What happens on our nature preserves when no one is around? Thanks to two Snapshot NY trail cameras, we’re getting a closer look at the wildlife that calls Tug Hill home, one photo at a time.
This year, Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust joined Snapshot NY, a statewide community science project led by Cornell University and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Using motion-activated trail cameras, volunteers and partners across New York are helping researchers better understand where wildlife lives, how populations change over time, and how conservation efforts can best protect them.
Our two cameras are located at the Dimon & Rhoda Benson Public Conservation Area and the French Settlement Road Public Conservation Area. While both locations have contributed valuable information, the camera at French Settlement Road has been especially active.
French Settlement Road’s mix of mature forest, wetlands, and beaver ponds creates ideal habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. Since installing the camera, we’ve captured white-tailed deer traveling through the woods, wild turkeys foraging along the forest floor, squirrels darting down the trees, raccoons making their rounds, and even a watchful owl taking flight after dark. These candid moments offer a unique look at the wildlife that thrives in this protected landscape, often unnoticed by visitors.
Each photograph collected is more than just an interesting wildlife encounter, it becomes part of a statewide database that helps scientists better understand New York’s mammals and birds. By comparing images from hundreds of cameras across the state, researchers can track changes in wildlife populations, monitor species distributions, and better understand how habitats are being used over time.
Here on Tug Hill, this information is especially valuable. The region’s expansive forests, wetlands, and connected habitats support an incredible diversity of wildlife. Protecting these landscapes not only provides places for people to explore and enjoy nature, but also ensures that native wildlife has the habitat it needs to survive and flourish. Participating in Snapshot NY allows our conserved lands to contribute to wildlife research that benefits conservation efforts across New York.
Would you like to be part of the project? Snapshot NY welcomes volunteers from across the state. Volunteers help maintain trail cameras, upload photographs, and identify wildlife species captured in the images. Whether you’re an experienced naturalist or simply enjoy spending time outdoors, there’s a place for you in this community effort.
To learn more or sign up to volunteer, visit www.snapshotny.org/get-involved.
Who’s Been Caught on Camera at French Settlement Road Public Conservation Area?
Here are just a few of the wildlife animals our Snapshot NY camera has captured.
