57 CWMP 2013-2014 Winter Field Season Report
Team leaders will be the communication point between your team and
Conservation Northwest.
Upload photos from retrieved memory cards to Google Drive (online photos
sharing service) and fill out online data form (see instructions for both below). Or
you have the option of returning the memory card(s) and data sheet(s) to your
team leader or the nearest Conservation Northwest office ASAP, so that we can
get the photos from your camera downloaded and reviewed and store the
camera check information into our database. Mark on your data sheet how data
is being returned, in case the images become separated from it.
Cameras should ideally be checked roughly each month throughout the season,
depending on the camera location and accessibility. Your team leader will
schedule checks to ensure that cameras are being checked regularly and lure
refreshed at the camera location.
Review, tag, and upload photos from retrieved memory cards on online Google
Drive (online photos sharing service) and fill out online data form (see
instructions for both below). Email a brief report of your visit to your team leader
and Alison Huyett (ahuyett@conservationnw.org). If there are any important
news/findings, such as photos of the target species, problems with the camera or
location, etc., contact your team leader and CNW immediately
(ahuyett@conservationnw.org and jwatkins@conservationnw.org). The next
people from your team checking the camera will greatly benefit from a brief
report, including site conditions, what you learned about animals in the area,
topography, hazards, and any outstanding questions.
Considerations for relocating a camera trap
Selecting a camera trap location, preparing the site and setting the trap can be
labor intensive. Most of our target species have very large home ranges and
even if they occupy the habitat where the camera trap is set, they may not return
to it for weeks or even months. For both of these reasons once set, barring
extraordinary circumstances, camera traps should be left in place for at least one
month. Extraordinary events might include: large changes to the landscape
where the camera has been set such as logging, fire, snow pack changes,
increase in human activity in the vicinity, or compelling and time sensitive
evidence of a much more promising location in the area being surveyed.
After one month, it is reasonable to assess whether or not to continue to monitor
the specific area where you have set your camera trap or relocating it. Sites that
have been very active with a variety of other carnivore species might encourage
you leave the camera trap where it is currently located. Sets that have had a very
low amount of activity might suggest that you relocate the camera. Other
considerations could also include an abundance of other promising locations to
monitor or conversely, the location where it is currently set still appearing to be
the most promising option.
