Why do I have to register?

Everyone who wishes to use this website has to register. The procedure is very easy and needs to be done only once. The personal details required are necessary in case we need to contact the user. This is a guarantee for a high information quality provided to the website. Your personal details are protected against illegal access and are treated confidentially, according to the data protection law.

Why do you need my e-mail address?

Your e-mail address is essential because you will automatically receive a message with your password which allows you to log in to the website.

When can I start entering my observations on Web-Fauna?

You can start as soon as you want. All you need is to register and only a few minutes later you will be able to log in and begin to enter your records. It is important to say that any of your older data is equally welcome even if it is several years old. However you are asked not to enter data which has already been reported to the CSCF or to the karch. Thank you.

Do I have to be connected to the internet in order to enter my observations?

Yes. Web-Fauna only works when connected to the internet.

Why doesn't your website work with some browsers?

We have created this website so that a maximum of possible browsers can be used. We know however that some of the old versions can cause some problems. Please write to Secretariat.CSCF@unine.ch if this is the case and give as many details as possible of your problem, we will be glad to help. This website has been tested for Internet Explorer 5.5 and all more recent versions for Windows. All the platforms also work with Mozilla Firefox.

I have lost my password and I cannot log in anymore

You can ask Web-Fauna to produce you a new password. You will find more information in the instructions guide in paragraph number 2: "To register - Log in - Loss of password".

Why should I report my observations?

Giving your data contributes to improve the knowledge of our fauna distribution and presence. Fortuitous observations often represent, for some species, the most important source of information.

I have got years of observations stored in my computer. Can I import them on Web-Fauna?

No. We don't have the ability to import your old data automatically for the moment. However you can send them in an Excel file to Secretariat.CSCF@unine.ch.

I don't identify all the animal species. Can I still report the observations of the species I am sure to identify?

Yes. You can report only the species you are sure to identify. In case you have any doubts you can previously ask for help and advices at Secretariat.CSCF@unine.ch, especially if you have got pictures.

I have some doubts about an identification. Can I still report it?

Yes, but in this case, please fill in the "comments" field which you will find on the first page of the data capture interface with your description of the problem and the details of your observation.

I have observed a species which is not on the list. What do I have to do?

A missing species in the list can be due to a problem of synonymy (different [vernacular] names). It can also be a species which has never been sighted in Switzerland before. Please report it to Secretariat.CSCF@unine.ch.

Are there any uppermost species to report?

In principle, any plausible observation is of interest and worth to be reported. Data from rare, endangered or protected species are certainly of great value, but we shouldn't forget to report common species. There is a real risk for common species to be under-represented and under-documented if they are not reported regularly. If the needed effort for data capture becomes too high, the information given can be reduced to one record per year and per square kilometre for common species. Priority will then be given to observations indicating reproduction (youngs, nests, mating). However, reported data should always be precise about the location (grid reference) and the date of observation.

Which mammals should be reported?

First of all protected species (e.g. european polecat, stoat, least weasel, beaver, lynx) and micro-mammals (e.g. edible dormouse, garden dormouse, hazel dormouse, black rat, brown rat). Sightings of "neglected" common species such as hedgehog, squirrel and marmot are also welcome. What's more we are interested in records of non-native species (e.g. raccoon, raccoon dog, muskrat, coypu). For common species (e.g. ungulates, red fox, badger, beech marten) it is enough to report one observation per year and per square kilometre.

Can I modify already entered data?
Yes. Data can be modified until their validation by CSCF staff members. All subsequently discovered errors have to be reported to Secretariat.CSCF@unine.ch, because they will need to be corrected in the data bank.

I have changed my e-mail address or home address. Do I have to reregister?
No. Your registration only needs to be updated. To achieve this, log in with your old e-mail address (the one you have registered with) then choose "Edit personal information" in the left vertical menu. Please enter your new e-mail address in the opening window (e-mail must be confirmed). Click on "Save". Your account is now updated and, from now on, you can only use this new e-mail address to log in. If necessary, you can also modify your home address taking the same steps.