State-wide Virtual Wyoming BioBlitz Starts Today

COVID-19 has inspired a statewide naturalist opportunity.

Today marks the beginning of the Wyoming BioBlitz – the annual nature experience for families, students, and nature lovers across Wyoming to engage with their own backyards and learn more about Wyoming’s flora and fauna. Usually an in-person event held in a specific location, this year’s BioBlitz is making the most of the pandemic by holding the event virtually, state-wide, so every Wyoming citizen can simultaneously participate. From July 17-19 this year, people can participate by submitting observations of wild organisms from anywhere in Wyoming using the web app  iNaturalist. For some friendly competition, the state has been divided into 8 regions. Park County is – predictably – in the Bighorn Basin region with Hot Springs, Washakie, and Big Horn counties.

To participate in Wyoming BioBlitz 2020, just follow these steps:

1. Register for Wyoming BioBlitz 2020 (so we can provide you with updates).
2. Create a free iNaturalist account.
3. Download the iNaturalist app for iPhones or Android.
4. Review iNaturalist’s instructions and practice using the app.
5. On July 17-19, submit your observations of plants, animals (including invertebrates), and mushrooms in Wyoming through the iNaturalist app on your phone or website on your computer.

If you’d like, you can go you the BioBlitz iNaturalist project page to see what other people are observing during BioBlitz.

The annual naturalist event is hosted by The Biodiversity Institute, Audubon Rockies, and The Nature Conservancy.