Giulia Amato, University of Udine

Camera trapping is a non-invasive method widely used to inventory and monitor wild species. It is mainly used to quantify and identify the presence of species within a particular monitoring site (i.e. species abundance and community composition). Optimising placement protocols is essential to obtaining unbiased results. Strategies in camera trapping often use camera deployments along trails or in randomly placed locations, however it is not always possible to implement these strategies simultaneously. In this study, we deployed 112 paired (random vs linear feature placements) camera traps in central-British Columbia (Canada) between July and October 2022, to assess the differences in camera placement on the detection of large mammals (e.g. black bears, grizzly bears, wolves, moose, elk and mule deer). We also investigated the influence of hunting season/human activity on species detection and daily activity during hunting and non-hunting seasons. Logistic regression modelling suggested that all species were detected more frequently on-trail than off-trail, with higher detection rates for carnivores. Once the hunting season started, the probability of on-trail detections decreased for most species, except for moose and grizzly bears. Black bear detections were negatively associated with the hunting season, though daily activity of bears remained similar between the two monitoring periods, displaying the highest coefficient of overlap. Grizzly bear and moose detections were positively connected with young forest. In addition to location and environmental features, we recommend considering the influence of the hunting season on species detection when designing camera trap studies. Furthermore, when managing forested habitats, we recommend maintaining patches of habitat to provide wild species with cover from potential predators and the risk of being shot.