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SITE SELECTION
At the beginning of each season, we select and prioritize monitoring sites in collaboration with
all project partners and our Advisory Council. Sites are initially selected based on target species
and core habitat with consideration to equipment inventory, as well as staff and volunteer
capacity. Our list of sites goes through numerous iterations as we discuss priorities and capacity
with our Advisory Council. The finalized list of sites serves as a guide for volunteer
recruitment.
Each site is chosen with a particular target species based on our monitoring objectives for the
year. For the 2013 Spring-Fall season, our priorities were wolves, wolverines, all wildlife at I-90,
and lynx in the Rossland Range in BC. Project staff works with specific advisors from our
Advisory Council to develop site descriptions that include the purpose of the site, special
considerations, and general information useful for site construction.
Throughout the season, volunteer field knowledge and experience help CWMP staff and the
Advisory Council reassess each site based on data gathered during the season. Thanks to their
constant presence on the ground in core habitat, our volunteers provide invaluable feedback on
best site locations, as well as actual field conditions and habitat.
Over the course of our 2013 Spring-Fall field season, we placed cameras at 26 sites throughout
our study area. 20 of these sites were located in the Cascade Mountains with the remaining six
located in the Rossland Range of British Columbia, designated for our transboundary lynx
monitoring. Guided by our Advisory Council, nine of these Cascade Mountain sites focused on
documenting wolves, five focused on capturing wolverine, and the remaining six were
dedicated to documenting species along I-90.
CAMERA STATIONS
Depending on the targeted species and location of each site, remote camera station setup can
vary. In conjunction with project staff, protocols were developed for each type of remote camera
station. All camera stations targeting wolves, lynx, or I-90 structures have a similar setup that
includes motion-triggered cameras secured to trees and scent lure, unless specifically instructed
otherwise. (Camera protocols are covered in depth in Appendix III). Generally two cameras are
placed within the same designated area; however, they are far enough apart to potentially
capture different individual animals.
Sites targeting wolverine have a setup conducive to capturing visual documentation of their
chest blazes (Appendix IV). These sites, called run-pole stations, are constructed with natural
materials on site. Wolverine run-pole stations include two cameras, one set directly across from
the run pole and the other off to the side. Each run-pole site includes bait strung strategically
above the run-pole. Wild bait (deer, elk, etc., often from road kills) is preferred for these sites.
