37
so on.
Flagging: If needed to find the location surveyors flagging tape can be used to help mark the
location but don't rely on it because it can disappear and there may be flagging out there
unrelated to our project. Be careful about placing flagging that could give away our camera
locations for security reasons. Use your judgment as to whether flagging is necessary
and where and how much to use.
Scent Lures and Imported Attractants
Some CWMP remote camera traps utilize imported attractants including bait, scent lures, visual
attractants, and auditory attractants. Guidelines for the specific types of attractants are outlined
in the species specific protocol documents. Below are some general considerations relevant for
all uses of scent lures and other imported attractants on CWMP remote camera traps.
General application of scent lures: Find two trees (or a tree and a rock, log or other feature
the camera can be aimed downward at), about 10 feet apart; one tree that is both large enough
to mount the camera on and sturdy enough that it won't sway too much in breezes. The other
tree or landscape feature is for spreading the lure on and can be any size, but make sure it is
large/sturdy enough though to withstand animals rubbing and leaning against it and that the
camera is angled properly to aim toward that area. Apply the attractant at a height where the
target species can inspect it.
Scent lure can also be attached higher on a tree trunk or overhanging branch where it will catch
the wind and travel further, acting to draw in animals from a longer distance.
Trapper's lures: With the highly concentrated trapper's scent lures (those in small bottles)
remember a little goes a long ways. Simply use a branch dipped into the bottle for application,
and drop a few drops at the base of the tree. You can apply some to the bark of the tree as well
and hang the "lure twig" there or insert it in the bark, but do remember moderation.
With fish oil, fish fertilizer, or oil from a sardine can, you can apply the scent more liberally by
pouring some with the aid of a branch lower on the tree and also higher, creating an oil slick that
will remain on the tree through rain events.
Aiming the remote camera: Placing the camera about 10 feet from the lure tree/feature (or
even a little farther out depending on the angle of the camera) is best for most camera models
to avoid cutting off or only capturing portions of animals. Full view of an animal's features is
often needed for sure species identification. Make sure that every place that an attractant is
applied is within the view of the camera so that wildlife spending time sniffing are captured on
the camera. Set the camera and then trigger it and review the images to be sure that the area
within the photo frame is appropriate.
