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Box and Bucket Camera Traps Yield Similar Detection Results for Small Terrestrial Mammals.

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Title: Box and Bucket Camera Traps Yield Similar Detection Results for Small Terrestrial Mammals.
Authors: Weiss, Mary1 (AUTHOR), Rohrer, Claire1 (AUTHOR), Eichelberger, Charlie2 (AUTHOR), Groff, Elle1 (AUTHOR), Bratina, Kevin1 (AUTHOR), Lutz, Alyssa1 (AUTHOR), Haines, Aaron1 (AUTHOR) aaron.haines@millersville.edu
Source: Northeastern Naturalist. 2025, Vol. 32 Issue 3, p422-436. 15p.
Subject Terms: *MAMMALS, *CONSERVATION biology, *WILDLIFE photography, *ECOSYSTEMS, *DETECTION algorithms
Abstract: Small terrestrial mammals are vital to ecosystems but receive less conservation attention than larger species. Camera trapping offers a non-invasive monitoring method but faces challenges in detecting small terrestrial mammals. We compared 3 camera-trap designs—open, box, and bucket—across 15 sites in Pennsylvania, deploying 45 cameras for 3375 trap nights. Box (n = 625) and bucket traps (n = 399) obtained significantly more images than open traps (n = 229) (P < 0.01). Open traps detected mice faster (1 median day to first detection, P < 0.01) but failed to detect voles or shrews. Box traps recorded the most mice (n = 537) and voles (n = 71), while bucket traps detected the most shrews (n = 23). Our findings highlight the effectiveness of enclosed designs in improving detection of small terrestrial mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Academic Search Index
Description
Abstract:Small terrestrial mammals are vital to ecosystems but receive less conservation attention than larger species. Camera trapping offers a non-invasive monitoring method but faces challenges in detecting small terrestrial mammals. We compared 3 camera-trap designs—open, box, and bucket—across 15 sites in Pennsylvania, deploying 45 cameras for 3375 trap nights. Box (n = 625) and bucket traps (n = 399) obtained significantly more images than open traps (n = 229) (P < 0.01). Open traps detected mice faster (1 median day to first detection, P < 0.01) but failed to detect voles or shrews. Box traps recorded the most mice (n = 537) and voles (n = 71), while bucket traps detected the most shrews (n = 23). Our findings highlight the effectiveness of enclosed designs in improving detection of small terrestrial mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:10926194
DOI:10.1656/045.032.0307