.

 

[bird dogger]

Ken, that's a great program. And that's one COOL photo!! We were lucky to see one in Itasca Park, MN when we were kids. None since. But a couple of years ago (in the spring) in our woods at night, we'd hear some awful high pitched shrieking as if something was tearing a young child apart. Then in the local newspaper was an article that a few fishers had been spotted along the Red River near here. No doubt that's what had been passing through our woods. Would've been nice to have seen the animal.......from a distance!

 

[Toyboy]

Sawyer County

 

[ken erickson]

Ken, that's a great program. And that's one COOL photo!! We were lucky to see one in Itasca Park, MN when we were kids. None since. But a couple of years ago (in the spring) in our woods at night, we'd hear some awful high pitched shrieking as if something was tearing a young child apart. Then in the local newspaper was an article that a few fishers had been spotted along the Red River near here. No doubt that's what had been passing through our woods. Would've been nice to have seen the animal.......from a distance!

Neat story! I have only seen one with my own eyes, it was crossing the country road close to sundown next to my land. Larger than I imagined and the sun was low glistening thru its coat. I have heard the fisher scream once and it raised the hairs on my neck! lol.

 

[85Hokie]

I had to look up FISHER .... never heard of that animal! Looks like a cat/dog/fox cross!

Great program.

 

[DeepWoods]

I was lucky enough to see a fisher while in my deer stand 6-7 years ago. It past by in the early morning hours heading south, then past by again in the afternoon heading north. Got to watch him for several minutes each time as past by. I used to have trail cameras out before and during hunting season and was able to catch a cougar go by one of them. My hunting partner got to see the same ? cougar over the gut pile the morning after he shot his deer. He was quite startled by it, but it just ran away and that was the last of it. Living in northern Minnesota has plenty of wildlife, and I have been fortunate enough to have seen a lot of it either in person or on my cameras.

 

[ken erickson]

I had to look up FISHER .... never heard of that animal! Looks like a cat/dog/fox cross!

Great program.

I was in the same boat as you the first time I had one on trail cam! I was like, "what the heck is that?!"
A member of the mustelid or commonly called weasel family. They were hunted and trapped for their fur to near extinction but making a comeback. I think in the Pacific Northwest efforts to increase the populations have not been as successful as hoped.

 

[forky]

Nice picture Ken. We applied last year to try and get in the program, but the area was already taken here and also our church has 60 acres of wooded property, but that area was taken also. My daughter is the DNR forester at Bowler and informed me of the program. We do keep our own personal trail cams out. They are a ton of fun when viewing all the pics.
Folks would be amazed how many Bobcats are in the area also....they really cause me trouble with my free range chickens. The neighbors trapped one last year, but there are more around and they are quite brazen when they have young and are teaching them to hunt.

 

[ken erickson]

Nice picture Ken. We applied last year to try and get in the program, but the area was already taken here and also our church has 60 acres of wooded property, but that area was taken also. My daughter is the DNR forester at Bowler and informed me of the program. We do keep our own personal trail cams out. They are a ton of fun when viewing all the pics.
Folks would be amazed how many Bobcats are in the area also....they really cause me trouble with my free range chickens. The neighbors trapped one last year, but there are more around and they are quite brazen when they have young and are teaching them to hunt.

Thanks! Sorry you were not able to host a camera but glad you have fun with your own. I also have my own and I have had a ton of pleasure checking and maintaining them.
I had my first bobcat on cam this fall .

Like Deepwoods in Northern Minnesota we are blessed with a variety of wildlife here in Wi.

 

[skeets]

I had seen one, and I have to presume it was a fisher cause it was way to big for any weasel type critters we have here in the coal country. This was maybe 10 or 12 years ago and I was told,,, "AINT NO SUCH THING AROUND HERE" untill a young man trapping a creek by where I saw it caught one in a 220 . Of course he lost it because the PaGC didnt or maybe still doesnt have a season on them. But then people said theres no bobcats around here either,, wrong