When I first heard about a citizen science project called NC Candid Critters, I knew this was for me.  This project partners with  the library to loan out game cameras to record the animals in North Carolina.  The data goes to the State Museum in Raleigh and the Smithsonian Institution for analysis.

We know we have a lot of critters roaming North Carolina.  Finding them is hard because they usually avoid people and often come out only at night  The game camera uses motion detection and infrared light to catch the animals that come by, day or night.

For the last two and a half years, I have set out the cameras in 17 different locations around Macon County. I was excited to capture bear, deer,coyote, foxes, possums, wild boar, bobcat, squirrels, groundhogs and turkey .  You might be surprised what' s out there!  I've included pictures of a bear, deer and a coyote that were taken a few hundred yards from the library parking lot.

The project is winding down in a couple of months and I sure hope it will be continued.