Land Trust of Napa County initiated a major effort to track the health of wildlife populations within its preserve network.
What Is The Index Project?
The Land Trust has deployed a grid of motion-activated wildlife cameras across nearly 5,000 acres in northern Napa County, using the internationally recognized Wildlife Picture Index (WPI) protocol.
Installed one kilometer apart, these cameras capture bursts of images every five seconds when triggered, documenting wildlife as they move through protected habitats.
This project provides valuable data to inform preserve management and contributes to broader, landscape-scale conservation across the region. Several partner organizations—including Pepperwood Preserve, Audubon Canyon Ranch, Sonoma Land Trust, Sonoma County Ag + Open Space, the Tamalpais Land Collaborative, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife—have also implemented WPI camera arrays throughout the North Bay, creating a coordinated effort to better understand and protect regional biodiversity.
Explore the Wildlife Picture Index Project (WPI)
The WPI project allows us to acquire statistically viable wildlife data on the landscape scale so we may better understand the abundance and extent of use by animals or how they move about and utilize our lands at different times of the year. Understanding trends and patterns in wildlife use and behavior is essential to taking better care of our lands. The more we understand about the needs of wildlife, the better we will be able to direct our resources toward enhancing and stabilizing habitats for the long term.
Browse highlights from our WPI project. Use the filter below to view by year, and click any image to enlarge.
Remote Wildlife Camera Videos
Want to see more wildlife in action? Visit our YouTube channel to explore additional videos from our Wildlife Picture Index project.
Bathing Black Bear
Remote camera footage of a black bear bathing on LTNC protected lands offers a rare look at Napa County’s wildlife.
Resting Black Bear
Remote camera footage of a black bear resting on LTNC protected lands offers a rare look at Napa County’s wildlife.
Wet Black Bear Standing
Bear Plays With Camera
Buck Feeding
Bobcat Exploring
Lumbering Bear
Deers Exploring
Support Our Work
Our work is made possible by the generous support of individuals like you. As a community-based nonprofit, we depend on donations—both big and small—to protect the land and legacy of Napa for generations to come. Your contribution is an investment in Napa’s future. Every dollar makes a difference in preserving the beauty and vitality of our community. Join us in making a lasting impact today.
One-timeDonation
Your one-time gift helps protect the land, water, and wildlife that make Napa County extraordinary. Every donation makes a difference—thank you for being part of this important work.
BECOME AMember
When you become a member of the Land Trust, you join a community committed to protecting the land, water, wildlife, and natural beauty of this extraordinary place. Your support helps us permanently safeguard open spaces, working lands, and critical habitats across Napa County.
BECOME A Volunteer
Volunteers are essential to the daily work of the Land Trust. More than 100 dedicated individuals help lead hikes, monitor properties, care for preserves, and support fundraising efforts—playing a vital role in protecting Napa County’s natural resources.
