Sandy Hook - Deer Survey - Spotlighter (March - April 2025)

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Are you ready to become a citizen scientist? Join Sandy Hook's Deer Survey Team as a Volunteer Spotlighter!

Spotlight volunteers must attend an NPS training on March 4th, 2025, from 12pm to 10pm. This is a required training. Volunteers will learn basic orienteering to determine bearing and distance of white-tailed deer in the landscape. The volunteers will be trained to use a compass and range finder, as well as following a standardized protocol to communicate data to the data entry volunteer. These surveys will take place at night, approximately 1 hour after sunset, to facilitate locating white-tailed deer with a spotlight and recording presence to complete an annual population survey. Surveys may extend to 1:00am, but times depend on the survey needs. Volunteers for this position may be selected and attend the spotlight training but may serve as an alternate/on call if the main spotlighter is unable to attend.

Volunteers in this role must be able to enter and exit the vehicle throughout the night and withstand cold temperatures. This is a volunteer opportunity open to individuals 18 and older.

SURVEY INFORMATION

The volunteer agrees to not share data collected and results of survey with the public. The Spotlight Volunteer must be able to make the majority of the following dates:

Spotter Training: March 4, 2025, 12pm to 10pm.

Week 1: March 10 & 11 (Mon/Tue Deer survey), March 12 (Wed - Visual Assessment Survey)

Week 2: March 17 & 18 ( Mon/Tue Deer survey), March 19 (Wed - Visual Assessment Survey)

Week 3: March 24 & 25 (Mon/Tue Deer survey), March 19 (Wed - Weather Make Up)

Week 2: March 31 & April 1 (Mon/Tue Deer survey), April 2 (Wed - Weather Make Up)

Start Date - 2025-03-04

End Date - 2025-04-04