Effects of different attractants and human scent on mesocarnivore detection at camera traps

Heinlein, Bracy W.; Urbanek, Rachael E.; Olfenbuttel, Colleen; Dukes, Casey G.

doi:10.1071/wr19117

Cited by 15 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Consistent with other studies, sardines were the most effective lure for increasing detections of carnivores overall (Ferreira‐Rodríguez and Pombal 2019, Heinlein et al. 2020, Sebastián‐González et al. 2020).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Consistent with similar studies, bobcats did not respond significantly to either scent lure (Heinlein et al. 2020), which could be due to a preference for visual lures as they are visual hunters (Tanner and Zimmerman 2012, Cove et al. 2014), although meats may also be effective (Ferreira‐Rodríguez and Pombal 2019).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

“…Environmental factors and season may also impact the efficacy of a lure, and species responses may vary based on their ecosystem (Ferreira‐Rodríguez and Pombal 2019, Heinlein et al. 2020). Lure scent is stronger and may travel farther during warmer, wetter times of year (Rocha et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2012, Heinlein et al. 2020). Utilizing attractants at camera traps is a promising solution for increasing the accuracy of abundance and occupancy estimates through increased detections (Cove et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2018, Ferreira‐Rodríguez and Pombal 2019, Heinlein et al. 2020), while fatty acid tablets will improve detections of canids as they are commonly used in coyote and fox studies (Roughton and Sweeny 1982, Suárez‐Tangil and Rodríguez 2017). Our second objective was to determine whether lure decay, based on the length of time a lure is exposed to the environment, affects detection of carnivores.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluating the efficacy and decay of lures for improving carnivore detections with camera traps

et al. 2021

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Abundance and occupancy estimates are essential to wildlife research, but are often hampered by limited detections, especially for cryptic species like carnivores. While scientists can account for limited detections during statistical analyses, increasing detections in the field is the best way to reduce uncertainty. Camera traps are an effective, noninvasive method of monitoring wildlife, and using attractants with camera traps can increase the likelihood of detecting carnivores. We tested two scent lures (sardines and fatty acid tablets) against a control of no lure to determine whether either lure increased detections of six carnivore species, bobcat (Lynx rufus), coyote (Canis latrans), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), raccoon (Procyon lotor), striped skunk (Memphitis memphitis), and ringtail (Bassariscus astutus). We also examined how detection of carnivores was affected as the lure decayed over time. We used occupancy modeling for each species to determine whether either lure increased detection probability. We then modeled how lure decay affected carnivore detections and determined the optimal length of deployment using generalized linear mixed models. Sardines increased detections across all carnivores, but also had a high rate of decay and were no different than the control at day 18. Fatty acid tablets decayed more slowly, but were not significantly different from the control at any point. Among species, detections of gray foxes and raccoons increased with both sardines and fatty acid tablets, while detections of ringtails increased only with sardines, and other species did not respond significantly to either lure. Our analysis shows that lures can increase detections of carnivores, but species‐specific responses and study objectives must be considered when choosing a lure. These results will allow future researchers to improve the accuracy of abundance and occupancy estimates through increased detections of difficult to study species which ultimately leads to better conservation and management of those species.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluating the efficacy and decay of lures for improving carnivore detections with camera traps

et al. 2021

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Evasive invasives? Implications of neophobia for feral cat (Felis catus) control

Ryan‐Schofield,

Read,

McGregor

et al. 2024

Wildlife Society Bulletin

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Neophobia is an ecologically relevant personality trait that manifests as aversion to new or unfamiliar stimuli. Fear and subsequent avoidance of novel stimuli represents a challenge for pest management programs, as control tools that induce a neophobic response will reduce their effectiveness. Additionally, neophobia can be a plastic trait induced by exposure to high‐risk environments, and so can be exacerbated by repeated harassment, which often occurs in pest management programs that are conducted at high intensity. We investigated the propensity of feral cats (Felis catus) to exhibit neophobic behavior towards a novel control device. We also tested whether neophobia was altered by capture and radio‐collaring or changed over time. We found that there is significant potential for initial avoidance of control devices by some feral cats, and that capture and handling significantly increased the likelihood of avoidance. Neophobia generally declined over time suggesting that long‐term deployment may reduce the impact of neophobia. Avoidance of novel control tools could severely limit their effectiveness, especially if deployed to remove the last remaining cats from confined areas. Remaining cats may have avoided repeated attempts at conventional control techniques and so may be more neophobic. In such circumstances, control tool deployments should be lengthened considerably, to take advantage of waning neophobia over time, and, concealed effectively to hide them from neophobic cats. The increased neophobia recorded in cats that were handled and radio‐collared for monitoring suggests that results from experiments that test new control devices may not be indicative of the behavior of naïve cats. Changes to methodology such as minimizing capture and handling may be required to reduce neophobia and provide valid research results when testing novel control tools.

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Cost-effectiveness of lures in attracting mammals: a large scale camera-trapping field test on European species

Mortelliti,

Bergamin,

Bartolommei

et al. 2024

Eur J Wildl Res

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The cost-effectiveness of different attractants during camera trapping surveys has been seldom evaluated. To contribute in filling this knowledge gap we (1) compare the effectiveness of a suite of attractants in detecting widely distributed mammals in Europe and (2) evaluate the cost-effectiveness of these attractants, by calculating the costs associated to reach a specific monitoring objective. We conducted a large-scale field experiment across four study areas in central and northern Italy, encompassing a variety of environments, from lowland forest to alpine beech forest. We focused on comparing the following low cost and readily available attractants: sardines, peanut butter, a commercial lure and we used a camera with no attractant as control, collecting data on a suite of small to large mammals. We found that for seven of our 13 target species detectability varied with the type of attractant used. Specifically, sardines proved to be the most effective attractant for canids and the porcupine, peanut butter was most effective for mustelids but was avoided by the roe deer, whereas the commercial lure was the most effective with red deer. Through a power analysis combined with a cost function analysis we were able to show striking differences in the cost-effectiveness of the different methods, sometimes in the order of magnitude of tens of thousands of euros, which strongly emphasizes the critical importance played by the choice of whether to use an attractant or not and the type of attractant to be used.

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Effects of different attractants and human scent on mesocarnivore detection at camera traps

Cited by 15 publications

References 19 publications

Evaluating the efficacy and decay of lures for improving carnivore detections with camera traps

Evaluating the efficacy and decay of lures for improving carnivore detections with camera traps

Evasive invasives? Implications of neophobia for feral cat (Felis catus) control

Cost-effectiveness of lures in attracting mammals: a large scale camera-trapping field test on European species

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