Posted by: City of Ottawa
Springtime is here and so is the annual City Nature Challenge!
From April 25-28, 2025, join this city-wide event to look for wildlife, log your observations in iNaturalist and boost Ottawa’s score in a friendly competition with cities across Canada and around the world! You’ll also contribute valuable data on flora and fauna in our communities, including rare and/or invasive species.
The Challenge is an international event and led in Canada by the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Its aim is to record wildlife sightings over the four days, with Canadian cities in a friendly competition to see which one can record the most. In the process, it encourages everyone who can to get outdoors and appreciate the abundant nature all around us.
Participating in the Challenge is simple – head outside anywhere within Ottawa city limits and take photos or sound recordings of any wild species – plant, animal and fungus – or evidence of them, such as feathers, eggshells or animal tracks. Then upload your record to the free iNaturalist app. If you’re submitting observations from home, you can hide your precise location while still registering the city you are in. The app tallies sightings in real-time.
It doesn’t matter if the sightings are native like Canada geese, non-native like the European or brown hare, or even invasive like buckthorn. iNaturalist will even help you identify what’s in the photo. Keep in mind that cultivated species, like those tomato plants you may have started, and pets do not count.
Your sightings go well beyond helping Ottawa boost its Challenge ranking – they contribute to wildlife conservation by helping scientists track species at risk, locate wildlife hot spots and uncover invasive species.
No need to wait until Earth Day to get the spirit. Acquaint yourself with the iNaturalist app today and start discovering the nature world all around us!