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carefully, checking for potential wolverine tracks and genetic samples (hair and scat; see #8
below) and avoid disturbing any potential wolverine tracks in the area.
2. After the initial 1-week check, check cameras every 2 weeks (3 weeks maximum) – do
not check the camera or replace the bait more frequently than every 2 weeks. The bait needs
time to age (like a carcass would), and a 2-week check schedule will also minimize disturbance
at the site.
3. Every time the crew arrives at a camera station, have 1 person walk over to the end of
the run-pole to trigger the camera and take a photo of that person before anyone checks the
camera. Same process if there is also a Reconyx system at the site – make sure you trigger it
before you check the camera. If a camera is not working, record that information on your data
form so that there is a permanent record that the survey period was shorter than expected.
4. After arriving at a station and taking a check-photo, remove the memory card from
each camera, enter the card # on the appropriate data form, and put in a fresh memory card. Do
this every time regardless of whether there were any detections. Do not delete any photos – set-
up and check photos along with detection photos are all very important. If you keep an
accurate record all of the photos taken between camera station visits, including photos of the
crew when they arrive to a station and then before they leave the station, that information can
be used to help determine the probability of detecting a wolverine in this region (i.e., the
detection rate).
5. Perform other necessary maintenance procedures including replacing batteries and
checking date and time stamps. For Trail Watchers, we recommend that you replace the camera
battery each visit and replace the 9 volt battery as follows: replace alkaline 9-volts every 2
weeks; replace lithium 9-volts every 2 months or sooner if temperatures fall below 0°F for an
extended period (per A. Magoun recommendations). For Reconyx, record % battery remaining
on the data form and then replace the C cells when battery-life is down to 75% (threshold that
John Rohrer [NCWS] and his crew have been using).
6. Every time before the crew leaves the station, have the camera take a picture of 1
person standing next to the crosspiece at the end of the run-pole holding up a card with the
station number written on it. This is a critical step to make sure everything is working properly
and to get a photo with the station number on the memory card. If the camera is not working,
the crew will need to troubleshoot any problems, and then repeat this step until the camera
takes a picture properly. Perform this step for each camera deployed at the site.
7. During each camera check, field personnel should record all required information on
the appropriate data form for each detection device before leaving the site. At the end of this
document are the Camera Station Data Forms used by the NCWS: 1 data form for Trail
Watcher cameras and another for Reconyx (see pages 13 and 14). These data forms can be used
or modified by CNW, but show the type of information that is important to record at each
