Monitoring network to evaluate wildlife (large carnivores, grouse, hoofed game, owls) within the area of "Wilderness Dürrenstein"
Introduction
"Wilderness Dürrenstein" is – apart from its educational mandate - responsible for acquiring an inventory of species regarding quality and quantity. This is especially difficult for crepuscular and nocturnal animals, these species being particularly sensitive to disruption. Their secret way of life also implies that a possible detection correlates with a high expenditure of time, given that the procedures cannot be largely automated.
Most affected species are brown bear, lynx, wolf, fox, badger, pine - and stone marten as well as certain species of hoofed game like deer and species of grouse and owls abundant in "Wilderness Dürrenstein". In order to pursue the task of monitoring these species, camera-trapping has been installed as a pilot project, financed to a large extent by Lions Club Wieselburg.
Methods
Due to limited financial and personnel resources of the administration of "Wilderness Dürrenstein", the only possibility to continuously and systematically monitor these animals is the implementation of a largely automated and autonomously operating equipment. Camera – and hair traps meet these criteria and enable the desired, reliable survey of the wildlife of "Wilderness Dürrenstein".
Devices used for automated monitoring:
camera traps
light barriers in combination with a camera
hair traps with attractants
Camera traps are triggered by an infrared sensor or by interupting a light ray. Hair traps, containing chemical attractants, encourage marking of certain species at a designated place. Traps are set up at drinking troughs, game passes, carcasses etc.
At unmonitored locations species of wild animals can be determined by chemical, physical and/or biological investigations of hair, fur or feathers. Furthermore genetic testing of hair, faeces, urine and saliva is possible.
First results
A first experimental set up comprises three traps without attractants affixed at selected places, especially game trails. Although the quality of pictures taken of moving animals is not the highest, results were still surprisingly good: within a few nights badger, fox and deer have been "trapped".
Preview
These pleasant first results induce us to start a large scale project covering the whole area of "Wilderness Dürrenstein", with an emphasis on grouse species and genetic testing.
Picture: Camera trap Reconyx HC600 S.
Picture: Picture taken by camera trapping (Reconyx HC600 S) in the area of "Wilderness Dürrenstein".
