SNAPSHOT USA 2020: A second coordinated national camera trap survey of the United States during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Kays Roland , Cove Michael V. , Diaz Jose , Todd Kimberly , Bresnan Claire , Snider Matt , Lee Thomas E. , Jasper Jonathan G. , Douglas Brianna , Crupi Anthony P. , Weiss Katherine C. B. , Rowe Helen , Sprague Tiffany , Schipper Jan , Lepczyk Christopher A. , Fantle‐Lepczyk Jean E. , Davenport Jon , Zimova Marketa , Farris Zach , Williamson Jacque , Fisher‐Reid M. Caitlin , Rezendes Drew , King Sean M. , Chrysafis Petros , Jensen Alex J. , Jachowski David S. , King Katherine C. , Herrera Daniel J. , Moore Sophie , van der Merwe Marius , Lombardi Jason V. , Sergeyev Maksim , Tewes Michael E. , Horan Robert V. , Rentz Michael S. , Driver Ace , Brandt La Roy S. E. , Nagy Christopher , Alexander Peter , Maher Sean P. , Darracq Andrea K. , Barr Evan G. , Hess George , Webb Stephen L. , Proctor Mike D. , Vanek John P. , Lafferty Diana J. R. , Hubbard Tru , Jiménez Jaime E. , McCain Craig , Favreau Jorie , Fogarty Jack , Hill Jacob , Hammerich Steven , Gray Morgan , Rega‐Brodsky Christine C. , Durbin Caleb , Flaherty Elizabeth A. , Brooke Jarred , Coster Stephanie S. , Lathrop Richard G. , Russell Katarina , Bogan Daniel A. , Shamon Hila , Rooney Brigit , Rockhill Aimee , Lonsinger Robert C. , O'Mara M. Teague , Compton Justin A. , Barthelmess Erika L. , Andy Katherine E. , Belant Jerrold L. , Petroelje Tyler , Wehr Nathaniel H. , Beyer Dean E. , Scognamillo Daniel G. , Schalk Chris , Day Kara , Ellison Caroline N. , Ruthven Chip , Nunley Blaine , Fritts Sarah , Whittier Christopher A. , Neiswenter Sean A. , Pelletier Robert , DeGregorio Brett A. , Kuprewicz Erin K. , Davis Miranda L. , Baruzzi Carolina , Lashley Marcus A. , McDonald Brandon , Mason David , Risch Derek R. , Allen Maximilian L. , Whipple Laura S. , Sperry Jinelle H. , Alexander Emmarie , Wolff Patrick J. , Hagen Robert H. , Mortelliti Alessio , Bolinjcar Amay , Wilson Andrew M. , Van Norman Scott , Powell Cailey , Coletto Henry , Schauss Martha , Bontrager Helen , Beasley James , Ellis‐Felege Susan N. , Wehr Samuel R. , Giery Sean T. , Pekins Charles E. , LaRose Summer H. , Revord Ronald S. , Hansen Christopher P. , Hansen Lonnie , Millspaugh Joshua J. , Zorn Adam , Gerber Brian D. , Rezendes Kylie , Adley Jessie , Sevin Jennifer , Green Austin M. , Şekercioğlu Çağan H. , Pendergast Mary E. , Mullen Kayleigh , Bird Tori , Edelman Andrew J. , Romero Andrea , O'Neill Brian J. , Schmitz Noel , Vandermus Rebecca A. , Alston Jesse M. , Kuhn Kellie M. , Hasstedt Steven C. , Lesmeister Damon B. , Appel Cara L. , Rota Christopher , Stenglein Jennifer L. , Anhalt‐Depies Christine , Nelson Carrie L. , Long Robert A. , Remine Kathryn R. , Jordan Mark J. , Elbroch L. Mark , Bergman Dylan , Cendejas‐Zarelli Sara , Sager‐Fradkin Kim , Conner Mike , Morris Gail , Parsons Elizabeth , Hernández‐Yáñez Haydée , McShea William J. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractManaging wildlife populations in the face of global change requires regular data on the abundance and distribution of wild animals, but acquiring these over appropriate spatial scales in a sustainable way has proven challenging. Here we present the data from Snapshot USA 2020, a second annual national mammal survey of the USA. This project involved 152 scientists setting camera traps in a standardized protocol at 1485 locations across 103 arrays in 43 states for a total of 52,710 trap‐nights of survey effort. Most (58) of these arrays were also sampled during the same months (September and October) in 2019, providing a direct comparison of animal populations in 2 years that includes data from both during and before the COVID‐19 pandemic. All data were managed by the eMammal system, with all species identifications checked by at least two reviewers. In total, we recorded 117,415 detections of 78 species of wild mammals, 9236 detections of at least 43 species of birds, 15,851 detections of six domestic animals and 23,825 detections of humans or their vehicles. Spatial differences across arrays explained more variation in the relative abundance than temporal variation across years for all 38 species modeled, although there are examples of significant site‐level differences among years for many species. Temporal results show how species allocate their time and can be used to study species interactions, including between humans and wildlife. These data provide a snapshot of the mammal community of the USA for 2020 and will be useful for exploring the drivers of spatial and temporal changes in relative abundance and distribution, and the impacts of species interactions on daily activity patterns. There are no copyright restrictions, and please cite this paper when using these data, or a subset of these data, for publication.