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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 camera station and during each camera-check visit. There
are different forms for the 2 camera types because of differences in settings and the type
and number of batteries that need to be maintained.
