Join Bears Ears Partnership's first annual week of volunteering in honor of National Moth Week, with support from Utah Pollinator Pursuit! Be part of this important effort to observe and celebrate the local moths that support the wider Bears Ears ecosystem and Colorado Plateau. About 500 moth species have been identified in Utah, but this is likely an underestimation. Because of their diverse sizes, camouflaged patterns, and nocturnal behaviors, many moths are very difficult to study and monitor. When you join Community Science initiatives like Moth Week, you’re contributing crucial data to better understand moths and the health of the wider Bears Ears ecosystem.
Anyone can participate in the Community Science Moth Count! You can participate from your own backyard, or join Volunteer Manager Ricky Begaye out in the field at a number of sites. Remember to always practice Visit With Respect guidelines when you are doing Community Science.
Watch the webinar below to learn more about moth ecology and why moth counts are important. This webinar took place on July 20 with Amanda Barth, Rare Insect Conservation Project Leader at Utah State University and Utah Pollinator Pursuit, and Ricky Begaye.
To attend on-site data collection:
1. Fill out the registration below
2. Fill out the Waiver form
3. Sign the photo release form
4. Contact Ricky (ricky@bearsearspartnership.org) if you want to carpool to the location.
5. Join Ricky out in the field at designated sites! Ricky will be setting up starting around dusk, going until 10:30/11:30pm. Locations will depend on weather.
Thursday 7/18: Pack Creek Picnic Area
Saturday 7/20: Valley of the Gods
Sunday 7/21: Upper and Lower Butler Wash
Monday 7/22: Bears Ears Buttes
Tuesday 7/23: Pine Ridge on Abajo Mountain
Wednesday 7/24: Needles District View Area on Abajo Mountain
Thursday 7/25: Rock Castle Campground
Friday 7/26: Needles Overlook
To collect moth data:
1. Wait till dusk, set up a light source, and wait for them to land. You'll also want to set up a landing pad, like an old bedsheet. You can use your porch light and they’ll land on the side of your house. If you’re out in the field, you can tie a rope between two trees to hang a bedsheet.
2. Take photos of the moths, and identify them. You can use a free online resource. Record the location, quantity, type of species, date, and time.
3. Submit the data to this iNaturalist page (if the data is from within Colorado Plateau) - you’ll need to create a free account. https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/national-moth-week-2024-southeastern-utah
4. Share your experience with BEP! If your data is from outside the Colorado Plateau, or if it’s within and you want to share your data with BEP, you can also submit your photos and data to Ricky at ricky@bearsearspartnership.org. The subject line should include the Moth Type, Location, Date/Time. You are also encouraged to send us any photos from behind the scenes of your time collecting data! (By emailing us, you agree to letting us use these photos on in our communications. Let us know if you do not want us to use your photos for promotional purposes.)
Visit Utah Pollinator Pursuit to learn more about pollinator conservation and community science: https://www.utahpollinatorpursuit.org/
Questions? Contact Volunteer Manager Ricky Begaye at ricky@bearsearspartnership.org.
Art by Kai Standy Manuelito