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APPENDIX V
Camera-trapping protocol for large-scale lynx camera survey- summer
PI: Dan Thornton/Travis King (WSU)
This document available online at https://www.conservationnw.org/wp-
content/uploads/2018/01/Lynx-Camera-Trapping-Protocol_DT.pdf
Collaborators: Scott Fitkin/Jeff Lewis/Ben Maletzke (WDFW); John Rohrer/Jesse McCarty/Matt
Marsh/Don Youkey/Monte Kuk (USFS), Scott Fisher (WADNR), Aleah Jaeger/Dave Moskowitz (CNW)
This document will serve to provide guidance on camera placement and data recording for the WSU-led lynx
camera survey in the Okanogan. Because such a large amount of ground will be covered, I am placing a premium
on ease of camera placement. In addition to this document, there are data sheets which will be used to record
pertinent data for each camera that is placed in the field.
Cell selection: Cameras will be placed in 40km
2
hexagonal cells, which simulate the lower-end estimates of female
lynx home ranges in the state. I will provide a list and map of cells that were randomly selected for sampling to
each collaborator for their area. If a particular cell cannot be sampled (e.g., lack of permission, not enough time to
reach the cell given time constraints), please select the nearest cell that can be sampled.
Placing the camera: Within each 40km
2
grid, 4 cameras will be placed along movement pathways that include
roads, abandoned roads, two-tracks, hiking trails, or ridgelines. During camera work in the Loomis State Forest and
Black Pine Basin, we have had good success detecting lynx along major movement pathways. Thus, I expect it
should be fairly easy to quickly access a number of locations in each grid cell. Please do not put cameras out on
small game trails, off trail, or in other areas that don't represent major movement pathways – detection rates will
drop dramatically. Cameras within each grid cell should be spaced 1 km apart at a minimum (if possible) to
increase coverage of the grid cell. This restriction doesn't hold between grid cells – thus, a camera placed at the
western edge of grid cell A that is less than 1km from a camera placed at the eastern edge of grid cell B is OK. If,
due to access or other restrictions, cameras must be placed closer than 1 km apart, that is OK – it is more important
to get the full complement of cameras out in the grid cell than to follow any minimum spacing rules (the grid cell
will be the unit of analysis). As the main goal of this work is lynx detection, cameras should be placed above
1000m (~3900 feet) elevation where possible, and in forested areas. Again, if this is not possible due to access, lack
of high elevation sites, or other restrictions, placing cameras at lower elevations or open habitats is acceptable.
Ideally, more than one type of movement pathway should be used for camera placement in each grid cell (e.g., 1
cameras placed on larger roads, 1 on smaller roads, and 1 on a hiking trail or abandoned logging trails), but again,
this may not be possible in all cells. I leave it to the discretion of the individual putting cameras out to choose
appropriate locations, given the restrictions mentioned above. I will provide a map and UTM coordinates of
potential camera locations in each grid cell, but leave it to the discretion of the individual putting cameras out
whether or not to use these potential sites.
Setting the camera: For summer deployments, cameras should be placed approximately knee height (38-48cm/15-
19inches) and aimed perpendicular to the road/trail. The trail area immediately in front of the camera should be
cleared of vegetation/grasses, as this will obstruct camera images, and may also trigger the camera. In addition,
