The purpose of this project is to document the location of life forms in and around Middlebury Area Land Trust land around Middlebury Vermont, including the Trail Around Middlebury and the general Middlebury area.

If you have a smartphone, download the iNaturalist app and bring your phone on a walk on the TAM. Mark down anything interesting you see, paying attention to the GPS accuracy reading listed on the app.

If you don't have a smartphone, but have a digital camera, you can still participate! Take photos, make note of the location, and upload them at this website. If you aren't sure of the location, note this in your observations.

Please only add things to the database that got where they are on their own. This means any native plants, invasive plants, naturalized plants, yard weeds, birds, rodents, fungi, or insects you find. Animal sign like tracks, nests, chew marks, etc, are also OK. Avoid adding things like plants in landscaping, dogs, humans, etc.

If you don't know what something is, add the occurrence and click the 'ID Please!' button. Someone else may be able to identify the species. Try to take a photo that shows enough info for someone to identify the species (ie: leaves, bark, flowers, or an item to use for scale placed next to a track)

At some point I hope to compile this data to create rough range maps of where different life forms live in the Middlebury area. The data will also be helpful for scientists and land managers who want to learn more about the ecology of the area. Most location will be available to the general public too, with the exception of sensitive species that might be harassed or illegally collected. less ↑