Celebrate Earth Day by Conserving Wildlife
Happy Earth Day! If you're looking for ways to support wildlife and habitats, we've got good news.
With in-person local events today and this week near our headquarters in Salt Lake City, projects you can sign up for this summer across the West, and volunteer work you can do from home, there's a way for everyone to celebrate.
Earth Week Events
Wild Utah Project volunteers install stream restoration structures to improve wildlife habitat.
Earth Day Invasive Plant Removal at H-Rock Open Space - TODAY (Thursday, April 22), 10 AM - 12 PM. Join Salt Lake City Public Lands Division in tackling the Myrtle Spurge invasion and other invasive species threatening our foothills. This is a good opportunity to learn more about invasive species and what you can do to prevent their spread. Sign up.
Earth Day Jordan River Cleanup - TODAY (Thursday, April 22), 4-6 PM. Strap on your boots, zip up your waders or pull out the family canoe and assist in cleaning up Salt Lake City’s Emerald Ribbon. The Jordan River is a vital habitat within the Salt Lake Valley. Keeping it clean helps maintain the biodiversity of this rich riparian habitat in our community. Sign up.
Earth Week Placemaking - Saturday, April 24, 2021, 10 AM - 2 PM at the Poplar Grove Park (750 Emery St W, Salt Lake City, UT 84104 ). Join SLC Public Lands Division to plant flowers, paint a mural, and participate in a clean-up. Free food and fun! RSVP for this project.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
Opportunities to support wildlife, learn new skills, and get outside are available through our projects below.
Photo by Amanda Barth
Project: Document monarchs and bumblebees while hiking or walking. Help answer crucial questions for their conservation.
Training: Next week! April 28, 5:30-7:00pm
Signups: Open now!
Photo by Lindsay Aman
Project: Plant native plants and help build stream restoration structures.
Training: No training required
Signups: Spring projects open!
Photo by Madeleine Bell
Project: Hike with a purpose! Search high elevation areas for boreal toads, supporting future conservation projects like re-introducing toadlets.
Training: May 6, 6:15-8:15pm
Signups: Open now!
Photo courtesy of Wasatch Wildlife Watch
Project: Analyze wildlife images from motion-activated wildlife cameras to support conservation.
Training: TBD
Signups: Open all year! Sign up on our website.
Can't Join a Project, But Still Want to Support Wildlife?
If you'd like to see more community- and science-based conservation in the West and are in a place to share resources, please consider donating today.
Our conservation work depends on the generosity of our community of donors, volunteers, and supporters. Thank you so much for your support.
Thank You for a Great Season, Rosy-finch Volunteers!
The Rosy-Finch Project is only possible because of the contributions of our dedicated volunteers. We are so grateful you tuned in and joined us this season.
Learn more about the Rosy-Finch Project from project ecologist Janice Gardner. Video by Josh Carter.
We've already started crunching this season's data and are on track to collect more than 1,000 Feeder Count data sheets, representing seven states and over 100 volunteers.
Together, we have logged thousands of birds, including all three species of rosy-finch. Our project biologists have safely captured and banded hundreds of rosy-finches, which we will continue to track through our RFID-enabled feeders. On behalf of some of the many project partners, thank you!
Emily Young, May Volunteer of the Month, in the field
May Volunteer of the Month
The Volunteer of the Month is Emily Young! A student at University of Utah, Emily was drawn to Wasatch Wildlife Watch and its research because it combined the tracking of animals along the Wasatch with field work and hiking.
Emily says, "What I love most about the project is how inclusive and open it is. Inviting volunteers and students to participate not only opens doors for them, but also aids the overall project. It places a fantastic spotlight on local research that the community can be a part of.
I also love the incredible diversity in our local wildlife species and the fact that we are able to live so close to such an amazing wild community. Wildlife conservation is integral to what makes our world special, and I believe this work is important because not only are we benefiting our wild neighbors, but we are benefitting ourselves by becoming better people and keeping our state healthy for the long term. I am extremely proud to be a part of the project!"
Reimagine Nature - SLC Survey
Over the past year, more than 7,000 community members have participated in Reimagine Nature SLC to direct a vision and identify what needs to be improved for Salt Lake City's natural lands, urban forests, city parks, and city golf courses.
Take this 5-minute survey to reflect on and affirm the refined goals and transformative projects inspired from community feedback.
Visit the project page on our website or connect with us on social media (see links below) to learn more about our conservation work, and please contact us with any questions or suggestions.