Snapshot USA
Northern Utah Wilderness Survey
Sept 1 – Oct 31, 2026
Alpine Wildlife Research is proud to announce our inaugural field initiative as an official contributing collaborator for Snapshot USA 2026—a nationwide mammal survey coordinated by the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.
The Big Picture
What is Snapshot USA?
Snapshot USA is the first coordinated, national program designed to monitor the status and distribution of America’s wildlife.
Every autumn, a network of scientists, research institutions, and conservation organizations deploy motion-activated camera traps across all 50 states using a rigorous, standardized scientific protocol. The resulting data builds a comprehensive record of mammal biodiversity across the country, tracking shifting wildlife populations, responses to human activity, and long-term ecological changes.
Our Focus
The Mt. Naomi Wilderness Array
While Snapshot USA captures data on a macro scale, Alpine Wildlife Research is filling a critical data gap right here in our own backyard.
For the 2026 season, our team is deploying a targeted, non-invasive camera-trapping grid across the rugged backcountry of the Mt. Naomi Wilderness area in Northern Utah. By focusing our efforts on this remote, high-elevation habitat during the critical transition months of September and October, AWR aims to:
Document Species Diversity: Track the relative abundance and distribution of regional mammals, from elusive apex predators to sensitive prey species.
Establish a Baseline: Contribute high-quality, standardized data to help scientists better evaluate how wilderness-dependent wildlife adapts to seasonal changes and regional environmental pressures.
A Note on Conservation Ethics: This AWR survey strictly adheres to standardized, non-invasive protocols. Our cameras use silent, infrared flashes to ensure limited disruption to natural wildlife behaviors, and no food baits or artificial scent lures are used.
Support Our Fieldwork
Launching a wilderness survey requires specialized equipment, rugged field gear, and data management infrastructure. As a non-advocacy 501(c)(3) scientific organization, our research relies entirely on the support of community partners and donors.
If you are interested in supporting our inaugural field season through equipment donation, sponsorship or grants, please reach out to us at alpinewildliferesearch@gmail.com
Go to snapshot-usa.org to find more information about the goals and history of the project.