In 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set out to explore and document the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase, the vast lands that would become the western United States. Over the next two years, they both mapped the territory and worked to catalogue the natural heritage of America, including all the wildlife they encountered on their journey. In honor of America’s 250th, William McShea of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and SnapshotUSA are embarking on a massive project to resurvey the mammals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition Trail—and they could use your help.

McShea, a conservation biologist and leading expert in the use of camera traps for wildlife surveillance, describes how camera technology and the help of citizen scientists make possible the important work of understanding and protecting the creatures who call the American West home. He explains the development of wildlife observation and tracking protocols and how ordinary people can help advance scientific knowledge of mammals and the ecosystems they inhabit, with this project and beyond.

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