How to avoid the camera trap: The effect of camera settings on occupancy analysis and photo data workload
| Authors: | Jody M. Tucker, Jordan Heiman, Jessie Golding, Brent Barry, Katie Moriarty |
| Year: | 2026 |
| Type: | Scientific Journal |
| Station: | Rocky Mountain Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.60102/stacks-26003 |
| Source: | The Stacks |
Abstract
Camera traps (i.e., game cameras or trail cameras) have become a widespread tool in wildlife ecology. However, camera traps can take large volumes of photos or videos often generating a considerable data management workload. Internal camera settings, such as how many photos are taken when the camera is triggered and how long the camera waits before it can be triggered again, significantly influence the volume of photos collected. These settings have the potential to affect analytical results (e.g., estimated occupancy), photo management workload (i.e., reviewing and identifying images) and data storage requirements. Using two large baited camera trap datasets from California and Oregon (n = 1034 cameras), we compared effects of various internal camera settings (delay period = 5 – 300 seconds, burst number = 1 – 3) on occupancy and detection probabilities of three species ranging in body size and in occurrence from rarely to commonly detected [medium size-rare: Pekania pennanti (fisher), medium size-common: Urocyon cinereoargenteus (gray fox), large size-common: Ursus americanus (American black bear)].