Landmark Adventure Science: public access to a cherished landscape leads to open access data – News Watch

"With temperatures hovering around minus 21 degrees Fahrenheit, six outdoor enthusiasts gear up for volunteer training on American Prairie Reserve. The blue skies and sunshine are deceptive. Standing too long in these temperatures will create a chill in one’s body that is hard to shake, no matter how much physical exertion is expended. The orientation proceeds quickly, then the team heads out to get their blood pumping. As part of our new Landmark adventure science program, this group is the first of many that will traverse the Sun Prairie area of the Reserve.  Year-round, volunteers will be recording wildlife populations, movement, and behavior through direct observation and with the help of remote camera traps. The Landmark project is made possible through a partnership with Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation (ASC), a Bozeman, Montana-based organization headed up by National Geographic Emerging Explorer Gregg Treinish. Landmark is harnessing the power of citizen scientists to help us make improved wildlife management decisions on the Reserve. Dozens of motion-triggered video cameras are capturing how animals like elk, mule deer, and pronghorn navigate and interact with the perimeter fence required for our growing bison herd. Wildlife population surveys for big cats, greater sage grouse, and amphibians will provide much needed insight into species survival and, most importantly, will provide solid data for informing future discussions focused on the potential of increasing wildlife populations in the region ..."