The coastal Pacific marten was historically present on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula, but has only been anecdotally observed in recent years. To study the population, U.S. Forest Service biologists contracted Adventure Scientists to survey this mountainous area. 

In winter 2013 and 2014, volunteer adventurers set up 20+ motion-activated wildlife cameras in high-elevation drainages of the Olympic National Forest. After extensive training, teams were responsible to maintain the cameras and bait stations.

The Forest Service used the data collected by this project to better understand marten activity in the Forest and to develop management policy. It also contributed to a “Critically Imperiled” listing on NatureServe. 

For volunteers, the project was an opportunity to be part of a meaningful wildlife conservation project, and to learn winter wildlife tracking techniques. 

Click here to read a detailed project report from 2014: