How far apart should Camera traps be?
Our general recommendation is to separate cameras by as much as you can, with 500-1000m spacing being best, and anything >200m probably being acceptable.
How do you set up a wildlife camera trap?
Set the camera on either a tree, washing line pole or a wooden stake and aim it at a clear area, free of waving vegetation, which will trigger it constantly. I find that aiming a camera along the edges of flower beds and the lawn work well and have recorded a variety of birds and mammals in my urban garden.
How do you deploy a camera trap?
Record the Detection Distance (you will get this from the Walk Test) Arm your camera. Record the GPS coordinates….Choose your own site to set the camera.
- Set your camera anywhere you have permission.
- Each volunteer is limited to setting only ONE 3-week deployment in a suburban area, like a yard.
What batteries do camera traps use?
Camera traps typically take 8 of AA cells, but I believe that these are connected as 4S2P and not all-in-series, so giving 6 volts nominal, and not 12V. ! 2V would not make sense for a camera trap, but 6V does, as it allows the cells to discharge down to 0.9V and still put out a respectable 3.6V.
What are the difficulties of using a camera trap when researching animals?
The passive infrared sensors commonly used on camera traps often perform poorly in hot and open environments, where the ambient temperature no longer contrasts to that of the animals. This can cause sensors to miss detections of animals or return many blank images (false positives).
Where do you put wildlife cameras?
The best place to site your camera will of course be on wildlife paths, in particular where paths cross fences, walls, ditches or through hedges. Identifying likely burrows, dens or territorial marking posts and including them in your field of view is ideal but again bare in mind possible legislation.