Critter Cams Viewers Becoming Citizen Scientists

If you want to get a sneak peak into the animal kingdom, you no longer have to rely on documentaries or trips to the zoo.

You can watch from the comfort of your couch on one of the hundreds of live streaming "critter cams" showcasing everything from pandas to the ocean floor.

As people watch these live streaming web cams every hour of the day, the public is witnessing things that scientists may have otherwise missed and becoming citizen scientists.

But are all these eyes on nature helpful or harmful?

Here & Now's Robin Young speaks with Vicki Croke, animal reporter for WBUR's The Wild Life, about the role of citizen scientists and the future of critter cams.