
SURVEY TECHNIQUES
Snow Tracking, Howling, Citizen science, VHF collars, GPS collars, POM, DNA collection, Camera Trapping, Drone Surveillance,, Telemetry and IR Cameras, Non-invasive
RESOURCES
GWR – Humane Wildlife Capture & Chemical Immobilization Training
Estimating wolf abundance from cameras. Ausband DE, Lukacs PM, Hurley M, Roberts S, Strickfaden K, Moeller AK. Ecosphere. 2022 Feb
ABSTRACT
Monitoring the abundance of rare carnivores is a daunting task for wildlife biologists. Many carnivore populations persist at relatively low densities, public interest is high, and the need for population estimates is great. Recent advances in trail camera technology provide an unprecedented opportunity for biologists to monitor rare species economically. Few studies, however, have conducted rigorous analyses of our ability to estimate abundance of low-density carnivores with cameras. We used motion-triggered trail cameras and a space-to-event model to estimate gray wolf (Canis lupus) abundance across three study areas in Idaho, USA, 2016–2018. We compared abundance estimates between cameras and noninvasive genetic sampling that had been extensively tested in our study areas. Estimates of mean wolf abundance from camera and genetic surveys were within 22% of one another and 95% CIs over-lapped in 2 of the 3 years. A single camera with many detections appeared to bias camera estimates high in 2018. A subsequent bootstrapping procedure produced a population estimate from cameras equal to that derived from genetic sampling, however. Camera surveys were less than half the cost of genetic surveys once initial camera purchases were made. Our results suggest that cameras can be a viable method for estimating wolf abundance acrossbroad landscapes (>10,000 km2).
Acoustic vs. photographic monitoring of gray wolves (Canis lupus): a methodological comparison of two passive monitoring techniques. Garland L, Crosby A, Hedley R, Boutin S, Bayne E. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 2020
(northern Alberta, Canada)
Biomedical protocols for free-ranging brown bears, wolves, wolverines and lynx. Arnemo, J.M. and Evans, A., 2017
(Norway, Scandinavia)
Monitoring gray wolf populations using multiple survey methods. Ausband DE, Rich LN, Glenn EM, Mitchell MS, Zager P, Miller DA, Waits LP, Ackerman BB, Mack CM. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 2014 Feb
(“We combined data from hunter surveys, howling and sign surveys conducted at predicted wolf rendezvous sites, and locations of radio collared wolves to model occupancy and estimate the number of gray wolf (Canis lupus) packs and individuals in Idaho during 2009 and 2010.”)
. Surveying predicted rendezvous sites to monitor gray wolf populations.Ausband DE, Mitchell MS, Doherty K, Zager P, Mack CM, Holyan J The Journal of Wildlife Management. 2010 Jul;