Nocturnal Wissahickon Wildlife Caught on Camera
October came and went and we can point to exactly what Friends of the Wissahickon’s (FOW) staff and volunteers were up to; see nearly 600 newly planted saplings.
But what exactly were the full-time residents of the Wiss up to last month? Typically, it’s tough to say. But, with the addition of a few off-trail cameras, deep in the Wissahickon forest, we have more than an idea.
Yes, what you might assume is correct- lots of squirrels!
Here’s a look into the first full month of Wissahickon wildlife shenanigans documented by Penn Vet.
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- White-tailed deer
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- Red fox
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- Red fox (sleepy)
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- Eastern coyote
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- Virginia opossum
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- Flying squirrel
In case you missed it- the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania is participating in a global research and community engagement project called Accessing Urban Nature Initiative (AUNI).
FOW is partnering with Penn Vet to help them collect valuable data about the wildlife that lives right here in the city by utilizing motion-triggered cameras.
Why does this matter? By 2050, nearly 70% of people will live in cities. As urban life becomes more disconnected from nature, public support for protecting nature is also declining. The more we know about the animals living in our cities, the better we can protect them.
The Wissahickon isn’t the only place that Penn Vet will be collecting data. FOW joins more than 15 local participating natural space organizations, including the W.B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences, the Philadelphia Zoo, the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, and the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge.
Where are you seeing wildlife in Philadelphia? Become a scientist by sharing your findings with Penn Vet the next time you spend time outdoors.
Across Philadelphia, there are now 35 cameras, spaced at least one kilometer apart, capturing images of mammals for one month during each of the four seasons.
Interested in learning more? We’ll have Julie Ellis, the scientist leading the cause for Philadelphia speak with us next week at our Valley Talk. There’s a few spots left- save yours in person or join us online by registering here.