A photo trap is a tool which is frequently used to monitor, research and track animal activity. This article provides detailed instructions and specifications concerning the way photo traps should be set up, installed and used in the field. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or new to wildlife tracking, this article will provide you with useful tips and tricks to optimise the use of your photo trap. You will understand how to adjust the settings, placement, and masking of your photo trap to achieve optimal results.
Setting up your photo trap
The basic setup of a photo trap needed to put it into operation:
Date and time
photo + video mode with a setting of 3 photos + 30 s video
start interval 30 s – 1 min.
medium PIR motion sensor sensitivity
Specific conditions and purpose of monitoring may require specific settings to be adjusted differently.
Principles and methods for installing photo traps in nature
There are a number of ways to mount a photo trap in nature, but each of them requires that the camera be positioned at the correct distance, height and angle to capture the desired location.
The easiest way to attach the photo trap to a tree or to some technical element (building, beam, fence, etc.) is to use a retractable strap that can be supplemented with a shortening rope lock. The advantage of this solution is that it requires less work and time. The disadvantage, however, is the high probability that a photo trap installed in this way will be spotted, which increases the risk of it being stolen.
If the photo trap needs to be placed on a thick tree, which the suspension strap would not be able to encircle, the photo trap can first be fixed to a sufficiently strong branch/post, which is then fixed to the root flare of the tree.
The best way to mount the photo trap is to place it in a security box, which can be either fixed in the desired location using a shortening rope lock or directly screwed to the tree. The security box usually also has an additional padlock.
In specific cases, the photo trap can be placed on an adjustable device with a swivel joint that allows it to turn in the desired direction.
Once the photo trap is installed, it is necessary to check whether it overlooks the desired area properly or whether its position needs to be adjusted.
The mounting height of the photo trap is important in terms of its security as well as to minimise the risk of it being stolen. If conditions and the purpose of the monitoring allow, it is important that the photo trap is not placed in the direct field of view of people, i.e. in the height of 150–180 cm.
It is advisable to place the photo trap close to the root flare of the tree, or higher up, even though this requires the use of a ladder or stepladder. It is also important to consider weather and season changes and particular attention when positioning the photo trap should be paid to the height of vegetation or snow cover.
It is advisable to choose trees with thick bark (pine, fir, larch, etc.) for the placement of the photo-trap, as the photo-trap will be less visible on these than on trees with smooth bark (such as e.g. beech). In addition, it might be a good idea to look for atypical trees with growth defects, such as crooked or twisted trunks, or otherwise mechanically damaged trees with knots or abrasions. This will make the photo trap less noticeable on the tree trunk.
In terms of the photo trap securing, in addition to placing the photo trap in a protective box, it is equally important to camouflage it. Using twigs with leaves is not recommended, as these will only stay fresh for a short period of time. Since the photo trap is most often placed on the trunk of a tree, the best way to camouflage the photo trap/protection box is by applying the tree bark on it. The material most suitable for this is the transparent non-acetic silicone. When collecting the bark, it is important to follow a few simple rules: the bark must be from the same tree species, the same cardinal direction as the side of the tree on which the photo trap is placed, and it should be taken from a tree of approximately the same age. The bark needs to be trimmed to the desired length and shape to cover the protective box as desired. The natural direction of growth of the bark, i.e. vertically from top to bottom, should be followed when masking the trap.
The easiest and fastest way to find out what was captured by the photo trap is to view the footage directly on the photo trap display (if it has one). Since the photo trap recordings are stored on a memory card, other devices, such as a tablets with memory card readers or laptops, can also be used to examine the footage in more detail.
See the correct way to handle and use of the photo trap in this video.
Summary
This article provides a detailed look at the use of photo traps, from their basic setup to their positioning and masking to reviewing the footage obtained. The main lessons learnt include the importance of correct setting up of a photo trap and the need for proper installation and masking to optimise its performance and safety. It is important that the photo trap be positioned at the correct height and angle for optimum viewing, while changes in weather and season must also be taken into consideration. Checking the footage from the photo trap is equally important, either directly in the field or via other devices such as tablets or laptops. With this knowledge, you can use the photo traps effectively in your ecological work and research.
Authors: J. Mrocek and L. Holásek of Gearcheckers portal
