Methods: Camera Traps, Hair Traps, Vegetation Surveys

Methods: Camera Traps, Hair Traps, Vegetation Surveys

Camera Traps

Camera traps are set out on landowner properties and checked on approximately 3-6 week cycles. The camera takes color photos during the day (set on a 5 second delay after motion and heat activated) and black and white photos at night using infrared lighting.
The cameras are placed on game trails that at approximately knee height facing the open movement corridor of the trail. Care is taken to place the cameras out of sight to reduce the threat of theft.




Hair Traps

 Hair traps are set either independently or in conjunction with the camera traps. The traps are made by putting 10 barbed nails into a numbered carpet square (approx. 6"x6").

Sample carpet square

 The squares are tacked up at or below knee height to trees adjacent to paths or manways on the PES properties in the study. The traps are placed at least 20 meters apart. A GPS waypoint is taken and UTM grid coordinates are recorded and the tree is tagged with fluorescent marking tape to help in recovering the trap.

Super-scientific mammal attractant

Vegetation Surveys

Vegetatation surveys are conducted to determine a few things about the PES program. They give a summary of the makeup of the habitat found on the PES properties, they help correlate habitats to mammals identified in the area, and it helps to verify that the properties receiving payment for through PES are actually reforesting or protecting the forest as required. 

Making a game plan for setting up a vegetation plot.

To set up a vegetation trap, a 100 square meter plot is laid out. A corner tree is chosen, and a 10 meter cord is run at a 90 degree at tied off on another tree, branch, or post. This is repeated for each of the four sides of the square. Next, all of the trees within the plot with a diameter greater than 10cm at breast height are flagged. Flagged trees are measured for DBH (diameter at breast height), GPS coordinates are recorded (UTM zone, northing and easting coordinated), and height is estimated by measuring the angle to top of tree and to the bottom of the tree using a clinometer and a rangefinder to determine distance to the tree.