Join us for the month of May as we discover the diversity of wildlife in our State Parks! Visit any one of participating parks from May 1st- May 31st and document as many different species as you can. All species can be included, from trees and flowers, fungi and insects, to birds and mammals! 

Participate in one of 2 ways: 

1. Download iNaturalist to your smartphone (it's free!) and open the application. Allow it to use your phone's GPS - this comes in super handy for automatically giving locations of organisms in the park (sensitive species can be blocked from general public view). For each species you see, take a snapshot with your phone through the app. If you don't know what the organism is, don't worry! The app has incredible software that can help ID it simply by clicking "What did you see?" And if iNaturalist can't ID, we can help! The app will fill in time, date, and location, and that's all you need to do! No need to email or send any checklists in as they will automatically be added to the park.

Find the app here --> https://www.inaturalist.org/observations

2. If you don't have a smartphone, or prefer not to use iNaturalist, you can still submit a checklist of organisms you find in the park. A general checklist is included here --> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Vsx5dUb0NRwVqj4SWw1N-pFmfsug2l9siXAtQsXfYCw/edit

Please remember to note general times, dates, and locations when using the google documents. Photos are preferred for submissions to make them official. 

Current participating parks include:

Little Buffalo State Park - submit checklists to mmarker@pa.gov

Boyd Big Tree Preserve - submit checklists to mmarker@pa.gov

Joseph Ibberson Conservation Area - submit checklists to mmarker@pa.gov

Codorus State Park - submit checklists to RA-NRSPCODOEE@pa.gov

Trough Creek State Park - RA-NRSPTRCREES@pa.gov

And more may be added in the future...

If you have questions, concerns, or cannot participate in this way but would still like to help, reach out to reweidner@pa.gov to find out how you can! Please keep in mind that this is a self-guided activity and that all participants must follow park guidelines to participate.

A few key things to remember:

It is illegal to pick wildflowers in state parks/forests. Take photos, but don't damage plants!

Anyone fishing or picking up reptiles or amphibians must have a valid fishing license. Please avoid handling these animals if at all possible, and make sure you have your license if you plan to go "herping" or fishing.