Nebraska Wildlife Watch is a citizen science project focused on finding and learning more about the plains spotted skunk—one of Nebraska’s rarest and least-understood mammals. Spotted skunks have been declining for decades, and sightings in Nebraska are extremely rare, which means scientists still have many unanswered questions about where they live and how they use different habitats.

 

To help, researchers use motion-activated trail cameras placed near bait stations that attract wildlife. These cameras run year-round and capture photos and videos of animals that pass by—not just spotted skunks, but many other species too.

 

Volunteers help by reviewing images from the cameras and identifying which animals appear. Even when the cameras don’t capture a skunk, those “bycatch” sightings are still valuable because they help scientists understand what kinds of wildlife are sharing the same environments.

 

Why contribute? Your observations help researchers track a species that might otherwise go unnoticed, guide conservation efforts, and build a clearer picture of Nebraska’s wildlife. If you’re interested in animals, ecology, or protecting local species—and like the idea of discovering what shows up on a hidden camera—this project is a great way to take part in real conservation science.

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To generate a volunteer certificate confirming your service hours, you must have a Zooniverse.org account.

 

Go to zooniverse.org, sign in, and click ‘More Stats’. Use the drop-down options on the upper-right of the stats bar chart to filter to a specific time period and/or project of interest. Then click on ‘Generate Volunteer Certificate’ (the button to the bottom-right of your stats bar chart).