Community Science
Photographs were sourced from members of the public including staff, researchers, and visitors to parks and protected areas, professional photographers, hunters and guide-outfitters, and other outdoor enthusiasts. Criteria for photos included: known date and location, animal clearly visible and ideally from the side, high enough image resolution (desired value of 300 dpi) to use pixel counts to estimate shed extents.
We used the online platforms CitSci and iNaturalist, posters hung in public places, social media, and word of mouth to crowd-source images. We also used forums such as those of the Yukon Fish and Game Association, British Columbia Wildlife Federation, as well as radio (Mountain FM and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), and local newspapers (e.g., Hungry Horse News ) to encourage photograph submissions. Since all photographs submitted via CitSci become party to a Creative Commons license, we also gave the option to email us photos, and this was often preferred by professional photographers. If sourcing from iNaturalist, we contacted the photographer and asked for permission before including their photo in our analysis. We also received (by mail) slides and photographs developed from film from both photographers and visitors to protected areas, as well as (digital) photographs from remote cameras, particularly from agency staff and researchers working in parks. Photos submitted from hunters were limited since the hunting season spans the period when mountain goats are in full winter coats (between October and April). Some professional photographers also expressed preference for photographing goats in winter months when the animals are “more photogenic”.