In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the University of Georgia, Wildlife Forever helped to launch a new public awareness and volunteer initiative to map invasive species on America’s public lands and wild places. 

Wild Spotter is now available in all 174 National Forests and Grasslands across the country to engage citizen science volunteers and outdoor recreational groups with mapping and reporting invasive species.

Invasive species threaten access and ecosystem health to millions of acres of public lands. Identifying and mapping infestations is critical for land managers to adopt strategies for prevention, control and eradication. Wild Spotter utilizes a free mobile mapping app for I-phone and Android devices including a comprehensive website for more information on how to participate. www.WildSpotter.org

Wild Spotter is an adaptable tool for engaging a wide variety of public land users including natural resource agencies looking for community engagement opportunities. Utilizing a targeted list of “most wanted” species, volunteers receive on-line training and tutorial for how to get started. Once a Wild Spotter identifies and reports a species, the data is verified by experts and then publicly available through the EDDMapS national invasive species database.