Colorado Corridors Project looking for volunteers to monitor Vail Pass

AVON — Avid hikers have a unique opportunity to volunteer with the Colorado Corridors Project to help researchers with a wildlife-monitoring study using remote camera traps.

At an elevation of more than 10,000 feet, Vail Pass has been identified as an ecologically significant site, both statewide and regionally, as an essential habitat corridor for many wildlife species — especially snow-dependent species such as the Canada lynx. However, Interstate 70 currently severs habitat connectivity on the pass.

The Colorado Corridors Project is a citizen science program offered by the Denver Zoo, Rocky Mountain Wild, Walking Mountains Science Center and other partners aimed at monitoring wildlife in the area of a proposed wildlife overpass over I-70 on the east side of Vail Pass.

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The data collected from the cameras will allow researchers to learn more about the needs of the species in the project area and to assess whether the wildlife overpass will be used by wildlife once it is built. The overpass will be the first of its kind on I-70. It will not only give wildlife a safe place to cross but will also significantly improve driver safety in the area.

The project needs about 20 volunteers to assist project staff with setting up and maintaining field cameras throughout the field season from early June to late September. Volunteers will be required to attend training and sign up for two volunteer days between June and September. Volunteer days are scheduled for various dates during the week, Monday through Friday, throughout the field season. Volunteers must be able to hike at high altitudes for several hours at a time. GPS navigation skills are a plus, but not required, and volunteers must be 18 or older.

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The training is scheduled for Thursday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Walking Mountains Science Center in Avon. Volunteers will learn about project expectations and field protocols. Dinner will be provided.