Draw a rectangle or search for a place. Only one region (rectangle) is used at a time.
Download ALL Data CSV
iNaturalist, Dead Wildlife, and Participatory Science
iNaturalist is a global biodiversity platform powered by a vibrant community of naturalists, scientists, students, and citizens. Its open data and easy smartphone app allow anyone to record nature and contribute to science.
Why observe dead wildlife?
- Track disease outbreaks and mass die-offs (e.g. avian influenza, amphibian disease).
- Identify human-wildlife conflicts (e.g. roadkill, window strikes).
- Detect range shifts and rare events.
- Monitor mortality of threatened or sensitive species.
Documenting dead wildlife—even if unpleasant—can save species by detecting threats early.
About this App
This app was created by Diego Ellis-Soto (UC Berkeley) and colleagues to empower rapid, open exploration of wildlife mortality patterns worldwide. It is open source and intended for research, conservation, and education.
Ellis-Soto D., Taylor L., Edson E., Schell C., Boettiger C., Johnson R. (2024). Global, near real-time ecological forecasting of mortality events through participatory science
https://github.com/diego-ellis-soto/iNat_mortality_detector
Technical Info
- iNaturalist API v1 (Live Mode) and Parquet snapshot (Archive Mode).
FAQ
- Can I use this data for research/publication?
- Yes! Always credit iNaturalist and respect original content licenses. See iNaturalist's Data Use Policy.
- Why is the map sometimes empty?
- Some species/locations are obscured for privacy, or there may be no recent observations in your selected area and time.
- Are locations accurate?
- Coordinate accuracy varies by observer and privacy settings.
- Can I see private/sensitive records?
- No—privacy and ethical protection is strictly respected by the iNaturalist API and this app.
Responsible Use
Never disturb wildlife for photos. Be cautious with sensitive data. Community-driven science works best when it's ethical and transparent.
Get Involved!
Join iNaturalist, share your own records, or help identify others' observations. Every data point helps conservation.
Quick Start Guide
- Search for a place or draw a rectangle on the map (one region at a time).
- Set your date range. For best speed, keep queries focused.
- Choose a taxon class or enter a species name.
- Pick 'Live' for the latest data (slower, but up-to-date) or 'Archive' for instant results (fixed snapshot).
- Click Run Query. Visualizations and tables will update below!
- Download the full results table as CSV for further analysis.
Tips
- Use Archive mode for large or exploratory queries—it is much faster.
- Live mode fetches week-by-week and may take minutes for big regions or long periods (a progress bar helps you track progress).
- To reset your selected area, click 'Clear Bounding Box'.
Contact & Support
For questions or feedback, visit our GitHub repository or email the authors.
