A spokesperson for the Meewasin Valley Authority says becoming a citizen scientist is beneficial not only for physical and mental health, it also gives back to nature by adding to the database of what species are in your area.

Any time your are out in nature or even in your backyard, you can document any wildlife you see.

Renny Grilz says that data can be helpful for conservationists and scientists.  Whether you hear a bird call, spot a monarch butterfly, notice an invasive species, or any at-risk species there are apps you can download to identify them and to document what you saw and where you saw it.  There is even an app for ticks.  Grilz explains that the goal is document the spread of deer ticks from Manitoba, because it’s the one that carries lyme disease.

There’s also a frog watch program because there has been a major decline in the last 30 years, and the northern leopard frog is a species at risk in this province.  You can go out on your own, Grilz says, or you can go out with nature groups running eco scavenger hunts and bio blitz events.

Meewasin uses data from citizen scientists as part of its baseline inventories and long term monitoring.

Grilz adds that it also helps when considering any enhancement or new segments of the Meewasin Trail or any other potential projects by other agencies.

Some apps and websites to check out: www.meewasin.com, iNaturalist, MilkweedWatch, eTick, Pronghorn Xing, naturwatch.ca, frogwatch,