Eco-Blitz Safety Guidelines | Systemwide

Eco-Blitz Safety Guidelines

What do you need

• A smartphone with a camera and the iNaturalist app.
• An annual park pass, not required, but helpful.

How to document species

• Observe organism, plant, or wildlife species.
• Take pictures of it.
• Upload two or more of the best pictures into iNaturalist.

Tips & Tricks

Plants

• Take a close-up photo of the flowers. Then, zoom out for photos of leaf arrangements or the plant as a whole.

Wildlife

• Be discreet, the slightest noise or shadow can scare them off.
• Use a good phone camera.
• Get as close as possible, without disturbing the animal(s), or habitat.
• Attach camera lenses, if available.
• Keep your phone/camera steady. Make sure photos are in focus. Some phones allow you to highlight features you’re focusing on.
• Be quick and patient.
• For well lit pictures, have the sun at your back.
• Take multiple photos and capture key identification characteristics.
• DO NOT handle, touch, pick-up, or remove any flora or fauna found within park boundaries.
• Do not pick or remove flora for identification purposes. Use your camera as your tool.
• Stay on designated trails and walkways.
• Observe proper trail etiquette. Do not risk your safety or that of those around you to get a photo of the flora/fauna.
• Keep your eyes open for rattlesnakes and other venomous wildlife while participating in the program.
• Participants are responsible for their entry fees.
• An annual pass provides a discounted rate.
• Happy discovering and go have fun!

A special thank you to the Desert Botanical Garden/EcoFlora staff for assisting in the program development.