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”.