Do you have a wildlife camera at home? Want to learn how to better identify the species detected in your backyard? Species identification is a great skill to have, especially if you enjoy getting involved in citizen science projects like Sky Island FotoFauna or local BioBlitz events.
In this online workshop, you’ll join Wildlife Specialist Meagan Bethel as she covers how to identify common species seen on cameras in the Sky Island region—with a special emphasis on similar-looking species like deer, skunks, squirrels, and jackrabbits.
We also include a few quizzes so you can test the ID skills you’re learning in real time.
Workshop Time Guide:
0:00 — Introduction
3:24 — Today’s Agenda
4:00 — General Identification Advice
6:16 — Coyote
8:00 — Gray fox and kit fox
10:04 — Mountain lion
11:05 — Bobcat
12:22 — Quiz #1
18:17 — Procyonids (Ringtail, Raccoon, and White-nosed coati)
20:07 — Virginia opossum
21:24 — Javelina
22:01 — American black bear
23:07 — Turkey birds (Gould’s turkey and turkey vulture)
26:19 — Antelope jackrabbit
27:53 — Black-tailed jackrabbit
28:59 — Quiz #2
32:02 — Abert’s squirrel and Arizona gray squirrel
33:41 — Rock squirrel
36:59 — Quiz #3
39:36 — Ground squirrels
42:23 — Mule deer
45:33 — White-tailed deer
48:11 — Quiz #4
54:35 — Sky Island Skunks (Spotted, Striped, Hooded, and Hog-nosed)