Okotoks asks citizens to install deer-counting app to help track local population

The Town of Okotoksis asking volunteers to download a new mobile app to help count the number of deer in the area next weekend.

The NatureLynxapp, which was launched by theAlberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI) in July, allows any Albertan to record wildlife sightings in the province.

In 2015, volunteers in Okotokscounted deer populations the old-fashioned way, but this year, they're using NatureLynxto make things easier.

"We used about 100 volunteers to walk every square inch of town," said Town of Okotoksparks manager Christa Michailuck. "This year, we're going to use a mobile app and ask that citizens engage it and report within a one hour period."

App users simply need to snap a photo of the deer, and then jot down some details, like how many deer there were and what the animals were doing.

Michailucksaid the count was started after a few human-animal encounters prompted thequestion of whether or not there are too many deer in Okotoks.

"So, we thought let's establish some baseline numbers," she said. "There's an intent that if we do this enough times we'll start to see a pattern."

There are an estimated 6,000 mule deer in the Calgary and Okotoks areaand 8,000 whitetail deer, and those populations have increased due to mild winters, abundant foraging, and a low number of predators, saidBrett Boukall, a senior wildlife biologist with Alberta Environment and Parks.

Boukall said the app is a great solution as it can often be difficult to do more traditional wildlife studies in urban environments due to the amount of people passing through.

"I think this is a really novel approach," he said.

The data also goes to the ABMI, which has been collecting data on wildlife populations in the province for just over a decade.

"We have a wealth of data," said ABMI co-science director Jim Schieck.

Schieck said right now very few municipalities are using the technology because it's so new, but he expects it to become more common.

"You can have a Grade 3 class go out and do this it totally changes the scope of the amount of data that can be collected," he said.

Okotoks' 2018 count will take place from 1 to 2 p.m.Friday and 10 to 11 a.m. Sunday.

• MORE ALBERTA NEWS |Parks Canada sends 3rd helicopter to fight U.S. wildfire near Waterton
• MORE ALBERTA NEWS |How a team of amateur explorers and an underwater robot laid to rest the 'Ghost of Baker Lake'
• Readmorearticles byCBCCalgary, like us onFacebookfor updates and subscribe to ourCBC Calgarynewsletterfor the day's news at a glance

With files from Dave Gilson.